Criminal Justice (Juvenile Justice)

This bill temporarily amends the Juvenile Curfew Act of 1995 to set standard curfew hours from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily and expand the curfew to apply to all juveniles under 18 (previously under 17). It allows the Mayor to temporarily extend curfew hours beyond standard times for public safety, and the Chief of Police to designate specific zones with extended curfew hours, both limited to 4 consecutive days (with possible 30-day total extensions). Police must issue at least one verbal warning before arrest and provide time to disperse, with strict limits on when extensions can begin (no earlier than 8 p.m.) or end (no later than 6 a.m.). The bill directly affects juveniles aged 17 and under in Washington, D.C., during temporary curfew extensions.

This bill amends Washington D.C.'s Juvenile Curfew Act to set a daily curfew from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. for all youth under 18, expanding the previous age limit. It grants the Mayor emergency authority to extend curfew hours beyond 11 p.m. for public safety or property protection, and allows the Chief of Police to establish temporary "extended curfew zones" in specific areas. Police must issue at least two audible warnings before enforcing curfew in non-emergency situations, provide time to disperse, and document interactions via body cameras. The changes apply immediately to all D.C. youth under 18 during designated curfew hours.

PR 26-0381 (Juvenile Curfew Second Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025) proposes to extend emergency authority for the District of Columbia's juvenile curfew laws. It would allow the Mayor to extend curfew hours beyond current limits and empower the Chief of Police to establish specific curfew zones in areas with safety concerns, starting curfew at 11 p.m. daily and expanding coverage to include 17-year-olds. The resolution directly affects unaccompanied youth aged 17 and under and aims to address recurring incidents of large youth gatherings leading to violence, as reported by MPD following the expiration of prior emergency curfew legislation. The changes would amend the Juvenile Curfew Act of 1995 and make related updates to the Volunteer Services Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2025.

This bill requires the District of Columbia's Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) to provide comprehensive pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care to pregnant youth in its facilities. It mandates pregnancy testing upon admission, confidential healthcare within three weeks of birth (with follow-up care), counseling on family planning and mental health, and free medical supplies like breast pumps and postpartum dietary support. The law also requires DYRS to develop written policies within 60 days of enactment to implement these standards. The bill directly affects pregnant youth in DYRS custody, ensuring they receive timely, culturally responsive healthcare without cost.

The Youth Records Transparency and Oversight Amendment Act of 2025 clarifies which D.C. Council committees and the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children may access juvenile justice and child welfare records for oversight purposes. It specifies that for delinquency or need of supervision cases (handled by the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services), the Chair of the relevant Council committee and their designees can access records, and for neglect cases (handled by the Child and Family Services Agency), the Chair of that committee and their designees can access. The Ombudsperson for Children may also access records as needed for their oversight duties. This amendment defines clear access pathways for oversight bodies without changing how records are maintained or the underlying case procedures.