WASHINGTON – Today, the D.C. Council voted 8-5 to pass a permanent youth curfew, on the first of two votes needed for the permanent legislation. The second vote will happen in May. The Council also delayed a vote on emergency legislation that gives the mayor broad authority for curfew zones that start the youth curfew at 8 p.m. In response, Alicia Yass, ACLU-D.C. supervising policy counsel, said:
“Punishment-first policies, like a youth curfew, fall short of advancing real public safety because they put kids at risk of unnecessary encounters with police instead of providing opportunities.
“The truth is that young people are hard-wired to take risks. It is a developmentally appropriate way for young people’s brains and a sense of morality to develop, but not all young people have options for taking safe and healthy risks. Research shows that the best way to prevent young people from engaging in dangerous behavior is to provide support and services that address the root causes of challenges young people face.
“D.C. leaders should focus on increasing funding for youth programs that teach skills, promote belonging, care for mental health issues, and provide healthy options for taking risks. D.C. youth need more support, not more policing, as many of the Councilmembers who voted against the permanent legislation said today.”
To learn more about how lawmakers can build a safer District, read Building Safety Through Resources: A Better Path to Public Safety in D.C., a recent ACLU-D.C. report that pulls together research and evidence from effective programs to recommend specific ways that D.C. leaders can invest in a deep and real sense of safety and security.
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