Washington, DC implements juvenile curfew from 8 pm to 6 am in Navy Yard

Police in Washington, DC have implemented a juvenile curfew zone in the neighborhood of Navy Yard in the nation's capital, as President Donald Trump has placed the city's law enforcement under federal control as well as deployed the National Guard in the area.

The announcement also comes in the aftermath of a shooting that took place in Navy Yard on Saturday night, where a juvenile male shot at other minors. "MPD announces the establishment of a Juvenile Curfew Zone in the Navy Yard area beginning tonight at 8 pm," the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in DC posted to social media on Sunday.

In a press release explaining the establishment of the curfew, the MPD wrote, "The Juvenile Curfew Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 gives the Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department the authority to order a Juvenile Curfew Zone in an area where large groups of youths are gathering or intend to gather in a manner that poses a risk of substantial harm to public safety."

Those who are under the age of 18 are forbidden from gathering in the designated area with a group of nine or more people unless they are exempt from the curfew. A citywide curfew that begins at 11 pm and goes to 6 am is also in effect until August 31 and has been in place for the summer. The curfew for the area in the Navy Yard is in effect until August 13 and starts at 8 pm, expanding on the standing curfew.

The shooting that took place over the weekend did not result in any injuries, according to Fox 5. As police were monitoring the group of juveniles right before 9:30 pm, police said a gun was fired by the young male at other juveniles. Police, who recovered the firearm, said that the gun was stolen.

The shooting comes as DC has implemented a summertime curfew for the Southwest side of the nation's capital city. Police have said that large groups of kids have been causing trouble in the area of the Navy Yard, with as many as 100 convening in the area at night.

As the Trump administration has started taking control of the law enforcement in Washington, DC, some have pointed to the Youth Rehabilitation Act as a reason that youth are involved in crime.  

According to a press release about the policy, the law in DC gives a court "greater flexibility when imposing a sentence on a person who is under the age of 25 at the time the crime was committed." The law allows courts to hand down sentences below mandatory minimums and the court can block convictions from public view after the sentence is finished.