Washington DC tries to control insecurity: youth curfew, cameras and more police

Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington DC, unveiled on Thursday a series of planned measures to combat the rise of crime in the district.

The first measure of the package is a curfew for those under 17 years of age. If youth are in one of the areas detailed by Bowser after hours – 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, 12:01 a.m. to 6a.m. Saturday through Sunday – they will be transported to the Department of Juvenile Rehabilitation Services, which will contact their responsible guardians.

Security cameras will also be increased. This initiative includes the installation of 50 closed-circuit cameras and the commitment to double the number of video surveillance devices in the next two years.

The third measure seeks to swell the local security forces. For that, Bowser proposed a bonus for members of the Metropolitan Police Department who recruit new officers. For each new officer, they could receive $5,000. For each cadet, $2,000.

The reforms are in addition to the passage of the Public Safety Amendment Act last month. Among other changes, the Washington, D.C., Council made it a felony to fire a gun in public and allowed judges to hold violent crime suspects in custody until trial.