Baltimore, DC make use of juvenile curfews as Trump crackdown continues

Carson Swick, Baltimore Sun on Aug 23, 2025

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BALTIMORE — The first weekend of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on Washington, D.C., came with a special curfew for juveniles in one of the city’s most popular areas, drawing parallels to one way Baltimore leaders have tried to keep kids out of trouble.

From 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. last Friday through Monday night, the Metropolitan Police Department enforced a “Juvenile Curfew Zone” in Navy Yard, the Southeast D.C. neighborhood home to Nationals Park and many popular bars and restaurants. The area saw a violent crime spike in 2023 and has struggled with late-night juvenile delinquency since then, fitting into Trump’s push to make Washington “beautiful” once again.

In Baltimore, Mayor Brandon Scott touted the city’s juvenile curfews as part of his broader strategy to promote safety and build community among kids. Baltimore has enforced summer curfews for minors for several years, as children under 14 must be off the streets by 9 p.m., while children aged 14 to 16 have until 11 p.m.

The Baltimore Police Department did not respond to The Baltimore Sun’s questions about the number of curfew citations issued this summer compared to last year and the number of children who have violated the curfew multiple times.

A BPD presentation of crime data through May 28 found that overall crime in Baltimore this year declined substantially from 2024 levels. Still, children were making up a greater percentage of robbery and handgun offenders. Around the same time, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates’ office reported that about 80% of the 130 juveniles processed for felonies were released back into the community.

Scott, Moore weigh in

In a series of statements to The Sun on Monday, Scott’s office discussed the merits of his Summer Youth Engagement Strategy. While this initiative relies on curfews and targets areas where juveniles are known to congregate, the mayor believes they are “only part of the solution to reduce crime.”

“Historically, curfews have been unevenly applied and enforced by criminalizing our city’s young people,” Scott’s office said. “Mayor Scott has taken significant steps to change that legacy by deprioritizing the role of law enforcement in youth engagement.”

This year, Baltimore’s Summer Youth Engagement Strategy extended weekend hours at nine recreation centers while beefing up staff at B-360 — a nonprofit that teaches students about dirt bikes to promote STEM education — to help kids get home safely instead of running into police if out past curfew.

“Over the past two summers, the Mayor has mobilized outreach and engagement in line with the curfew ordinance to prioritize the safety of Baltimore’s young people during their summer break,” Scott’s office said. “This safety engagement goes in tandem with the Mayor’s focus on holding events specifically designed for youth to enjoy and give them a safe, and fun, environment to spend their time.”

D.C.’s curfew zone order in Navy Yard subjected minors gathering in groups of nine or more to possible arrest. It was in effect last weekend on top of the city’s broader 11 p.m. summer curfew for children aged 17 and under, which runs through Aug. 31.

The D.C. order was authorized by the Juvenile Curfew Emergency Amendment Act, which permits the police chief to designate specific areas for targeted curfews. But because Trump invoked the 1973 District of Columbia Home Rule Act to assume federal control of the Metropolitan Police Department, Maryland leaders saw the move as a power grab not based on statistics.

In a statement to The Sun, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said he “trusts local leaders” to make crime-fighting decisions and noted the decline of violent crime in Baltimore.

“Governor Moore will continue to lift up programs and methods with proven success through data,” the governor’s office said. “The Moore-Miller Administration will not turn our back on all the progress made because the White House wants to be reckless in their approach.”

Amid nationwide drops in reported violent crime, Scott’s office raised similar concerns about Trump’s actions.

“Despite the fact that violent crime is trending down in Baltimore faster than the national average, what we know about this administration is that we have to be ready for anything,” Scott’s office said. “The chaos coming from Washington will not distract Baltimore from the critically important work that is saving lives and reducing crime.”