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Opinion | D.C.’s jail is finally getting an update. Just not the one it needs.

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Opinion | D.C.’s jail is finally getting an update. Just not the one it needs.


For decades, detainee advocates have argued that the D.C. jail is unsafe, unsanitary and inhumane. Then, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and some of her GOP colleagues visited individuals allegedly involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, who were housed there. This obnoxious political stunt had a perhaps unintended side effect; conservative interest in jail conditions gave further momentum to complaints that progressives, not to mention the facility’s primarily minority population, have been lodging for nearly 50 years.

Thankfully, the city’s most recent budget allocates $463 million to upgrade the D.C. jail. Even so, that doesn’t mean some of the worst conditions will be fixed soon. In fact, the current plan puts the needs of only a small portion of those held at D.C. jail ahead of the rest.

Local officials agree on replacing the current facility. The main building, which opened in 1976, has experienced 10 deaths in the last 17 months. Five of these deaths occurred this year. The jail’s rigorous covid-19 policy confined detainees to their cells for 23 hours a day during the pandemic. A surprise inspection by the U.S. Marshals Service in 2021 further fueled outrage, finding instances of food withholding and a strong smell of backed-up sewage.

But agreement in principle has not yet led to shovels in the ground. Official discussions for a new jail in D.C. began 14 years ago, when the Department of Corrections requested $420 million in funding for a new facility. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) and corrections officials have consistently argued that the new jail and renovated treatment facility are urgent needs. But, thanks to concerns over a clear execution strategy, any time money for the jail was included in the budget, it was promptly pushed out again. Until this latest round.

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Money in hand, now, city officials have to figure out how to spend it to do the most good for the most detainees. Disagreements persist on how to do that — and the city’s current plan has it wrong. The D.C. Department of Corrections released a new timeline this month for the facility’s transformation. Under the plan, renovating the deficient primary holding space would not be complete until 2034 at best. The plan splits up the construction project with into two phases. The city would start by constructing a small administrative and behavioral health facility, then move to upgrading the existing housing for the general population.

The idea is that the current jail has bigger problems than the deterioration of the facility’s physical structure. Broader investment in the DOC, along with enhanced programming, educational opportunities and treatment for detainees’ physical and mental ailments, is necessary to change the current culture of D.C. jail so that its inhabitants can more easily reintegrate into society. And that requires building the behavioral health facility.

But, while accommodating special needs and services is undoubtedly important, D.C. officials should focus on general housing first. Of course, rehabilitation is important for transitioning back to life after detention. But the main facility’s current dilapidated state is not a safe and rehabilitative environment for any of the over 1,300 people locked up. By swapping the two phases and putting general housing ahead of specialized services, officials could provide these people with better living conditions and programming opportunities sooner, rather than leaving them to languish for another decade after so many years of neglect.

That doesn’t mean D.C. should set aside its plans for the behavioral health facility — quite the contrary. The city has an opportunity to join others in the nation committing themselves to comprehensive services for those behind bars, designed not merely to improve living conditions but also to increase their chances of successfully reentering society. Maryland public safety officials, for instance, are pushing ahead with plans for a $1 billion jail, hospital, and mental health and substance use treatment facility in Baltimore at the site of the previous detention center. The complex is set to open in 2029. By allocating funding promptly as well as responsibly, D.C. can start down the same path to providing all in its jail a safe, clean and truly rehabilitative environment.



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Washington, D.C

Navy Yard added back to DC’s juvenile curfew zones this weekend

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Navy Yard added back to DC’s juvenile curfew zones this weekend


Navy Yard is back on the list of D.C.’s juvenile curfew zones for the weekend, a week after a large gathering of teens turned violent in a nearby park.

D.C. Police announced three curfew zones beginning Friday night: Navy Yard, Chinatown and the U Street Corridor. Under the emergency juvenile curfew law, anyone under 18 is prohibited from gathering in groups of nine or more within the designated zones from 8 to 11 p.m. through Sunday unless accompanied by an adult.

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Navy Yard added back to DC’s juvenile curfew zones this weekend

Navy Yard was not included as a curfew zone last weekend, when police say roughly 200 teens gathered in the area. Videos posted to social media showed several teens assaulting another. Police, with assistance from the National Guard and Secret Service, arrested two teens. One was accused of firing a gun into the air, the other accused of trying to discard a gun in a rideshare vehicle. At least two victims were forcibly robbed.

City leaders enacted the temporary curfew law in response to a rise in teen takeovers across the District. But the measure is set to expire April 15, and Councilmember Brooke Pinto, who chairs the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, said this week there are not enough votes to extend it again.

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READ MORE: DC curfew zones: 18 juveniles stopped first night

Emergency Curfew Legislation | DC Police

The Juvenile Curfew Second Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 is in effect through April 15, 2026 

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What does the law say?

The Juvenile Curfew Second Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 states that all persons under the age of 18 cannot remain in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the District of Columbia during curfew hours, unless they are involved in certain exempted activities.

The law gives the Chief of Police the authority to establish Extended Juvenile Curfew Zones and allows the Mayor of the District of Columbia to authorize an Emergency Juvenile Curfew. 

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What are the curfew hours?

Citywide curfew hours are 11:00 pm to 6:00 am, seven days a week. 

Juvenile Curfew Zones 

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In Juvenile Curfew Zones, any person under the age of 18 gathering in a group of nine (9) or more youths in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the perimeter of an extended juvenile curfew zone must leave the area unless engaged in certain exempted activities. The Chief of Police will designate the curfew hours within these zones and communicate them to the public, but they will not begin before 8:00 pm or end after 6 am. 

A list of declared Juvenile Curfew Zones is available in a link at the bottom of this page. That list includes zones declared in July and August 2025 under the first Juvenile Curfew Amendment Act of 2025, and in November 2025 under Mayor’s Order 2025-115. 

Juvenile Curfew Zone Petition 

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Pursuant to the emergency law, an Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC), business improvement district (BID), or Main Street organization may petition the Chief of Police to establish a Juvenile Curfew Zone with extended juvenile curfew hours in an area covered by, or adjacent to the area covered by, the organization. 
The petition must be approved by a formal vote of the members of the ANC, or the members of the BID or Main Street board of directors.

For more information on submitting a petition, please visit this form. 

Does the curfew law apply to non-District residents?

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Yes. The curfew law applies to all persons under the age of 18 who are in the District of Columbia during curfew hours. This includes both District residents as well as young people who reside elsewhere.

What are the penalties for violating the law?

A parent or legal guardian of a juvenile under the age of 18 commits an offense if he or she knowingly permits, or by insufficient control allows, a minor to violate the curfew law. Any adult who violates the Juvenile Curfew Act is subject to a fine not to exceed $500 or community service. A minor who violates curfew may be ordered to perform up to 25 hours of community service.

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Persons under the age of 18 are exempt from curfew if they:

  • Accompany a parent or guardian
  • Complete an errand at the direction of a parent or guardian, without detour or stop
  • Ride in a motor vehicle involved in interstate travel
  • Work or return home from a job, without detour or stop
  • Become involved in an emergency
  • Stand on a sidewalk that joins their residence or the residence of a next-door neighbor, if the neighbor did not complain to police
  • Attend an official school, religious, or other recreational activity sponsored by the District of Columbia, a civic organization, or other similar group that takes responsibility for the juvenile (this includes traveling to and from the activity)
  • Exercise their First Amendment rights protected by the US Constitution, including the free exercise of speech, religion, and right of assembly

Is a Curfew Law Constitutional?

Passed in 1995, The Juvenile Curfew Act of 1995 (DC Code 2-1541 et. seq.) was set up to protect the health and safety of young people and our communities. After the law was challenged in court, MPD stopped enforcement until the court decided whether the law was constitutional. In June 1999, the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia found the law to be constitutional. The District began enforcing the law again in the fall of 1999. MORE ONLINE

The Source: Information in this article comes from the Metropolitan Police Department and previous FOX 5 reporting. 

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Road closures, parking restrictions for DC’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon – WTOP News

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Road closures, parking restrictions for DC’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon – WTOP News


Saturday’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon and 5k will have thousands of runners rocking through D.C. But drivers will want the party to end as fast as possible.

This year’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon and 5K run will have thousands of runners rocking through D.C. on Saturday. But drivers will want the party to end as fast as possible, as the race will bring a slew of road closures and parking restrictions to the District.

The 5K begins at 7:30 a.m. and the half marathon starts at 8 a.m. The finisher concert wraps up at 1:30 p.m. The routes for both races are below:

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The following streets will be closed from 3 a.m. to noon Saturday.

  • Constitution Avenue from 9th Street to 15th Street NW

The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic Saturday from 6 a.m. to noon.

  • Constitution Avenue from 15th Street 23rd Street NW
  • 10th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
  • 12th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
  • 14th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
  • Virginia Avenue from 18th Street to 19th Street NW
  • 18th Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street NW
  • 1800 block of C Street NW
  • E Street from 18th Street to 19th Street NW
  • 19th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue NW
  • 27th Street from Virginia Avenue to Whitehurst Freeway NW
  • I Street from 27th Street to Virginia Avenue NW
  • Calvert Street from 24th Street to Columbia Road NW
  • Adams Mill Road from 18th Street to Calvert Street NW
  • Columbia Road from 18th Street to 16th Street NW
  • Harvard Street from 16th Street to 5th Street NW
  • 5th Street from Harvard Street to Bryant Street NW
  • Bryant Street from 4th Street to North Capitol Street NW
  • North Capitol Street from Bryant Street to K Street NW
  • K Street from North Capitol Street to 5th Street NW
  • 4th Street from K Street to E Street NW
  • E Street from 4th Street to 6th Street NW
  • 6th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Parking will be restricted on the following streets from noon Friday to 5 p.m. Saturday.

  • Constitution Avenue from 6th Street to 7th Street NW
  • Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd Street to 4th Street NW
  • 6th Street from C Street to Constitution Avenue NW
  • Madison Drive from 3rd Street to 4th Street

Parking will be restricted on the following streets from 4 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Saturday.

  • Pennsylvania Avenue from 4th Street to 7th Street NW
  • Constitution Avenue from 3rd Street to 6th Street NW
  • 3rd Street from Constitution Avenue to Independence Avenue SW
  • 4th Street from Madison Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Parking will be restricted on the following streets Saturday from midnight to 2 p.m.

  • Constitution Avenue from 7th Street to 23rd Street NW
  • 10th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
  • 12th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
  • 14th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
  • Virginia Avenue from 18th Street to 19th Street NW
  • 18th Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street NW
  • 1800 block of C Street NW
  • 1800 block of Virginia Avenue NW
  • E Street from 18th Street to 19th Street NW
  • 19th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue NW
  • 27th Street from Virginia Avenue to Whitehurst Freeway NW
  • I Street from 27th Street to Virginia Avenue NW
  • Calvert Street from 24th Street to Columbia Road NW
  • Adams Mill Road from 18th Street to Calvert Street NW
  • Columbia Road from 18th Street to 16th Street NW
  • Harvard Street from 16th Street to 5th Street NW
  • 5th Street from Harvard Street to Bryant Street NW
  • Bryant Street from 4th Street to North Capitol Street NW
  • North Capitol Street from Bryant Street to K Street NW
  • K Street from North Capitol Street to 5th Street NW
  • 4th Street from K Street to E Street NW
  • E Street from 4th Street to 6th Street NW
  • 6th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue NW

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Could DC see one last blast of winter? Polar vortex could potentially bring late March chill

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Could DC see one last blast of winter? Polar vortex could potentially bring late March chill


Don’t pack the winter coat away just yet. Forecasters say a potential polar vortex split could send colder air into the Washington, D.C. region before the end of March, bringing one last reminder of winter as spring begins to take hold.

What we know about the potential cold blast

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Long-range forecast models suggest the polar vortex — a mass of cold air typically locked near the North Pole — could split by the end of March.

If that happens, colder air may shift into parts of the northern U.S., including the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

Forecasters with FOX Weather say this setup could bring below-average temperatures to areas like Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia late in the month.

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Polar Vortex (FOX Weather)

What local meteorologists are saying

While long-range models point to a possible late-month cooldown, FOX 5 DC meteorologists say a warmup is expected in the near term.

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“It’s the last day of winter tomorrow and it sure felt like it on Wednesday, though a timely warmup is expected as we prepare to start spring!” FOX 5’s Mike Thomas said while outlining the forecast for the rest of the week.

That outlook underscores the uncertainty in longer-range projections, with warmer spring conditions expected before any potential shift later in the month.

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What we don’t know yet

It remains uncertain exactly where the coldest air will settle.

That uncertainty will determine whether the D.C. region sees a noticeable cooldown or only a slight dip in temperatures.

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How this could impact the D.C. region

The D.C. area may see a return to cooler conditions just as spring begins, though impacts could be less intense if the coldest air stays farther north.

While widespread snow is not currently expected, temperatures could still dip enough to bring a brief reminder of winter.

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Polar Vortex (FOX Weather)

Is this winter’s final blast?

The polar vortex has been a key driver of cold outbreaks this winter.

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Forecasters say this could be the last time it plays a significant role this season as warmer spring patterns take over.

What’s next in the forecast

Meteorologists will continue to refine the forecast in the coming days as models better determine how far south the cold air will travel.

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Even if a cooldown arrives, temperatures are expected to trend warmer into April.

Polar Vortex (FOX Weather)

The Source: This article was written using information from FOX Weather and FOX 5 DC meteorologists.

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