Overview
- The U.S. Attorney for D.C., who announced the shift Friday, said the policy would be used over the weekend to pursue adults who enable large youth gatherings known as teen takeovers.
- Parents or other responsible adults could face fines, court-ordered classes, or up to six months in jail under D.C.'s contributing-to-the-delinquency-of-a-minor law.
- Prosecutors said they may bring adult cases even if the minors involved face separate juvenile proceedings.
- Jeanine Pirro said the gatherings are growing in areas such as Navy Yard and NoMa and have led to assaults, robberies, fights, and temporary business closures.
- Neighborhood leaders split on the approach, with commissioner Nic Wilson calling it federal overreach and commissioner Edward Daniel supporting parental accountability but favoring a local response by MPD.