Council Members Signal Support for Crime Plan

Williams Appears to Have Backing of Majority

Mayor Anthony A. Williams, who appeared before a Senate panel yesterday, wants to institute an earlier youth curfew and install surveillance cameras in residential communities in response to a crime surge. (By Melina Mara -- The Washington Post)

A majority of D.C. Council members indicated yesterday that they will support Mayor Anthony A. Williams's emergency crime plan, which would include surveillance cameras in residential communities and a toughened teenage curfew of 10 p.m. for the next 90 days.

Civil rights groups and youth advocates decried the proposals -- and another that would require Family Court to alert police when juveniles accused of serious crimes are released -- as an assault on privacy and a futile way to solve crime.

"The proposals in the Mayor's bill are, at best, constitutionally suspect and, at worst, completely ineffective," Johnny Barnes, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of the National Capital Area, said in a statement.

Williams (D), citing an urgent need for action, outlined his crime plan before the council yesterday after recalling members from summer break. They were scheduled to vote on the emergency legislation at 1 p.m. today.

Williams said he would prefer that the proposals be approved on a permanent basis in the future, but council procedures allow him only to ask for the measures on an emergency basis during a special session.

"While most of the District's youth are enjoying a fun and productive summer, an increasing number are robbing people and using guns. It goes without saying that this is a disturbing and unacceptable trend. . . . We have to take steps immediately to ensure that what has occurred over the past 30 days goes no further," he said.

Hours before yesterday's briefing, Williams appeared before a Senate panel, where Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) questioned him about the ACLU's concerns. The mayor said security cameras have been used at malls, which are public spaces. "To me, it follows as a corollary that cameras should be able to be used in public spaces," he said.

There have been 15 slayings since July 1, including the high-profile homicides of British citizen Alan Senitt, who was robbed and stabbed in Georgetown, and community activist Chris Crowder, who was shot in a park near the Washington Convention Center. There have been no arrests in a majority of the cases. The number of juveniles arrested on robbery charges has risen 82 percent from this time last year, and the number of those arrested on weapons charges has increased 27 percent, Williams said.

The new measures would make the midnight youth curfew two hours earlier and expand the circumstances under which a judge could deny bail and detain adults and juveniles charged with robbery.

The mayor is also requesting $8 million to cover overtime costs to put 300 additional police officers on the street, $1 million to pay for employees handling broken streetlights and abandoned vehicles, and $575,000 for youth programs.

Council member Phil Mendelson (D-At Large), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, advocated separate votes on the measures. He said he understood dealing with police overtime and imposing the curfew on an emergency basis, but he questioned the provision for surveillance cameras, which he said could take months to install. He said there was no need for emergency legislation on the juvenile records, which are available to police.

However, City Administrator Robert C. Bobb said the city is prepared to install four cameras today if the legislation is approved.