Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser for Washington, D.C., announced a juvenile curfew and other measures to combat rising crime rates in the area.

Bowser and D.C. leaders unveiled three new initiatives Thursday, following months of rising total violent crime rates and the district recording 100 homicides in the first six months of 2023, the earliest record in two decades.

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"Public safety is our #1 priority, and it requires a whole-of-government approach," Bowser said in a series of posts on Thursday. "We will continue to double down on programs that we know work, and we remain focused on coming up with new and innovative ways to help our communities feel safer."

As of Tuesday, there is a 27% increase in homicides compared to this time last year. Total violent crime is up 38%, and total crime is up 31%.

The mayor announced a Juvenile Curfew Enforcement Pilot that focuses on seven areas around D.C. The curfew will go into effect from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the week and begin at midnight on the weekends for anyone under 17 years old. The seven areas include Chinatown and Navy Yard, the U Street area, Howard/Benneker, 14th Street between Otis and Spring Road NW, and specific blocks through the district.

Youth who are found outside past curfew will be brought to the Department of Youth and Rehabilitation Services to be reconnected with their families and for "rehabilitative services and support."

The city will also add 50 CCTV cameras throughout the city, with more to come over the next two years, Bowser said.

"We know that good video evidence is key to closing cases and increasing accountability," Bowser said on X.

The last initiative will focus on officer referral and retention to bolster the Metropolitan Police Department's recruitment efforts.

Now, Metropolitan Police Department officers who refer another candidate will be eligible to receive a $5,000 referral bonus for police officers and $2,000 for new cadets who are onboarded. Candidates must attend the police's Prospect Day before Oct. 31 and begin the academy before or on March 1, 2024.

D.C. has come under severe scrutiny for its handling of criminals, with national Republicans using the district as a spotlight for high crime rates in Democratic-controlled cities. The D.C. Council passed an emergency public safety bill in July, months after Capitol Hill lawmakers worked to overhaul various crime bills from the district.

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The bill created a new offense for firing a gun in public and made it easier for prosecutors to extradite people for misdemeanors. The most significant provision is one that makes it easier for judges to hold people in jail pending trial if they have a history of committing violent crimes.

In February and March, the House and Senate voted to overturn an overhaul of the criminal code, marking the first time in 30 years that Congress has repealed a local law passed by the D.C. Council.