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Baltimore youth curfew: Good intentions but bad timing
I grew up in the “Be home before the lights come on” era. Simply put, your Mother was telling you she had better be able to see you once it gets dark outside. For whatever reason, that time has come and gone. However, Baltimore City is attempting to now bring back that concept by implementing a curfew for the City’s youth.
If you have listened to any of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s responses to some of the curfew’s criticisms, you know she grew up during this time too. The idea seems to make sense on face value but what are we trying to accomplish here?
Are we attempting to curb juvenile violence? Will a curfew aid in the development of City youth? These are the questions we want solutions to but is there any data out there that shows a curfew will assist with any of these answers.
Baltimore City Council Bill 13-0261
In a nutshell, the bill will have City youth under the age of 14 home or
inside by 9 p.m. Teenagers from the ages of 14 – 16 could legally stay out
to 10p.m. on school nights and 11p.m. on all other nights. The penalty for
the parents of the law-breakers would consist of a $500 fine. The fine could
be waived if both the parents and children attend counseling sessions that
would be provided by the City.
You may be surprised to learn that Baltimore currently has a youth curfew on the books. Children and teens under 17 must be off the streets by 11 p.m. on weeknights and midnight on weekends. The fine for parents can be up to $300.
Now the new law, just as our current one, does allow for exemptions. Youth can be out if they are accompanied with their parents, travelling to or from work, attending a religious event or interacting in a school or recreational activity. On the flip side, the bill also establishes a daytime curfew from 7:30 a.m. To 3p.m.The obvious exception would be kids going to school.
The bill’s sponsor, Baltimore City Councilman Brandon Scott said the proposed legislation is intended to keep small children from wandering the street, becoming victims of crime or suffering from neglect.”
Councilman Scott went on to say, “We have to do something. Young children are out there. … This bill is not about arresting kids. This bill is not about dropping crime. It’s about connecting young people and their families with the services they need.”
But is a nightly curfew the best time or manner in which to deliver services to at-risk youth?
Jason Jenkins
22 May 2014
http://baltimorepostexaminer.com/baltimore-youth-curfew-good-intentions-bad-timing/2014/05/22
