Results Are In For 1st Month Of New Youth Curfew In Baltimore City
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The results are in for the first month of the new youth curfew in Baltimore City. Supporters say it's good news, but others say the information is too vague.
Tracey Leong breaks down the numbers.
Supporters say they're seeing great progress, but some critics worry who the curfew targets and the impact it could have. WJZ caught up with people on both sides of the debate.
A stricter curfew for Baltimore's youth means kids under 14 years old need to be home before 9 p.m. and those under 16 years old need to be home by 10 p.m. on a school night.
"It's very important because these streets of Baltimore is dangerous," said Tia Morrison, parent.
Morrison, the mother of a ten-year-old, is in full support of the law.
"Nowadays, kids are getting in trouble with different things. People are trying to join little kids into gangs," she said.
The curfew started in August. The first month saw 120 violations. Of those, 23 were taken to youth connection centers and 97 were escorted home by police.
The mayor's office believes the data reflects an effective method for keeping the youth safe, but the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland has concerns.
"No secret in Baltimore City that there is a very broken relationship between law enforcement and community members," said Sonia Kumar, ACLU of Maryland.
The ACLU is worried about the unnecessary contact and believes there is room for mistakes, like stopping people over the age of 16 who appear younger to police.
"I feel like they target young black teenagers," one teen said.
This is also an issue the mayor's office is investigating.
"We're looking to see what juvenile arrests have looked like over the last 30 days as well so we can ensure we're not having negative consequences," said Angela Johnese, director of criminal justice, mayor's office.
None of the youth who violated the curfew were arrested. They were all returned to either a guardian or parent.
A violation could result in a fine up to $300. That could be waived if the family agrees to participate in counseling services.
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