The City of Seaford recently adopted a juvenile curfew ordinance, allowing the mayor to implement a curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. for those 17 and under when necessary. The ordinance was proposed in July as a tool for the police department to address civil unrest or spikes in juvenile crime. However, studies have found that juvenile curfews are ineffective in reducing crime.
Exceptions to the curfew include emergencies, religious practices, and traveling to and from work with proper certification. Enforcement would result in $50 fines to parents, increasing by $25 for each additional offense. Seaford is the 13th city in Delaware to adopt a curfew ordinance.
Seaford Police Chief Marshall Craft reported 528 complaints involving juveniles in the past three years, with 34 juveniles listed as suspects or defendants in criminal charges. Deputy Police Chief Mika Rapa emphasized the importance of parents taking responsibility for their children.
Despite the adoption of the curfew ordinance, the Seaford Police Department did not provide data on juvenile crime rates in the area. The U.S. has over 400 towns, cities, counties, and states with juvenile curfews in place, according to the National Youth Rights Association. It remains to be seen how this curfew ordinance will impact the community in Seaford.
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Photo credit www.delawarepublic.org
