LR Cops Cracking Down On Teen Curfew
By: Lauren Trager, KARK 4 News
Updated: June 6, 2012
Listen up parents: your teen could get thrown in jail for violating curfew.
Little Rock police are linking some crime downtown to teens out too late and officers are cracking down.
"If we catch you in violation of curfew you will receive a citation," said Lt. Terry Hastings with Little Rock police.
He says officers are noticing an alarming trend: as certain crime rates climb, so too, do the number of teens cited for being out too late.
"They may be drinking, they may have drugs, so we are seeing curfew plus other crimes coming together," said Lt. Hastings.
In the 90's, the city passed a curfew ordinance. Anyone under the age of 18 must be off streets, sidewalks, parks and playgrounds after 10 during the week and after midnight Friday and Saturday.
Police say in recent years, they've gotten more serious about citations.
In 2010, officers issued 56, 2011:122 and so just far this year: 75.
One citation is a first class ticket to see Judge Mark Leverett.
"These cases are not considered lightly in our court," Judge Leverett said.
Judge Leverett says most teens in his courtroom get one year's probation, but there's few second chances.
"They understand that there is an ending period to the patience to the court, they can be held in contempt, they can be sent to juvenile jail, they understand that," said Judge Leverett.
Though some cities are now charging parents fines for allowing their teens out, Judge Leverett says he prefers the kids, not parents, be punished.
"If you are trying to figure out how to pay bills, I am not going to add any more pressure on that side," he said.
Others, though, like mom Shannon McGehee, say let the parents pay. When her kids get older, she says, they won't be roaming the streets.
"The mall closes at nine, so they are not there, they aren't going out to eat, there's nothing to do out there anyway, but to get in trouble," said McGehee.
Judge Leverett says he's seen kids as young as 11 in his courtroom, most are 13, 14, 15 years old.
He says if these kids lives aren't turned around now, they could become criminally minded adults.
His program, he says, works. He says he sees few repeat offenders.
