Alderman Wants Parental Counseling For Families Of Repeat Curfew Violators
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A West Side alderman has proposed an ordinance that would give some special attention to families whose children repeatedly violate the city's curfew for young people.
WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports Ald. Deborah Graham (29th) has introduced a measure that would require parents of a child caught out after curfew three times in a year to be referred to social services for parental counseling.
Alderman Seeks Counseling For Curfew Violations
Graham said the proposal is not intended to punish the family.
"It's designed to be supportive," she said. "We have to be proactive, because we don't want our young people out there on the streets to be hurt. So I think it's a better way, it's an alternative to receiving the fines; just getting the family the help that they need."
Under the city's curfew, minors under 12 years old must be in the house from 8:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday nights, and from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
Minors between the ages of 12 and 16 have curfews of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday, and 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
Graham said people in her neighborhood have been worried about families whose kids seem to consistently violate curfew.
The current curfew ordinance imposes fines of up to $500 and/or an order to perform community service any time a child is caught out after curfew. Three violations in one year would lead to a tripling of the fines.
