NCJ Number
182247
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 69 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2000 Pages: 15-18
Editor(s)
John E. Ott
Date Published
2000
Length
4 pages
Annotation
After several months of study and deliberation, the City Council in Charlottesville, Virginia enacted a juvenile curfew in December 1996 to reduce violence and crime in the city and to strengthen parental responsibility for children.
Abstract
The Charlottesville Police Department examined other communities with positive curfew experiences and learned the importance of three main factors associated with successful curfew programs: community acceptance, consistent enforcement, and accurate record-keeping. Since the inception of the curfew, Charlottesville has seen a dramatic decrease in the number of juveniles on the streets late at night or in the early morning hours. Most parents and guardians have applauded police department efforts to have school resource officers explain to young people the potential dangers that exist during these time periods. In addition, school administrators have noticed an improvement in attendance. Implementation of the curfew has gone smoothly and the results have exceeded the police department's expectations. The success of the curfew in Charlottesville has demonstrated how community members can work together to reduce juvenile crime and violence. 12 endnotes and 2 photographs