BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
Section 54-61 of the Saginaw City Code establishes a "curfew for minors" ordinance. This ordinance was originally passed on September 20, 1994, and renewed every three years, most recently in April 2019. Section 370.002 of the Local Government Code requires such ordinances to be reviewed every three years, and allow for public input to the council.
The hearing tonight is the second of two hearings for public input regarding the continuation of the curfew ordinance for minors. The second public hearing and consideration of the ordinance will be on the April 19th agenda.
The City of Saginaw adopted a nighttime curfew for minors to give the police a tool in controlling late night juvenile crime. Officers were given the ability to detain minors for a brief period to establish whether they had parental permission to be out late at night, reducing the likelihood of becoming the victim of a crime, and intervening in behavior that could lead to committing crimes.
Officers average sixteen citations per year over the past 10 years, when dealing with juveniles and potential curfew violations. However, during the last three years this average has dropped to only seven violations, with no citations being written so far in 2022. The conclusion could be drawn that the ordinance has been effective in reducing unauthorized late night activity among minors, but this conclusion could also be misleading considering the past two years of shutdowns with the Covid19 pandemic. Officers report making numerous additional contacts with minors resulting in returning them home without a resulting citation.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval.