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NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:  Thursday, August 14, 2008

CURFEW DETAILS AND DEFINITIONS

(Hartford) -  The following information is provided by the Hartford Police  Department to the public with respect to the enforcement of City of Hartford Municipal Code Section 25-4 Curfew for Minors, which reads: 

It shall be unlawful for any child under the age of eighteen (18) years to loiter on the streets or in any theater or other public place in the city after 9:00 p.m., unless such child is accompanied by his/her parent or guardian, or other adult person into whose care and custody such child has been committed by his/her parent or guardian.

Under Hartford Police Order 7-73 "It shall be the policy of the Hartford Police Department to enforce provisions of 25-4 of the Municipal Code of the City of Hartford.  This ordinance is implemented as a measure to remove loitering minors and juveniles from public places for their safety or the safety of others.  It shall be enforced with the knowledge that it is not indented to prohibit individuals under the age of eighteen (18) from engaging in lawful and purposeful pursuits or activities when they are accompanied by a parent, guardian or other responsible adult the minor or juvenile has been entrusted to.

Definitions:

Juvenile:  Youth under the age of sixteen (16).

Minor:  Youth under the age of eighteen (18) and sixteen (16) or older.

Responsible Adult: Person eighteen (18) or older into whose care and custody a minor or juvenile has been entrusted by their parent or guardian.

Loitering:  The current City of Hartford Municipal Code Section 25-8 defines Loitering:

(a)  As used in this section, "to loiter" means standing around, moving slowly about, spending time idly, sauntering, delaying , lingering or lagging behind.

(b)  It shall be unlawful for any person or group of persons to loiter on the streets, sidewalks, crosswalks, walks in public parks or any other public area so as to impede and interfere with the use of the street, sidewalk, crosswalk, walk in a public park or other public area by any other person.  Any police officer may order any person violating this subsection to cease and desist from interfering with the right of any other person to use the street, sidewalks, crosswalks, walks in public parks or any other public area.

(c)  It shall be unlawful for any person or group of persons to loiter on the grounds or within any building of a school within the city so as to in a any way impede, interfere with or interrupt the operation of any school or class within such school.  Any person in charge of such school or his designee may order any person violating this subsection to immediately quit such premises.

(d)  It shall be unlawful for any person to loiter on private property within the city if ordered to quit the private property by the owner thereof or his agent.

State law references:  Authority to prohibit loitering, G.S. ss 7-148(c)(7)(F)(i),(ii).

If a juvenile or minor is found in violation of Municipal Code 25-4, Curfew for Minors, the officer will escort the juvenile to their home and turn the juvenile over to a parent, guardian or responsible adult and:

(i)  For first time violations, both Juveniles and Minors, officers will issue a written warning.

(ii) For Juveniles, subsequent violations the officer will make a Juvenile Referral in accordance with Department procedure.

(iii) Minors, i.e. those 16 and 17, for subsequent violations will be issued a Misdemeanor Summons for Community Court.

On receipt of a Juvenile Referral, the Commander of the Juvenile Investigative Division shall review as to the cause of the offense, coordinate with Juvenile Court, HPD Court Liaison Officer, Department of Children and Families, Office of Youth Services, and other divisions to make appropriate referrals to responsible community groups, agencies, and/or the Juvenile Review Board.

In commenting on the enforcement of the city's Curfew for Minors, Hartford Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts said, "The enforcement of the curfew, meant as an emergency 30-day measure, is intended first and foremost to ensure Hartford youth are in as safe an environment as possible while we implement tougher investigative and enforcement activities."
 

860-722-TIPS (8477)

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Contact:   Nancy M. Mulroy, Public Information Officer, Hartford Police Department,  (860) 757-4021
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