Baltimore leaders on Wednesday announced details of the mayor’s youth engagement strategy.The plan, called “B’More This Summer,” takes effect at the start of the Memorial Day weekend. Mayor Brandon Scott said the curfew is part of his broader vision to increase youth activities this summer.”We all want our young people to have a safe and engaging summer, enjoy that time off from school and get connected and develop the best way possible. That’s what this about,” Scott said.According to the mayor’s office, this approach to the youth curfew has never been tried before in Baltimore. It’s a combination of structured youth activities and social work, and the role of the police, officials emphasized, will be limited.More than 300 young people provided input into Baltimore’s curfew plan. The mayor said it’s designed with youth activities in mind to keep them safe and engaged and to prevent unnecessary interaction with police. It mirrors the mayor’s holistic approach to fighting crime.”This activation is in response to the growing need for us to connect our young people and their families to vital supports and provide them with those safe, welcoming environments as an alternative to being out late at night when, frankly, they shouldn’t be,” Scott said.”This is about communal parenting. These are all of our children,” said Shantay Jackson, executive director of the mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement.Youth curfew enforcement parametersUnder the curfew, city staff will engage any young person under the age of 14 who is out after 9 p.m. without a parent or guardian. This also applies to youth between the ages of 14 and 16 who are out after 11 p.m. on weekend or holiday nights.| RELATED: Baltimore working on summer strategy to keep youth safe, engagedTeens and those younger will be encouraged to go to a youth connection site. No further action will be taken against those who refuse. The mayor said the offenders will first be encouraged to go home or city staff will call the youth’s parent or guardian before the youth is taken to an engagement center.The city will open Youth Connection Centers at the CC Jackson Recreation Center (4910 Park Heights Ave.) and the Rita R. Church Community Center (2101 St Lo Drive).At the centers, young people will be supervised by staff, and there will be areas for the youth to play, eat or sleep while they await pickup.| RELATED: Baltimore City Public Schools ready to provide summer youth programThe curfew will take effect on weekends and holidays from May 26 to Sept. 3.Repeat violations will garner a written notice and warning for the first offense, a $50 fine or family counseling for a second offense and a fine of up to $500 or community service for the parent/guardian for a third offense.The curfew excludes young people participating in city-sponsored events. Those youths who will be given city-issued wristbands to verify their participation. They will have an hour to get home after the end of the event they attended.De-emphasizing law enforcement’s roleUnder the mayor’s plan, police officers will focus on groups of 10 or more young people, and identification will not be demanded. There will be no pat-downs unless safety is an issue, and officers will not engage until a youth connection worker is at the scene. Police are being instructed to verbally command the group to disperse.| I-TEAM: BPD policy outlines how to enforce youth curfew”We are de-emphasizing law enforcement’s role here, bringing in more resources to our kids to solve our problems,” Baltimore City Solicitor Ebony Thompson said.Targeted areas include the Inner Harbor, Fells Point and Federal Hill. There will be as many as 10 youth connection staff at each site, and city bus drivers will provide transportation to the centers in clearly marked city vehicles.The city plans a media blitz on all platforms to get the word out. On Friday, every public school student will be given information to take home, and there will be robocalls, peer public service announcements and a special video message from the mayor.
Baltimore leaders on Wednesday announced details of the mayor’s youth engagement strategy.
The plan, called “B’More This Summer,” takes effect at the start of the Memorial Day weekend. Mayor Brandon Scott said the curfew is part of his broader vision to increase youth activities this summer.
“We all want our young people to have a safe and engaging summer, enjoy that time off from school and get connected and develop the best way possible. That’s what this about,” Scott said.
According to the mayor’s office, this approach to the youth curfew has never been tried before in Baltimore. It’s a combination of structured youth activities and social work, and the role of the police, officials emphasized, will be limited.
More than 300 young people provided input into Baltimore’s curfew plan. The mayor said it’s designed with youth activities in mind to keep them safe and engaged and to prevent unnecessary interaction with police. It mirrors the mayor’s holistic approach to fighting crime.
“This activation is in response to the growing need for us to connect our young people and their families to vital supports and provide them with those safe, welcoming environments as an alternative to being out late at night when, frankly, they shouldn’t be,” Scott said.
“This is about communal parenting. These are all of our children,” said Shantay Jackson, executive director of the mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement.
Youth curfew enforcement parameters
Under the curfew, city staff will engage any young person under the age of 14 who is out after 9 p.m. without a parent or guardian. This also applies to youth between the ages of 14 and 16 who are out after 11 p.m. on weekend or holiday nights.
| RELATED: Baltimore working on summer strategy to keep youth safe, engaged
Teens and those younger will be encouraged to go to a youth connection site. No further action will be taken against those who refuse. The mayor said the offenders will first be encouraged to go home or city staff will call the youth’s parent or guardian before the youth is taken to an engagement center.
The city will open Youth Connection Centers at the CC Jackson Recreation Center (4910 Park Heights Ave.) and the Rita R. Church Community Center (2101 St Lo Drive).
At the centers, young people will be supervised by staff, and there will be areas for the youth to play, eat or sleep while they await pickup.
| RELATED: Baltimore City Public Schools ready to provide summer youth program
The curfew will take effect on weekends and holidays from May 26 to Sept. 3.
Repeat violations will garner a written notice and warning for the first offense, a $50 fine or family counseling for a second offense and a fine of up to $500 or community service for the parent/guardian for a third offense.
The curfew excludes young people participating in city-sponsored events. Those youths who will be given city-issued wristbands to verify their participation. They will have an hour to get home after the end of the event they attended.
De-emphasizing law enforcement’s role
Under the mayor’s plan, police officers will focus on groups of 10 or more young people, and identification will not be demanded. There will be no pat-downs unless safety is an issue, and officers will not engage until a youth connection worker is at the scene. Police are being instructed to verbally command the group to disperse.
| I-TEAM: BPD policy outlines how to enforce youth curfew
“We are de-emphasizing law enforcement’s role here, bringing in more resources to our kids to solve our problems,” Baltimore City Solicitor Ebony Thompson said.
Targeted areas include the Inner Harbor, Fells Point and Federal Hill. There will be as many as 10 youth connection staff at each site, and city bus drivers will provide transportation to the centers in clearly marked city vehicles.
The city plans a media blitz on all platforms to get the word out. On Friday, every public school student will be given information to take home, and there will be robocalls, peer public service announcements and a special video message from the mayor.
