City leaders explain how curfew will be enforced
Updated: 9:30 PM EDT May 24, 2023
Baltimore City is gearing up to enforce the reinstated youth curfew this summer. Wednesday, officials answered questions about how it will be enforced.Community member and activist Mark Cannon was one of many Baltimoreans present at City Hall to learn more about the city’s new initiative called B-More This Summer.The program is a combination of structured youth activities and social work in addition to the curfew. The aim is to limit the role of Baltimore City police. “BPD will not be taking any information from the youth. We will not be transporting youth or arresting youth for curfew violations,” said Erin Murphy, BPD’s director of government affairs.Instead, if officers see a crowd of 10 or more kids, they’ll call the Youth Connection Center. Volunteers and city staff will show up and encourage young people to go to one of their recreation center sites. There, kids will find activities, a place to sleep and food.They will also offer music festivals, cookouts and more throughout the summer. At the end of the night, parents will be called.Curfew infractions will be implemented as needed, putting the responsibility on parents. If a kid refuses services, peer ambassadors will be called in.”We will be leveraging those young folks to be a strong, encouraging force. It is our intention to be relentless, and quite frankly, we believe that the level of relentlessness will have people dispersing,” said Shantay Jackson, director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement.The goal is to bring the community together by caring for Baltimore’s kids.Cannon said he just hopes the new plan will work.”What I hope we can do is get these young people off the street and get them to resources,” he said.The youth curfew will begin being enforced in two days, at the start of Memorial Day weekend.One of the first summer activities will take place at Rash Field on Sunday, offering free food and live music for teens from 6-10 p.m.
Baltimore City is gearing up to enforce the reinstated youth curfew this summer. Wednesday, officials answered questions about how it will be enforced.
Community member and activist Mark Cannon was one of many Baltimoreans present at City Hall to learn more about the city’s new initiative called B-More This Summer.
The program is a combination of structured youth activities and social work in addition to the curfew. The aim is to limit the role of Baltimore City police.
“BPD will not be taking any information from the youth. We will not be transporting youth or arresting youth for curfew violations,” said Erin Murphy, BPD’s director of government affairs.
Instead, if officers see a crowd of 10 or more kids, they’ll call the Youth Connection Center. Volunteers and city staff will show up and encourage young people to go to one of their recreation center sites. There, kids will find activities, a place to sleep and food.
They will also offer music festivals, cookouts and more throughout the summer. At the end of the night, parents will be called.
Curfew infractions will be implemented as needed, putting the responsibility on parents. If a kid refuses services, peer ambassadors will be called in.
“We will be leveraging those young folks to be a strong, encouraging force. It is our intention to be relentless, and quite frankly, we believe that the level of relentlessness will have people dispersing,” said Shantay Jackson, director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement.
The goal is to bring the community together by caring for Baltimore’s kids.
Cannon said he just hopes the new plan will work.
“What I hope we can do is get these young people off the street and get them to resources,” he said.
The youth curfew will begin being enforced in two days, at the start of Memorial Day weekend.
One of the first summer activities will take place at Rash Field on Sunday, offering free food and live music for teens from 6-10 p.m.
