Curfew Nets 40 Juvenile Detentions Downtown

ST. LOUIS - A modified overnight curfew for juveniles in St. Louis’ Downtown and Downtown West neighborhoods was in effect this past weekend, with 40 juveniles detained for violations, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, as city officials said the measure is intended to address unsafe late-night gatherings during the July 4 weekend and the rest of the summer.

The curfew applies nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. to people 17 and younger. It began the evening of July 3 and is set to end the morning of Sept. 8, under Executive Order 98 signed by Mayor Cara Spencer late last week.

St. Louis Police said juveniles detained for curfew violations are being transported to a reunification center, where parents are being cited. Officers also recovered illegal fireworks from seven juveniles and made one arrest for petty larceny, according to the department.

“Public safety is a shared responsibility. Please know where your children are and who they are with,” the police department said in a statement. “Our goal is to keep young people safe and prevent situations that can lead to crime, victimization, or injury.”

City officials said the curfew was put in place after previous July 4 celebrations brought juveniles downtown late at night, creating what they described as unsafe conditions for themselves and others that sometimes continued through the summer.

“This curfew will make sure that teens taking part in the celebrations stay with trusted adults, and that we have another tool to keep both juveniles and our community safe, both this holiday weekend and the rest of the summer," Mayor Spencer said.

The mayor’s office said it worked with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, downtown representatives of the Board of Aldermen, Celebrate St. Louis and other stakeholders to create what it called a reasonable and enforceable curfew.

Exceptions include juveniles accompanied by an adult having their care and custody, being outside their home, or attending or traveling to or from a school- or city-sponsored activity, an activity of a religious, civic or other association, or a place of employment.

“As we move through a busy summer season filled with events and activities, our priority is maintaining a safe environment for residents, visitors, and families,” Police Chief Robert J. Tracy said. “This curfew provides another tool to help prevent unsafe situations, encourage parental involvement, and support a coordinated approach to public safety in Downtown and Downtown West.”

The city said the curfew is modeled after youth curfews in Kansas City, Philadelphia, Chicago and Washington.

The city said multiple nonprofit organizations working with youths will be at the center to connect juveniles with resources.

The city said it is also working to establish evening programming for youths for the remaining summer weekends.

More information on this will be forthcoming. This is in addition to existing daytime summer youth programming through OVP, the Recreation Division and SLATE.

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