IT HASN’T BEEN BRAIN SURGERY. YOU KNOW, IT NEVER HAD TO GET THIS BAD IN THE FIRST PLACE. COMMUNITY MEMBER AND ACTIVIST MARK CANNON WAS ONE OF MANY BALTIMOREANS AT CITY HALL WEDNESDAY. ALL HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CITY’S NEW INITIATIVE AIMED AT ENGAGING YOUTH WHEN SCHOOL GETS OUT, IT’S CALLED BE MORE. THIS SUMMER, A COMBINATION OF STRUCTURED YOUTH ACTIVITIES, SOCIAL WORK AND A CURFEW FOR KIDS THAT AIMS TO KEEP THE ROLE OF POLICE LIMITED AT BPD. WE’RE NOT TAKING ANY INFORMATION FROM THE YOUTH. WE WILL NOT BE TRANSFERRED. PUTTING THE YOUTH OR ARRESTING THE YOUTH FOR CURFEW VIOLATIONS. INSTEAD, IF OFFICERS SEE A CROWD OF TEN OR MORE KIDS, THEY’LL CALL THE YOUTH CONNECTION CENTER. VOLYN TEARS AND CITY STAFF WILL SHOW UP AND ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO GO TO ONE OF THEIR REC CENTER SITES. THEY’RE KIDS WILL FIND ACTIVITIES A PLACE TO SLEEP AND FOOD. THEY’LL 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 THOSE PARENTS. IF A KID REFUSES THE SERVICES, PEER AMBASSADORS WILL BE CALLED IN. WE WILL BE LEVERAGING THOSE YOUNG FOLKS TO TRY TO BE THAT STRONG, ENCOURAGING FORCE. IT IS OUR INTENTION TO BE RELENTLESS AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE BELIEVE THAT THE LEVEL OF RELENTLESS NESS WILL HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE DISPERSE. RIGHT. THE GOAL IS TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN CARING FOR BALTIMORE’S KIDS. CANNON SAYS HE JUST HOPES THIS NEW PLAN WILL WORK. WHAT I HOPE WE CAN DO IS GET THESE YOUNG PEOPLE OFF OF THE STREET AND GET THEM TO RESOURCES. NOW, THAT CURFEW DOES START IN TWO DAYS. THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. AS FOR THOSE RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES, THEY START UP THIS SUNDAY AT 6 TO 10 P.M. THERE WILL BE AN EVENT JUST FOR TEENS, INCLUDING FOOD AND LIVE MUSIC. AGAIN, THAT IS THIS SUNDAY. LI
Baltimore summer youth curfew takes effect Memorial Day weekend
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Updated: 4:17 PM EDT May 26, 2023
A citywide youth curfew starts Friday night in Baltimore and lasts through Labor Day weekend.Officials said the goals are to keep kids safe and to cut down on crime.City residents received a text message and phone calls Friday morning reminding them of the curfew. The text read: "Reminder: Curfew ordinance is in effect from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. all summer." It also included a link to the B'More Summer Information Hub that has a list of events and activities for youths.| RELATED: 'B'More This Summer' aims to engage youth in fun, safe activitiesThe curfew impacts teenagers aged 14, 15 and 16 on weekends and holidays from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.For those 13 and younger, the curfew starts at 9 p.m.There are exceptions, including for children with their parent or guardian, and youths traveling to or from a job or city-sponsored event.Non-law-enforcement city staff are focusing on the Inner Harbor, Fells Point and Federal Hill. If youths are seen out past their curfew, they will be encouraged to go home.They also have the option to go to a late-night center either at the CC Jackson Recreation Center (4910 Park Heights Ave.) or 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.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.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.| VIDEO BELOW: 'These are all of our children': Summer youth engagement strategy unveiled
BALTIMORE — A citywide youth curfew starts Friday night in Baltimore and lasts through Labor Day weekend.
Officials said the goals are to keep kids safe and to cut down on crime.
City residents received a text message and phone calls Friday morning reminding them of the curfew. The text read: "Reminder: Curfew ordinance is in effect from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. all summer." It also included a link to the B'More Summer Information Hub that has a list of events and activities for youths.
| RELATED: 'B'More This Summer' aims to engage youth in fun, safe activities
The curfew impacts teenagers aged 14, 15 and 16 on weekends and holidays from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
For those 13 and younger, the curfew starts at 9 p.m.
There are exceptions, including for children with their parent or guardian, and youths traveling to or from a job or city-sponsored event.
Non-law-enforcement city staff are focusing on the Inner Harbor, Fells Point and Federal Hill. If youths are seen out past their curfew, they will be encouraged to go home.
They also have the option to go to a late-night center either at the CC Jackson Recreation Center (4910 Park Heights Ave.) or 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.
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.
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.
| VIDEO BELOW: 'These are all of our children': Summer youth engagement strategy unveiled
