Curfew enforcement for kids under 17 now in effect in Newark

The City of Newark is now enforcing a longstanding curfew for kids under the age of 17.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka’s Office is also launching new programs to promote youth safety this summer.

Friday was the first night of the new enforcement for kids found outside after 11 p.m.

The curfew is all part of Newark’s Summer of Hope initiative.

The Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery also has special programs for kids.

If a kid is found outside after 11 p.m. a police officer will ask them for their information, and contact the Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery to come pick them up and bring them home.

If there is no parent or guardian around, the child will be transported to a local hospital. After four hours, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency will be called to come pick them up.

The mayor’s office is hoping the activities combined with the curfew enforcement will help curb youth violence in the community.

For now, the curfew enforcement will only be in effect for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The city will implement the change to seven days a week beginning June 21 when school ends and the juvenile programs picks up.

News 12 reached out to the mayor’s office to find out how it has gone so far but had yet to hear back as of Saturday evening.