Juvenile curfew in Dallas sparks debate among citizens
By Nolan Fowler
The Youth Commission of the City of Dallas brought to light the controversial juvenile curfew law again in a meeting last week.
The commission, a 15-member board of high school students who “aim to inspire Dallas youth to become lifelong leaders actively engaged in civic affairs, public policy, and advocacy,” is openly against juvenile curfew.
In an essay to Mayor Mike Rawlings and the Dallas City Council, the Youth Commission “urges you to end the curfew for minors in the City of Dallas.”
Citing careful study of the cause and effects of the ordinance, the commission goes on to say, “we have determined that the curfew inhibits Dallas youth more than it protects and encourages them to be better citizens.”
The Youth Commission is just one of the parties who have an opinion on the juvenile curfew law in Dallas.
The Dallas juvenile curfew law forbids kids below the age of 17 to be outside without an adult between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday-Thursday nights. On Saturday and Sunday, the hours expand to 12:01 a.m. and 6 a.m. A violation can result in a fine of up to $500.
The law ended last month and debate on the issue has been rampant.
Proponents of the measure, including Edna Pemperton and Andre Butler, who spoke in support of the law at the Youth Commission meeting, say the measure is in place to protect young people. Pemperton supported the curfew ordinance when it was enacted in the 1990s, and is a leader of the Oak Cliff Community, who “aim to liberate Oak Cliff from Systemic Oppression.” Butler is an Entertainment Management Executive and also a part of The Oak Cliff Community.
“I grew up during the time the curfew was enacted and I’m telling you, I didn’t have any less fun,” said Butler at the meeting. “I didn’t miss prom, I didn’t miss football games, I didn’t miss hanging out with friends.”
“Between the hours of 11 am. and 6 a.m. there is potential for victimization of children when you’re out with lots of adults, and so that’s what the curfew was about, is about, and that hasn’t changed in 30 years,” said Butler.
Dallas City Council member Philip Kingston and civil rights groups are some of the leading opponents of the measure, claiming juvenile curfew is racist and unfairly targets minorities.
The Youth Commission obtained statistics from the Dallas Police Department that supported this viewpoint, saying at the meeting that around 70 percent of ticketed curfew violators were Latino, around 18 percent were African-American and around 10 percent were white.
A vote on reinstating the law is currently being delayed after Dallas City Council member Omar Narvaez filed motion on Feb. 13 to delay the vote on juvenile curfew. That motion passed by an 8–7 vote.
The plan is to have the City Manager and Chief Hall come back in 30 days with a new curfew, according to Cassandra Jaramillo, who covers Dallas police and crime for the Dallas Morning News.
There have already been two public hearings on juvenile curfew and Jon Fortune, the Assistant City Manager, says there has been a considerable amount of community dialogue on the topic. However, the state of the juvenile curfew ordinance is still unclear.
“The City Council directed staff to come back in March to provide additional curfew options, but I cannot predict the City Council’s actions at this time,” said Fortune.
There will be a City Council meeting on Feb. 27, where it is possible that the City Council may act on the curfew before March.
Sources:
https://dallastx.swagit.com/play/02122019-1270
https://dallascityhall.com/government/meetings/Pages/youth-commission.aspx
http://citysecretary2.dallascityhall.com/pdf/meetings/022719_CCM.pdf