The community has gotten fed up with gunfire, petty burglary, car break-ins, gang activity and the deaths of teenagers so the Clarksdale Police Department is cracking down on juvenile crime this weekend.
The City of Clarksdale has changed its curfew ordinance, with earlier hours this summer, in an effort to get kids home and safe and will be picking up youths out after hours. Police will give citations to adults who can’t keep their kid at home.
The new curfew will be from 9 p.m. until 5:30: a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9:59 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday and applies to anyone under the age of 18.
The ordinance says minors are not allowed to be on streets, highways, parks, vacant lots or any other public place during the curfew. The ordinance goes on to say minors are not allowed to “cruise” in vehicles without a set destination.
The exception to this new rule is minors in the presence of their parents or legal guardians. Adults who are not the parent or guardian and found to be with minors after curfew can be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Ward 1 Commissioner Bo Plunk made the motion to adopt the new ordinance and it was seconded by Ward 2 Commissioner Jimmy Harris.
“Police know who the trouble-makers are and they are going to be pulling cars over and stopping people who are walking and finding out how old they are,” said Plunk. “They are not trying to harass anyone. They are just trying to make the streets and neighborhoods of Clarksdale safe for all of us this summer.”
Clarksdale has seen nine murders since the first of January with four of those involving juveniles. Two of the deaths were the result of people simply shooting into houses and either running away or driving off. Police have also reported dozens of shots fired into homes and cars this spring.
Minors picked up by police will be taken to the Clarksdale Police Department and held until their parent or guardian comes to pick them up. If police can’t make contact with the parent or guardian within two hours, the minor will be turned over to juvenile authorities.
In the city’s reading of the ordinance it was noted, “the Board of Mayor and Commissioners has previously found and determined . . . that there has been a significant breakdown in the supervision and guidance normally provided by parents of juveniles, resulting in an increase in crimes by and against juveniles and other unacceptable behavior.”
The ordinance also said police will be dedicating resources to stopping vandalism, public drinking, littering, drug use, breaking and entering, joy-riding and harassment of residents.
The change to the ordinance will expire Aug. 31, 2024.
State law is carefully worded in its dealing with minors and says juveniles found to be violating curfew laws can be considered to have committed an act of delinquency. Being deemed delinquent will require the minor to perform up to 200 hours of community service at the discretion of the court. The court can also take away the minor’s driver’s license for one year.
Minors found guilty of a second curfew violation can see the court suspend their license until they are 18-years-old.
The parents or guardian can be fined $250 for a first offense and shall be fined $500 for a second offense.
State law also says changes to the curfew are allowed and executed by the Chief Administrative officer defined in the statue as the mayor of any municipality.
The ordinance says these changes go into effect when they are voted on by the board. The ordinance also says the changes must be published in the newspaper of record and or posted around the community, in schools, churches or other public places.
The full ordinance can be found in the Classified Section at the back of the Clarksdale Press Register under legals.
