As we enter the final weeks of the school year and are looking ahead to the lazy days of summer, your North Little Rock Police Department would like to remind its citizens about the Juvenile Curfew Ordinance (Ordinance #8098). In the City of North Little Rock it is unlawful for a juvenile age seventeen (17) or younger to be out on the streets and sidewalks of this city during designated curfew hours. The curfew hours for weekdays (Sunday through Thursday) are 10:00pm to 5:00am. The curfew hours for Friday and Saturday are 12:00 midnight until 5:00am. This Ordinance was designed to ensure the protection and safety of the youth of this community. It is also important to note that the Curfew Ordinance goes further and advises that the parents/guardians of the juvenile shall not permit the juvenile to be out after curfew unless there is a situation that requires the juvenile to be out after curfew. Those situations would be looked at on a case by case basis.
When a police officer encounters a juvenile who is found in violation of the Curfew Ordinance the officer will make contact with the juvenile’s parents or guardians and take the juvenile home if possible. For the first offense the juvenile and his/her parent or guardian will be issued a Curfew Violation Report form that both the juvenile and the parent/guardian will sign. Subsequent violations by the juvenile could result in fines for the parent/guardian and go up to notification of the juvenile authorities and potential prosecution for the parent/guardian.
If a citizen happens to observe a juvenile who is thought to be in violation of the Juvenile Curfew Ordinance he or she may contact the North Little Rock Police Department non-emergency number (501-758-1234) and report the observation. A few things to remember if reporting a possible curfew violation are the gender and race of the juvenile, location where the juvenile was observed, a clothing description, and an approximate age. This information will be helpful for officers responding to the area as they attempt to locate the juvenile.
We at your North Little Rock Police Department value each and every one of our citizens. Your safety and quality of life is of the upmost importance to us. We hope that you all have a wonderful and safe start to the summer.
If you would like further information on the Juvenile Curfew Ordinance feel free to visit www.nlr.ar.gov.
Article written by Sgt. Amy Cooper, NLR Police Department