Some teenagers in Gloucester Township, New Jersey, have been causing serious problems at community events. Fights and unruly behavior have gotten so bad that local leaders passed a new law that could punish parents if their kids get into trouble.
“More and more, our officers are running into disrespectful, out-of-control behavior by juveniles…” said David Harkins, chief of the Gloucester Township Police Department.
“This ordinance is just another way of us trying to change the course and make parents responsible or at least know where their children are and what they’re up to.”
The Township of Gloucester Minors and Parents Responsibility Ordinance says parents could face up to 90 days in jail and a $2,000 fine if their child repeatedly breaks rules such as skipping school, loitering, violating curfew, committing felonies, or other offenses.
Harkins shared one example on Fox & Friends: last year, a fight broke out at the Gloucester Township Day and Drone Show. Three officers were injured, and nine teens were arrested.
This year, the same event was canceled after NJ.com reported that social media posts hinted at similar behavior being planned. Gloucester Township is about 15 miles from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“Something’s got to change. We’ve got to get our kids back on track,” Harkins said. “They’ve got to stop acting crazy… and get respect back for law enforcement.”
He added that the ordinance is not about controlling families but about keeping parents informed so they can take “corrective action.”
“We recognize how important being a parent is… I want to get back to where the parents know what their kids are doing, they know where they’re going and who they’re hanging around with. And if my child were to get in trouble, I would want to know about that and know that I’m going to be responsible so that we can take corrective action.”
Harkins also admitted that some parents may struggle to manage their kids’ behavior. To help, the township has a full-time social worker working with juvenile detectives to guide troubled teens.
