Curfew Among Safe City Commission Conclusions Going To City Council

A youth curfew is among the suggestions that the Safe City Commission will present to the City Council on Monday.

The commission, which , has been discussing a number of ways to address youth violence in the city. The group was formed soon after the arrest of six teenagers in connection to the October murder of 25-year-old Matthew Chew, who was stabbed as he was walking home from work.

“I will tell you that the police chief is in favor of this particular item,” Michael Buscetto III, chairman of the commission, said of the curfew.

Buscetto said there is a curfew on the books, but it is unenforceable due to a lack of facilities in town to take juveniles. The proposal says the curfew would have to be adjusted to satisfy the city’s law director as well as state law, and remain “enforceable as well as flexible” due to more rigid models being less successful.

Tommie Major, director of the Recreation Department, passed out a 2009 study on curfew violations by Martha Yeide of the Development Services Group, Inc. of Bethesda, Md. The study says that most curfews run between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., with certain exceptions for students traveling to certain events, work, or emergencies. Some cities also have programs in place for curfew violations, including diversion plans to address issues such as anger management and substance abuse. The report said such programs appear to reduce the number of curfew violations, and that curfews may help in reducing juvenile trauma during those hours.

However, the report also noted that studies on curfews “have generally concluded that there is little evidence that curfew laws make a significant impact on juvenile crime rates.” It says that most violent juvenile incidents occur during school hours and peaks around 8 p.m. on non-school days. Major said there has also been uncertainty in municipalities that have curfews regarding the extent of their application.

“In a lot of these communities, there was no real understanding of what the curfew was,” he said.

Buscetto said he was also proposing crossing guards to serve as “ambassadors” and crime deterrents for city events. He said he and others were offended to see three police cars outside the , and felt that the crossing guards could avoid an overwhelming police presence in downtown. Capt. Bill Ditman said these guards would have to be trained, and Buscetto said there would also be an investment in their pay and gear, such as a cell phone, flashlight, and reflective vest for each guard.

Bill Morse, a member of the Board of Education, said a second school resource officer should be considered for the . Maria Pukas, director of New London Adult Education, said some anger issues in juveniles can be mistaken for mental disabilities and said counseling was needed for these youth.

The proposals were presented to the commission members for a written vote, and those which are approved will be presented to the City Council on Monday. Other proposals include:

• The establishment of a youth intervention center; staffing and hours to be considered, with possible staffers including a police chaplain, social services coordinator, school resource officer, or social services coordinator.
• Evaluation of programs and support of successful programs, including , Writers Block Ink, and Camp Rotary, possibly with city funds.
• A youth public service announcement project to have teens create, record, produce, and advertise messages in a number of mediums.
• An I-BEST (Integrated Basic Skills Education and Job Skills Training) program for at-risk youth to train for and explore potential careers.
• A communications effort to promote positive news, including a possible paid intern to act as a coordinator between the city and community.
• Analysis of crime data and installation of additional lighting and security cameras in areas with high crime rates.
• An Out of School Time director to serve as a liaison between the city and youth organizations.
• An examination of the schools’ zero tolerance policy to determine whether it is detrimental to youth behavior, with the possibility of replacing it with a community service requirement.
• Improving SEAT bus routes to be more conducive to city’s youth.
• Discussion on how to improve relations between juveniles and the police.
• Cooperation with the Boys and Girls Club for additional options.
• The possible establishment of a community center.