Keep your children safe, and don’t forget curfew laws
By: Tim Hammett 08/01/2006
Whether it’s the height of summer vacation or the middle of the school year, our kids are often faced with difficult challenges and choices. As adults it’s up to us to equip them with the information and resources they need to meet these challenges and stay safe.
During the summer months, neighborhood safety is an important issue. A disproportionate number of crime victims are children. Nationally, the 12 to 17 year-old cohort represents roughly 10 percent of the total population. However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics they represent about 20 percent of violent crime victims. It’s important for the parents and other adults in their lives to help them make wise choices and provide an environment that reduces these risks.
One of the best things that you can do is to get to know and work together with your neighbors. Watch out for suspicious and unusual behavior in your neighborhood. Get to know your neighbors and their children so you can look out for one another. No single family can watch their kids all the time. A block of trusted neighbors can be far more effective in keeping an eye on things.
The National Crime Prevention Council offers these additional tips for keeping your kids safe in the neighborhood:
• Know where your children are. Have your children tell you or ask permission before leaving the house and give them a time to check in or be home. When possible, have them leave a phone number of where they will be.
• Set limits on where your children can go in your neighborhood. Do you want them crossing busy roads? Playing in alleys or abandoned buildings? Are there certain homes in your neighborhood that you don’t want your children to go to?
• Get to know your children’s friends. Meet their parents before letting your children to go to their home and keep a list of their phone numbers. If you can’t meet their parents, call and talk to them. Ask what your children might do at their house and if they will be supervised.
• Choose a safe house in your neighborhood. Pick a neighbor’s house where your children can go if they need help. Point out other places they can go for help, like stores, libraries and police stations. Locate the nearest McGruff house or volunteer to have a McGruff House.
Night time is particularly dangerous for kids out on the street. Many crimes against children happen after dark. Curfew laws protect our children. Become familiar with the Minneapolis juvenile curfew ordinance: For those under 12 years old: Weekdays: home by 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday: home by 10 p.m. For those ages 12-14: Weekdays: home by 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday: home by 11 p.m. For those ages 15-17: Weekdays: home by 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday: home by midnight. Make sure your own kids know the curfew and stick to it. If you see a curfew violation, call 911 to report it.
Youth safety is a vitally important topic, and encompasses far more than can be covered here. There are many sources of good crime prevention and youth safety. One of the best is the National Crime Prevention Council. For a detailed discussion and a wealth of tips and suggestions log on to www.ncpc.org/parents. Let’s all work together to make our neighborhoods great places to raise our families.