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Home My WebLink AboutIR 017 (3) INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 23-017 January 24, 2023 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council R Page 1 of 7 Y SUBJECT: CURFEW ORDINANCE FOR MINORS rFrn Yg7'3 The purpose of this report is to provide additional information about the review of the City of Fort Worth Curfew Ordinance. Just as a reminder, the state statute enabling a city to authorize a teen curfew requires a review and council action every third year. Public hearings were held for the curfew ordinance on November 29, 2022, December 13, 2022, and January 10, 2023. Additionally, information about the ordinance was shared through informal reports to City Council, our social media and other media outlets. Overview of the Last Informal Report Over the past two years there have only been 48 juvenile curfew filings and 120 filings over the past three years. Council Districts 2, 4, and 7 have had the majority of the filings in the city. Overall, the majority of the filings were for 15- and 16-year-old individuals. This ordinance is not used often, but it is a good tool for officers in the field to address juvenile-related issues. Curfew Ordinance Under the current ordinance, curfew hours are (1) between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the following day on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday; and (2) between 12:01 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. A minor is a person under 17 years of age. A curfew violation is committed if a minor remains in any public place or on the premise of any establishment within the city during curfew hours. There are several exceptions to the curfew as follows: • Accompanied by the minor's parent or guardian; • On an errand at the direction of the minor's parent or guardian, without any detour or stop; • In a motor vehicle involved in interstate travel; • Engaged in an employment activity, or going to or returning from home from an employment activity, without any detour or stop; • Involved in an emergency; • On the sidewalk abutting the minor's residence or abutting the residence of a next-door neighbor if the neighbor did not complain to the police department or marshal's office about the minor's presence; • Attending an official school, religious, or other recreational activity supervised by adults and sponsored by the City of Fort Worth, a civic organization, or another similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor, or going to or returning home from, without any detour or stop, an official school, religious, or other recreational activity supervised by adults and sponsored by the City of Fort Worth, a civic organization, or another similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor; • Exercising First Amendment rights protected by the United States Constitution, such as the free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, and the right of assembly; or • Married or had been married or had disabilities of minority removed in accordance with Chapter 31 of the Texas Family Code. If a minor is detained for violation of curfew the ordinance requires the officer to ask the minor's age and reason for being in the public place. The officer may only issue a citation if they believe that an offense has occurred. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 23-017 January 24, 2023 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council R Page 2 of 7 Y SUBJECT: CURFEW ORDINANCE FOR MINORS rFrn Yg7'3 A B C Fiscal Year Total Closed % Plea - % No Plea - % Filings Open Open 2020 72 29 40.3% 4 5.6% 39 54.2% 2021 19 1 5 26.3% 2 10.5% 1 12 63.2% 2022 29 0 1 0.0% 0 1 0.0% 29 1 100% Total 120 34 1 28.3% 6 1 5.0% 80 1 66.7% Column A Represents cases in which a case was closed through Teen Court, payment, deferred disposition, or dismissal. Column B Represents cases in which a plea was entered, and final disposition has not occurred yet. Column C Represents cases in which the defendant has not appeared to enter a plea. Curfew Filings by A e fiscal Total 10 % 11 % 12 % 13 % 14 % 15 % 16 % 17 % ear Filings 020 72 0 0.0% 1 1.4% 3 4.2% 8 11.1% 8 11.1% 22 30.6% 28 38.9% 2 2.8 0 021 19 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 1 5.3% 0 0.0% 1 5.3% 7 36.8% 9 47.4% 1 5.3 0 022 1 29 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 1 3.4% 1 3.4% 1 6 120.7% 1 11 137.9% 1 9 1 31.0% 1 1 1 3.4 0 Total 120 0 0.0% 1 0.8% 5 4.2% 9 7.5% 15 12.5% 40 33.3% 46 38.3% 4 3.3 0 Of the four curfew filings for 17 years of age, three filings were dismissed via a prosecutor's recommendation citing the curfew ordinance and age of the person at the time the citation was issued, and one filing is pending and is an open case. Curfew Filings by Race and Ethnicity Fiscal Total Asianor % Black % Hispanic % Other % White Year Filings pacific or Latino 2020 72 1 1.4% 29 40.3% 22 30.6% 4 5.6% 16 22.2% 2021 19 0 0.0% 6 31.6% 7 36.8% 1 5.3% 5 26.3% 2022 29 2 6.9% 4 13.8% 11 37.9% 1 3.4% 11 37.9% Total 120 3 2.5% 1 39 32.5% 1 40 1 33.3% 6 5.0% 32 26.7% Analysis on African American's being cited for teen curfew violations in 2020 During the last presentation, there was a question asked about the disproportionate number of African American individuals cited for teen curfew violations in 2020 (29 total). After researching the information further, the number of citations in 2020 were higher for African American individuals due to 10 individuals being cited on the same day at the same address. Also, there were two other instances where 5 and 6 people were cited during the same incident. This is a plausible explanation due to many of the restrictions that were put in place due to Covid and young individuals attending school virtually. The 10 cited teens were in a residential neighborhood in District 2 where a citizen called reporting that juveniles were walking through the area pulling on door handles. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 23-017 January 24, 2023 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council R Page 3 of 7 Y SUBJECT: CURFEW ORDINANCE FOR MINORS rFrn Yg7'3 The 6 cited teens were at a Wendy's in District 8 and turned off the electrical main to the business and fled on foot across the street. The 5 cited were pulled over on a traffic stop in District 6 and were in a stolen vehicle. There were several other instances where there were 2 to 3 teens cited together on the same incident, but the 3 above incidents drove the numbers for that year. Curfew Filin s b Council District Fiscal Total 2 % 3 % 4 % 5 % 6 % 7 % 8 % 9 % Year Filin s 2020 72 22 30.5% 11 15.2% 4 5.5% 5 6.9% 7 9.7% 13 18.0% 8 11.1% 2 2.7% 2021 19 5 26.3% 1 5.2% 4 21.0% 1 5.2% 1 5.2% 7 36.8% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 2022 29 8 27.5% 0 0.0% 16 55.1% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 2 6.9% 3 10.3% 0 0.0% Total 120 35 29.2% 12 10.0% 24 20.1% 6 5.0% 8 6.6% 22 18.3% 11 9.1% 2 1.6% Curfew Filings by Patrol Division Fiscal Total Year Filings Central % East % North 2020 72 3 4.20% 4 5.60% 17 23.60% 2021 19 1 5.30% 3 15.80% 8 42.10% 2022 29 2 6.90% 0 0.00% 20 69.00% Total 120 6 5.00% 7 5.80% 45 37.50% Fiscal Total Year Filings Northwest % South % West 2020 72 19 26.40% 17 23.60% 12 16.70% 2021 19 3 15.80% 1 5.30% 3 15.80% 2022 29 6 20.70% 1 3.40% 0 0.00% Total 120 28 23.30% 19 15.80% 15 12.50% ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 23-017 January 24, 2023 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 4 of 7 �i7 Y as SUBJECT: CURFEW ORDINANCE FOR MINORS #qrF rn Yg7'3 j I I °l" t I i o IN I' / Curfew Filings _ —' Curfew Filings Hotspot t O Medium -High Council District 2-Carlos Flues I O 3_Michael C...in V . O 4-Alan ElLoock O5-Gyna a iv—s OS-Jared Williams 7-Leonard Firestone 0 2 4 6 8 I OB-Chris Nettles Miles I �9-F7¢a6ellt M.Beek Faxes WORTH Fort Worth Police Department FY2020-FY2022 Curfew Filings Hotspot Map and City Council Districts ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 23-017 January 24, 2023 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 5 of 7 �i7 Y as SUBJECT: CURFEW ORDINANCE FOR MINORS #qrF rn Yg7'3 t i ,Qua M s ° J� ° at [t o I 1 � J• � I ^,1 . ° r °i ' • CD � ° l i Q D �/ • Curfew Filings ° ° Curfew Filings Fbtspot ° f Low -� O Medium j -High ° o i Council District 2-Cark.Flores • O 3-Michael D.Crain V O 4-Alan ElLoock r O 5-Gyna B ivens OS-Jared Williams O7-Leonard Firestone 0 2 4 8 8 OB-Chris Neales qi es O 9-Eba6ellt M-Bed FaRx Fort Worth Police department FY2015-FY2022 Curfew Filings Hots at Ma `� T and City Council Districts ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 23-017 January 24, 2023 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council R Page 6 of 7 Y SUBJECT: CURFEW ORDINANCE FOR MINORS rFrn Yg7'3 Guardian Ad Litem During the December 6 City Council Work Session, a question was posed as to what options can the Court exercise if a Juvenile has no access to a parent or guardian to appear with them. The Court can appoint a guardian ad-litem to represent the interest of the juvenile. Public Outreach and Communications The following outreach about this ordinance has occurred: • An article, informational flyer and graphic were created to notify people of the public hearing on the curfew. • The flyer was shared with Fort Worth ISD (FWISD) to include in their parent newsletter and was shared directly with FWISD Board President Jackson. Fort Worth City COuntil to vote On rene"ing curfew after public hearing on Fort Worth City Council to gather input to vote on renewing curfew after public hearing on Jan. 10,2023. eewo J • A City News article ran on January 6, 2023 https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/news/2023/1/curFew- final-heariung • Information was also included in the January 9, 2023 Council Preview story: https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/news/2023/l/council-preview-1-10 • Social Media posts ran January 6 — 9, 2023 on Facebook, Nextdoor (Neighborhood Associations) and Twitter. Planned promotion, if the curfew ordinance is renewed, includes: • Promote the ordinance through all channels • Place flyers in libraries and community centers • Partner with local ISD's on strategize and share information with students and parents • Coordinate with Council district offices to work on any district-specific communication needs ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 23-017 January 24, 2023 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council R Page 7 of 7 Y SUBJECT: CURFEW ORDINANCE FOR MINORS rFrn Yg7'3 Additionally, there was a community meeting to be held on Monday January 23, 2023 about the ordinance along with a second meeting scheduled for February 1, 2023. The community meetings will include members from the Police Department and the Municipal Court who look forward to having a dialogue with the community on this issue. The teen curfew is an effective tool to reduce the victimization of young people. The juvenile curfew ordinance is not utilized in every possible instance, but when appropriate, it represents a useful option for police officers to help get juveniles off the street where they may become a victim of a crime. For more information or questions, please contact Executive Assistant Chief Robert Alldredge at 817-392- 4131. David Cooke City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS