The all-Democratic body enacted the bill in a majority vote, with only District 7 council member Krystal Oriadha voting against it. She expressed concern about increasing law enforcement interactions with youth of color.
“We’re spending so much time focusing on the over criminalization of our juveniles, yet not investing in prevention,” she said.
In recent months, county officials have spoken about the need for more youth-focused activities and involved parenting as summer season sets in. Prince George’s County officials were particularly moved to quick action in April when County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks (D) reinstated a youth curfew at National Harbor following a brawl at the shopping destination where at least 800 teens swarmed. For three years, more adolescents than adults have been arrested on carjacking charges in the county. Last year, 92 juveniles were arrested — sometimes on school grounds — on suspicion of possessing a gun, according to county police department data.
Council member Edward Burroughs III, District 8, sponsored the bill, citing the need to protect the county’s youth and its assets.
“The intent really is to protect young people,” Burroughs said after public comment. “We’ve seen hundreds … of young people gathered in the wee hours at the harbor, fighting one another, hurting one another, engaging in destructive behavior that’s not only detrimental to the business zones but detrimental to one another.”
Efficacy of curfews has been contested among community and social justice activists who argue that curfews divert police attention away from crime prevention.
Gregory Brown, public policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, told the council that his organization opposes the bill. He said the curfews would be detrimental to Black and Brown youth in the county. Brown also opposed the bill’s language that states proposed curfew time periods should not start before 5 p.m.
“If you know anything about teenagers, children and the things that they do after school, such as extracurricular activities, sports and things of the like,” Brown said, “you’d be potentially banning them from commercial spaces as early as 5 p.m.”
Marcus Monroe, a council member for the city of Brentwood and legislative chair for Prince George’s County Municipal Association, said the association appreciates and supports the bill but wanted it to include language about the municipalities to ensure that they are part of the decision-making process.
“We also know best what’s happening in our community, so we wanted to make sure that we are at the table with you,” Monroe told the county’s council members.
After public statements from Brown and Monroe, Burroughs clarified that the bill does not require 5 p.m. curfews and that no business on its own would be able to implement a curfew without going through the process outlined in the bill. Because the bill was being enacted that day, Burroughs said there were no amendments to include a municipal voice in the bill.
“Each county council member will consult with their municipal council members before issuing a letter of support around any zone,” Burroughs said.
District 2 council member Wanika Fisher, who voted in favor of the curfew, said it’s up to the officers to bring charges, if any, against the young people who are found in those zones at prohibited times, but civil penalties can be placed on parents or guardians.
“Parents have been refusing to pick up their children and using our tax base and our police department to drop these children off,” she said. “This bill, which is why I support it, adds that aspect of parental accountability.”
First, second and third offenses would yield fines to adults of $50, $100 and $250, respectively. Places open to the public face similar fines for knowingly allowing juveniles to be on their premises.
Guardians also would be responsible for repaying the county for the time of any employee assigned to stay with a juvenile detained for violating the curfew, determined by the hourly wage and benefits of the county employee.