Juvenile Curfew Violation Initiative Announced for St. Croix

Deputy Chief of Police Arthur S. Hector, Sr. Wednesday announced the VIPD’s juvenile curfew violation initiative already in effect for parts of St. Croix.

The initiative, which began on Jan. 30, focuses on monitoring the activities of minors during the hours of 5 p.m. through 1 a.m. in the Sunny Isles, Sunshine Mall, Christiansted Town, Frederiksted Town “and any other public accessed areas where large congregations of unsupervised juveniles are taking place,” Hector said.

The deputy chief said juveniles under the age of 16 found to be in violation of the law, “will be picked up and transported to the police station where they will be processed and their parents called for them.”

“It’s important for parents to be responsible and know where their child is at all times,” Hector added.

As part of a statement issued to announce the initiative, Hector cited Virgin Islands law governing parental duty and “strongly urges all parents with minor children to read and pay attention to the law, as it relates to curfew for minors.”

The law follows:

Title 14 V.I.C. Chapter 23 Subsection 481(a) Neglect of Parental Duty; causing delinquency of a minor; loitering on streets a, speaks to whoever commits any act or omits the performance of any duty, which act or omission cause a child under the age of eighteen (18) to be come in need of the care and protection of the juvenile and domestic relations division of the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, Shall be fined not more than $500.00 or imprisoned not more than One (1) year or both. Section (b) indicates that any child under the age of sixteen (16) found upon or remaining upon the streets or highways after 10:00 pm., unaccompanied by a person legally responsible for such child’s behavior, except the child shows to the satisfaction of the police that he is in transit to or from his home to another place supervised by adult either with the express consent or under the direction of his parent or guardian, shall be taken into custody by the police and held until released to the parent or guardian, who shall be notified forthwith. The offending child may be subject to community service.Page | 2 Section (c) indicates that a parent, legal guardian or person responsible for the care and/or custody of any child under the age of eighteen (18) years shall have the duty to exercise reasonable care, supervision, protection, and control over such child. 

The Criminal Investigation Bureau, of which the Youth Investigation Bureau falls under, will implement the initiative.

Information was not provided on whether a similar program would be implemented in the St. Thomas-St. John District.