12:00pm | Today begins the first day of Spring Break for Long Beach Unified School District students who will be out on break all week and will return to class on Monday, April 16th.
The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) would like to remind parents that Section 9.58.010 of the Long Beach Municipal Code states: “It is unlawful for any minor under the age of eighteen (18) years to remain in or upon any ‘public place’ as defined in Section 9.02.090, between the hours of 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. the following day.”
The LBPD takes curfew violations seriously. Our experience has shown us that children/youth who are on the street after curfew are more likely to become victims of violent crime, and also are more likely to become involved in criminal behavior. Parents should know the whereabouts of their children at all times and ensure they get home safely before curfew. The LBPD will strictly enforce the curfew statutes through the Spring Break week.
Last year, the Long Beach City Prosecutor’s Office announced its Parent Accountability and Chronic Truancy (PACT) Program, a collaborative effort with the LBPD and the Long Beach Unified School District. Under this program, parents and legal guardians can be criminally prosecuted for “contributing to the delinquency of a minor” if they fail to supervise their children and the children disobey the law or any lawful order of the juvenile court. Another component of the program is parental prosecution in cases where children fail to regularly attend school and are deemed “chronic truants.” The City Prosecutor will be strictly enforcing the PACT program during this week’s Spring Break.
These laws are in place to protect children/youth, and the Long Beach Police Department and the Long Beach City Prosecutor’s Office will enforce and prosecute these laws with your child’s safety in mind. By working together, we can help provide your family a safe and enjoyable Spring Break.