In Washington, Monday, December 1

(12/1/97) Release of 347-City Survey on Youth Curfews

A survey on the use of youth curfews as part of juvenile crime prevention and enforcement strategies in the nation's cities will be released Monday, December 1, 12:30 p.m. at The U.S. Conference of Mayors offices. The results of the 347-city survey will be released by the Conference of Mayors Task Force on Youth Violence which is chaired by Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson. Abramson will be joined in the press conference by several other Task Force members.

Many cities have imposed youth curfews in recent years. In 1995, 70 percent of the cities surveyed by the Conference of Mayors had nighttime curfews in effect. This year's survey updates the national picture of curfews, seeking information from cities on:

1. The use of both daytime and nighttime curfews

2. Perceptions of whether curfew enforcement is a good use of police officers' time

3. Perceptions of whether curfews make streets safer at night, cut down on daytime truancy

4. Effectiveness of curfew enforcement in curbing gang violence or gang activities

5. Increases or decreases in crime rates since curfews have been in effect

6. Police department costs associated with curfew enforcement

7. Problems encountered in implementing curfews, and

8. Constitutional challenges to curfews.

Mayors expected to join Abramson for discussion of the survey results and other youth violence issues are J. Christian Bollwage of Elizabeth, Brent Coles of Boise, Rosemary Corbin of Richmond (CA), Scott King of Gary, Jim Marshall of Macon, Bill May of Frankfort, Meyera Oberndorf of Virginia Beach, and Douglas Palmer of Trenton. These mayors will be meeting throughout the day with senior Congressional and Administration staff on legislation addressing youth violence, and with officials of America's Promise and the Corporation for National Service.

CONTACT: Mike Brown, (202) 861-6708

The United States Conference of Mayors

J. Thomas Cochran, Executive Director
1620 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006
Telephone (202) 293-7330, FAX (202) 293-2352

Copyright © 1996, US Conference of Mayors, All rights reserved.