37 Minors Caught in Curfew Sweep
On July 8 beginning at 11 p.m. the Antioch Police Department and REACH Project, Inc. collaborated in a Curfew Sweep in Antioch. This program is designed to reduce the number of minors being out after curfew.
The program is intended to be supportive rather than punitive. The City Ordinance generally prohibits minors (under the age of 18 years) from being in any public area between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. seven days a week. The ordinance was adopted to promote safety of the City’s youngest most venerable residents from becoming participants or victims of crimes.
Officers from the Antioch Police Department detained a total of 37 minors. They were brought to the processing center at the police department and turned over to the staff of the REACH Project where the minors were counseled and released to their parents or guardians. Follow-up juvenile diversion services will be provided by REACH addressing decision-making skills and training, understanding youth and the law and applying principles of restorative justice.
This program was a success and future programs will be scheduled throughout the summer in an attempt to further reduce number of minors out after curfew and increase the accountability and responsibility of both the minors and their parents or guardians.
Perhaps we can thank newly appointed Police Chief Allan Cantando for this. the ordinance has been sitting around since I was on the Council in response to problems at Deer Valley Plaza.