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Chesterfield County councilors fast-track juvenile curfew proposal to judicial committee amid public safety concerns
Summary
Council added an ordinance to establish juvenile curfew hours to the agenda at Councilman Price’s request and agreed to refer the draft to the judicial committee; members discussed enforcement, municipal coordination and possible emergency measures but took no final ordinance vote.
Chesterfield County Council on Tuesday voted to amend its agenda to add an ordinance (agenda item 12A) to establish curfew hours for juveniles and referred the proposal to the council’s judicial committee for expedited review.
Councilman Ethan Price requested the item be added to the agenda, saying recent shootings and juvenile crime make a curfew “a viable option” and “another tool in the bag for our sheriff’s department.” The council approved the agenda amendment after a motion and voice vote.
The council did not adopt a curfew ordinance during the meeting. Members discussed options including holding a judicial committee meeting promptly, the possibility of approving an emergency ordinance to make a curfew effective immediately, and the need to coordinate with municipal governments so enforcement would be uniform across town and county boundaries.
Council members pressed for clarity on enforcement and penalties. Councilman Curtis said a curfew’s value is partly symbolic — it signals parental accountability — and noted courts in other counties have used delinquency-related charges tied to curfew enforcement. Councilman Kirkley asked whether enforcement would fall to juveniles or parents and whether county facilities exist to house violators; he urged the council to develop a plan rather than a “knee-jerk reaction.”
Public commenters raised related concerns. Barbara Hughes, a Cache community resident, described a late-night incident at an elderly neighbor’s home caught on camera and criticized how deputies handled the call, saying “no report was taken.” Pastor Kirby Hughes asked whether all complaints receive the same treatment and requested more consistent reporting protocols from law enforcement.
Council Chair Burns said the judicial committee will set a date and include law enforcement and municipal representatives in the discussion. Several council members favored moving quickly; one member suggested an emergency ordinance could be used to take effect immediately after committee review.
Why it matters: Council members described rising violent incidents involving young people and several recent deaths as the impetus for action. The judicial committee will need to address enforcement mechanisms, penalties, municipal coordination and procedural questions before any countywide ordinance can be adopted.
What’s next: The judicial committee will meet to review a draft curfew ordinance and hear from the sheriff’s office and municipal leaders. Council members said they could call a special meeting or consider an emergency ordinance if the committee recommends immediate action.
