Cities and counties in Texas can no longer mandate curfews for adolescents under a new state law that went into effect earlier this month.
House Bill 1819 bans local governments from enforcing curfews for minors, which research shows are ineffective at reducing crime.
“Over time, it's been shown that these curfew ordinances really don't have an effect on juvenile crime, and they end up doing more harm than good,” said Brett Merfish, director of youth justice at Texas Appleseed.
The advocacy group supported the bill in the recent legislative session.
The bill — unlike similar ones in the past — had the support of lawmakers from both political parties who realized minor curfews aren’t the best policy, Merfish said. Black and Hispanic children are often disproportionately targeted.
“But (it’s) also about liberty and freedom of movement,” Merfish said.
Under the new law, cities with existing curfew ordinances have had to repeal them. In late August, just before HB 1819 went into effect, the Plano city council struck its juvenile curfew, which the city had extended for three years in 2022.
At the time, Plano Police Chief Ed Drain told city council members the curfew was an effective tool in providing for the protection of minors and the public and for the reduction of the incidence of juvenile criminal activities for Plano police.
Plano’s municipal court and the prosecution office have already taken steps to stop enforcement under HB 1819, according to Plano city officials....
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