MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As a way to combat crime in Marianna, Arkansas, officials put a curfew in place during the Easter weekend.
The decision only lasted one weekend but it comes after an uptick in gun violence. Now, Marianna Police Chief Rodney Perry called a success.
"Of course, it wasn't 100% but it was a start. We will be doing other things along those same lines as far as curfews,” said Chief Perry.
About 60 miles away, in Memphis, officials charged nearly 6,200 minors with crimes in 2023 even though minors are supposed to be inside at night, per Tennessee law.
Memphian Somer Shivers supports the curfew.
"It both protects the kids and stops the kids from doing crime. I mean, even I don't go outside and walk around at night because I feel unsafe about it,” said Shivers.
But another long-time Memphian, Elizabeth Dierssen, said a curfew is not the only way to keep kids off the streets.
"There's a direct correlation between the youth crime and all of these opportunities that are missing. The city needs to invest in pools, tennis courts, give us back our amusement park,” said Dierssen.
In June 2023, the controversial Juvenile Crime Abatement Program was supposed to begin, where MPD would hold kids caught out past curfew at a community center until a parent or legal guardian comes to get them.
ABC24 reached out to Memphis Police to see if they ever started it and if not, how they're currently enforcing the curfew. We also asked if MPD as any new initiatives planned to keep kids off the streets since they get out of school for the summer in late May. MPD did not respond.
According to Tennessee law, these are the juvenile curfew times:
Sundays-Thursdays
- Children 16 & under must be home by 10p.m
- 17-year-olds must be home by 11 p.m.
Fridays & Saturdays
- 11 p.m. is the curfew for kids 16 & under
- 12 a.m. for 17-year-olds
According to Memphis City Ordinance, these are the juvenile curfew times:
Mondays-Thursdays
- 17 & 18-year-olds must be home between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- 16 & under must be home between 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Fridays & Saturdays
- 17 & 18-year-olds must be home between midnight and 6 a.m.
- 16 & under must be home between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.