Jackson, TN to Enact Student Curfew

JACKSON, Tenn. - When school is back in session this August, school aged children and teens in Jackson, Tennessee will have two options between the hours of 8:30am and 2:00pm, Monday-Friday: stay in school, or stay at home.

It's a new daytime curfew city council members passed Tuesday night, after studying teen truancy and crime in Jackson.

According to Jackson City Councilman Maurice Hays, "In the school system, we had over a 40% truancy rate last year, which meant we had over 40% of the students who had more than 5 days of truancy."

According to a study done by the Jackson City Council, teens ages 13-17 were responsible for 19 percent of crimes reported to police in 2007.

"You've got to get control of your streets," said Council member Johnny Lee Dodd. "Right now, our teenagers all across the county are taking over our streets and if you don't do something quick, look at the numbers and the crime rate. Our teens are out there doing it."

The study also revealed crimes committed by teens during school hours have increased over the past two years. The city's new daytime curfew will allow police officers to stop and question youth under 18 who are caught in the streets during school hours.

"They'll be carried back to school where they should be or to their parents," said Hays. "If none of that works, they're carried to juvenile detention."

If teens are caught as repeat offenders, their parents can be fined $50. Parents like Sheila McCuller are in favor of the new curfew.

"I think the kids need a curfew because some of the kids get in trouble and are suspended from school, then they're out just roaming on the street."

The curfew isn't as popular with teens in Jackson.

"Yes, it is terrible!" exclaimed Keriyona Woods.

No matter one's opinion, city council members hope the new daytime curfew helps decrease teen crime and truancy.