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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CALLING FOR THE MONTH OF MAY TO BE DECLARED “CURFEW AWARENESS MONTH”
WHEREAS, It is well known that the strict enforcement of curfew laws in Chicago and other municipalities in Cook County is a key component of a public safety and law enforcement strategy that is effective; and,
WHEREAS, in the City of Chicago, minors under the age of 12 are required to be in their homes by 8:30 PM on weekdays and 9 PM on weekends; and,
WHEREAS, in the City of Chicago, unsupervised minors ages 12 to 16 are required to be indoors by 10 PM on weekdays and 11 PM on weekends; and,
WHEREAS, the State of Illinois, in its Child Curfew Act codified in 107 ILCS 55/.10 et seq. grants specific legislative or regulatory authority for child curfew restrictions, thereby empowering municipalities in the County of Cook to enact curfews of their own; and,
WHEREAS, too many of our young people in Chicago and Cook County are impacted by crimes during hours of the day when those young people should be in their homes; and,
WHEREAS, awareness and strict enforcement of curfew laws can lessen the impact of violent crime on young people in Chicago and Cook County and also reduce incidences of violent crime in Chicago and Cook County overall, particularly in the warm spring and summer months;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the President and Cook County Board of Commissioners that May of 2016 is hereby declared “Curfew Awareness Month,” and that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners do hereby lend their voices to the efforts of community advocates and concerned citizens to increase awareness and enforcement of curfew laws.
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