AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – While this curfew is nothing new, the sheriff’s office wanted to get the word out so parents know what can happen if their child violates curfew.
“This is a chance to correct bad behavior before it becomes a criminal record,” said Sheriff Gino Brantley, Richmond County Sheriff Office.”
The goal is to prevent future criminal behavior that could lead to serious consequences. The sheriff’s office has caught groups of juveniles trying to break into cars in the early morning hours.
“Why now? In the past month we have had several incidents involving teenagers. Juvinalls caught with illegal firearms. We had a 17-year-old juvenile who accidentally shot his finger off while trying to hide a firearm during a traffic stop,” said Brantley.
The sheriff’s office is working with the court system and judge Tianna Bias to enforce the curfew. Curfew on Weekdays is 11pm to 5 am, and weekends is 12am to 5 am. If a child is caught violating curfew, parents will be contacted and can pick up their child at a holding location downtown. Depending on the offense There could be fines, monitoring devices, house arrest, Child in Need of Services or CHINS programing, 24-to-72-hour confinement. Parents can also get a citation.
“As a juvenile judge my goal if I am the first judge that your child sees, is for me to be the last judge that your child will see because we hope to protect their records so that they are not charges criminally on they are adults,” said Judge Tianna Bias, Richmond County Juvenile Court.
If a child must be out after curfew, they have to have an adult with them.
The sheriff’s office and juvenile court want help from parents to help enforce the curfew so that kids are safe at home and stay out of the court system.
