For the purposes of this Article, the following words and phrases
are defined as follows:
Guardian appointed by court of competent jurisdiction.
Any person under the age of seventeen (17).
The natural or adoptive father or mother, legal guardian
or any other person having the care or custody of a minor child.
Any act or omission by which a parent fails to exercise customary
and effective control over a minor so as to contribute to, cause or
tend to cause a minor to commit any offense.
A.
Whenever
a minor shall be arrested or detained for the commission of any offense
within the City, the Police Department shall, as soon as possible
thereafter, deliver written notice to the minor's parent of the arrest
or detention, and such notice shall advise the parent of his/her responsibility
under this Section. The notice shall be in such a form as to be signed
by the notified parent signifying receipt thereof. If the parent refuses
to sign said notice, the notifying Police Officer shall indicate such
refusal on the notice.
B.
No parent shall fail to exercise customary and effective control over a minor so as to contribute to, cause or tend to cause a minor to commit any offense. Written parental notice as defined in Subsection (A) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of parental neglect if the minor commits a second (2nd) or successive violation of any offense.
C.
Each violation of the provisions of this Section shall constitute a separate offense. Any person who shall violate this Section shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than ninety (90) days and/or a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the first (1st) violation, not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00) for a second (2nd) violation, and not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for any successive violation. In addition, the court may, as a condition of any probation granted to any parent found guilty of violating Subsection (B) of this Section, order the defendant to make restitution to any person who has been damaged by the misconduct of the minor in an amount not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000.00).
