[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Trenton 9-7-1967
as § 3-24 of the Revised General Ordinances. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Curfew — See Ch. 58.
The City Council finds and declares that the uncontrolled and unsupervised
activities of minor persons within the City are detrimental to the maintenance
of public safety and contrary to the general welfare. It is further found
and declared that parental responsibility for the proper control and supervision
of minor children is essential to effective law enforcement within the City.
The following word meanings shall apply herein:
Any unemancipated person under the age of 18 years.
Includes either or both natural parents of a minor, the legal guardians
of the minor or any other adult persons who have voluntarily or otherwise
assumed the responsibilities of a natural parent with respect to custody,
care and control of the minor. For the purposes of the enforcement of this
chapter, the term "parent" shall not apply to natural parents, legal guardians
or other persons whose responsibility for the custody and control of the minor
has been transferred to another person or otherwise terminated by court order
or by the emancipation of the minor by marriage, military service or other
circumstances. Persons claiming the benefit of any such termination or transfer
of responsibilities shall bear the burden of establishing the same in any
proceedings hereunder.
Includes any of the following acts: defacing, damaging or destroying
public property or the private property of another within the City; or committing
an assault or assault and battery upon another in the City; robbery, stealing
or larceny including shoplifting; knowingly receiving stolen property; violation
of any existing loitering or curfew laws of the City; or breaking and entering
or entering without breaking into the property of another with the intent
to steal; or threatening another with the intent of extorting money or anything
of value; or possession or use of a controlled dangerous substance, as same
shall be defined under N.J.S.A. 24:21-1 et seq., or juvenile delinquency based
upon any of the above offenses.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any parent to assist, aid, abet,
allow, permit, suffer or encourage a minor to commit a violation of the public
peace, as defined herein, either by overt act, by failure to act or by lack
of supervision and control over such minor. Whenever a minor shall be taken
into custody or detained for the commission of any such violation of the public
peace within the City of Trenton, the parents of such minor shall be immediately
notified by the Police Department of such custody or detention and the reasons
therefor and of the responsibility of parents under this chapter.
B.
In addition to those procedures established as a deterrent
to juvenile acts of vandalism and to parental neglect of child supervision
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:53A-14, and upon the conviction of any juvenile under
the age of 18 years for any high misdemeanor, misdemeanor or violation of
any statutes of the State of New Jersey or ordinances of the City of Trenton
which acts include vandalism, destruction or damage to realty, personalty,
pets, animals, livestock, or other chattel, the parent or parents, lawful
guardian or guardians of such juvenile shall be responsible for financial
reimbursement to the victim of such crime or offenses. A complaint shall issue
and upon determination by the court that there in fact have been financial
losses suffered by the victim, the court shall determine the amount of restitution
to be made within a prescribed time but not longer than 30 days.
C.
Any person who fails to comply with an order for restitution
as hereinabove set forth shall be deemed in violation of this chapter and
shall be in contempt of court and in violation of this chapter.
The remedy provisions of this chapter shall be cumulative, not exclusive,
and the state or any other person shall have the right to proceed under any
legally available remedies.
