December 01, 2022
Thom Carroll/for PhillyVoice
Philadelphia City Council passed a bill that would make the city's 10 p.m. curfew permanent, all year long. Next the bill goes to Mayor Jim Kenney for his signature. If signed it would affect all teens ages 14-17, and younger teens would have to be home by 9:30.
Philadelphia City Council voted on Thursday to make the summertime curfew for teens a permanent city fixture.
The bill would require any children between the ages of 14 and 17 to be inside by 10 p.m., and those 13 and younger to head indoors by 9:30 p.m. Exceptions would be granted for teenagers traveling to or from work, and any accompanied by a parent.
Criminal justice experts and teens, alike, have expressed skepticism that the curfew will actually accomplish its goals. Several teenagers told BillyPenn they didn't see the curfew actually enforced over the summer or that they were barely even aware of it.
Meanwhile, police stats show that more teens were shot during the summer months this year than any summer on record, despite the curfew. As the Inquirer reported, most teens affected by gun violence are injured before the evening curfew hours, a trend that's been seen since at least 2015.
Mayor Kenney is reportedly reviewing the legislation.
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