Juvenile crime has continued to rise in Vicksburg, leading Mayor George Flaggs to recommend a new citywide curfew for those 17 years old and under to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
The curfew would require minors to be inside by 11:00 p.m. for the next 60 days, adding to the city’s current curfew states that underage individuals cannot go outside after midnight.
“I can’t see why they need any reason to be out after 11:00 p.m.,” Flaggs said to WAPT. “If it works, we may use it every summer because it’s necessary for us to have law and order on the streets of Vicksburg.”
Vicksburg isn’t the only city in Mississippi implementing a curfew for young people as Yazoo City’s Police Chief Kenneth Hampton recently announced a strictly enforced 11:00 p.m. curfew for minors in May.
Hampton added that a $50 fine would be sent to the parent or guardian of the first two times a juvenile is found breaking the curfew. On the third offense, a $200 fine will be issued and child protective services will be called.
Although Flaggs did not release if penalty fines would be implemented in his proposed curfew, the topic is expected to be discussed at the next Vicksburg Mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting on Friday at 10:00 a.m.
