Discussions surround
proposed curfew center

By Lauren Fritsky
Times Staff Writer

The city wants to put a curfew center in the 2nd Police District, but so far no agency wants to sponsor it.
Representatives from several city departments convened at Max Myers Playground on July 25 to update residents on the proposal, which was revealed the previous week.
Officials hope to open the center by September. Bidding to host the site closed on July 31.
The city wants to place the center close to Roosevelt Boulevard in the upper end of the 2nd district, which is bounded by Rhawn Street to the north. That location would also service curfew-breakers in the 7th and 8th police districts, according to Ron George, project manager of violence prevention initiatives for the city’s Department of Human Services.
An arm of the Operation Safer Streets initiative, the curfew centers take in children found outside after hours. There are currently six centers operating throughout the city, including one in Frankford. Mayor John Street anticipates opening six more before summer’s end.
The first center emerged at the Dixon House Community Center in South Philadelphia last July and has since been credited with helping to decrease the number of juvenile gun victims and perpetrators by about 60 to 70 percent. Quality-of-life issues in that area have also gone down since the Dixon House center opened.
"This is geared toward keeping the kids from loitering on your corner," George said.
At the meeting, volunteers and police officials spoke to the success of the inaugural curfew center, which has taken in kids as young as 5. Children cannot leave until their parents come to pick them up.
Volunteers, who are thoroughly screened and trained, try to talk to and educate children brought to the center by police. They also offer both children and parents information about city services available to them.
"We try to make sure kids are informed when they get there that this is not a punishment for them," said volunteer Carolyn Walton.
Clinicians from the Department of Behavioral Health assess the child’s mental health. If they suspect endangerment or neglect in the home, they recommend the child be brought to DHS the following day.
Youths who aggressively resist being taken to or staying at the curfew center can face criminal charges.
Upon being asked if one center could adequately serve all three police districts, Mark Mroz, community relations officer for the 2nd district, said that parents living in the 8th district might be so annoyed by a far, late-night car ride that they’ll make sure their kids stop breaking curfew.
Volunteers are needed to man the center from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Those interested in helping, but who can’t commit to that time frame, can assist by making phone calls to volunteers during the day, or by phoning into the center’s hot line when they spot a juvenile outside after curfew.
Jake Schlegel, president of Castor Gardens Town Watch, thinks the center is a good idea and wants to volunteer, even though he works nights.
"The kids today, you can’t tell a fifteen-year-old, ‘You can’t do this,’" he said. "I don’t see anything but progress for this."
A meeting for volunteers was scheduled for Aug. 1 at 6 p.m. at Max Myers Playground, 1601 Hellerman St. ••