New NJ Law That Punishes Adults For Child's Behavior Now In Effect, Parents Across The State Speak Out

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ - One New Jersey community is now hitting a nerve in nearby counties and nationwide after a new law went into effect recently that allows parents to be punished for crimes that their kids commit.

The "Minors and Parent Responsibility" act in Gloucester Township states that a parent or guardian can serve time in jail and be fined if they fail to prevent a disturbance in a public area. This order only pertains to kids who are minors, and is largely in response to multiple gatherings across the state over the last few years that have led to arrests and concerns for safety around neighborhoods.

This ordinance went into effect on July 28, and outlines 28 actions that, if a minor takes part in, could leave caretakers liable. Multiple convictions of minors in juvenile court can lead parents to face up to 90 days in jail and/or a maximum fine of $2,000. The actions covered under "offenses against the "public peace, safety, and morals" cover a wide range. The sale and use of drugs, "mugging" and assault are mentioned right alongside loitering, destruction of playground equipment, violating a curfew or repeated absences from school.

Now, the state at large is weighing in, with responses varying from residents over the real possibility that this may spread over to their neighborhoods next.

"I could not agree more with this decision! It is about time parents are held responsible for their children!," Margaret Lestician of Ocean County told Patch. "Children nowadays have no regard for any rules, regulations or laws...they are assaulting law enforcement officers...It has got to STOP."

Garden State residents are split on both sides when it comes to how much blame should be put on parents and guardians for their kids misbehaving. Chris L., a proud New Jersey mother of two, has lived in Mercer County for more than 50 years and told us she believes parents should not be guilty of being unable to read their child's mind. "Well, I think kids should be brought up well enough to not engage in bad acts. However, I don't agree that parents should be held responsible unless they were actually involved! How can parents know what's going on 100 percent of the time? That's unrealistic."

For Martin B. of Gloucester County, the memory of an event like this is all to real, telling Patch "I'm all for it. Maybe kids would think twice about their actions."

At last year's Gloucester Township Day, hundreds of unsupervised youth joined together at Veterans Park at the same time as the community's drone light show. Large fights broke out, leading to a handful of arrests and calls for backup to assist with keeping everything under control. At the time, Police Chief David Harkins underscored the serious threat that could have been a lot worse, saying “I am thankful that more injuries were not sustained to officers, the families attending the event, and even those involved in this disorderly conduct ruined a great family-oriented event.”

Roughly 500 people made up the group of youth that surrounded the nearby basketball courts during the drone show before moving to a nearby shopping center, where fights continued for hours. At least two officers and two minors were injured, and nearly 100 law enforcement officers responded.

“We have a juvenile crisis in this country,” Gloucester Township Mayor David Mayer said in speaking to NewsNation. “This is not unique to Gloucester Township, but rather, it is symptomatic of a larger societal juvenile crisis. I’ll tell you, I don’t have all the answers. But one possible answer is to hold parents accountable for their children.”

The ordinance addresses a recurring theme of instances well beyond just the Gloucester Township Day arrests of 2024. Over Memorial Day weekend this year, three people were stabbed and more than 70 visitors to the Seaside Heights were arrested after multiple violent actors led officials to shut down boardwalk. One person was confirmed to be armed with a gun, and stabbings occurred on during three separate altercations. Of the 73 people arrested over the weekend, 21 of them were juveniles.

The allure of the Jersey Shore is still a staple family-friendly destination this year for the thousands of people who are making the trip during the summer months. "It's a slippery slope. Hopefully, this law would prevent this type of behavior from happening in the first place," Dee of Hunterdon County says. For those like Dee who have been visiting traditionally for decades, it can be as simple as wanting to keep their beloved communities safe and filled with positive memories for years to come.

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