NJ parents could face jail time for kids’ behavior

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (NewsNation) — Parents in Gloucester Township, New Jersey, could face jail time for their children’s unruly actions under a new ordinance called “Minors and Parent Responsibility.”

The ordinance states parents can be held “accountable for public disturbances caused by” their child. Infractions could lead to jail for up to three months if their child or children are found guilty of multiple offenses. Fines of up to $2,000 are also on the table.

“We have a juvenile crisis in this country,” Gloucester Township Mayor David Mayer told 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.”

Parents face criminal charges for 28 offenses by kids, with warning system

The ordinance covers 28 crimes ranging from felonies to chronic truancy. Some of the crimes, however, are a bit more murky, including “immorality” and “knowingly associating with immoral people.”

The township says the ordinance applies to those younger than 18, and it is mostly intended for parents whose children are repeat offenders who frequently end up in juvenile detention.

The Gloucester Township Council passed the “Minors and Parent Responsibility” ordinance following a chaotic incident that resulted in 11 arrests, including nine juveniles.

The massive brawl involved 500 teenagers that left two police officers injured and caused property damage at a local shopping center last year.

The ordinance includes due process protections, with parents receiving warnings before facing potential criminal charges.

The law requires parents to sign acknowledgment forms when their children commit covered offenses. Mayer pointed to last year’s Gloucester Township Day as an example of the problem, where parents failed to pick up their children after the public event, leaving ride-sharing services to transport them instead.

Ordinance sparks debate on parental accountability vs. government overreach

“We have to get parents’ attention to make sure they’re tracking their children, juveniles, in a proper way, and hold them responsible,” Mayer said.

He cited the township’s success in reducing juvenile recidivism from 44% to less than 5% through early intervention programs.

Some parents who spoke with NewsNation say the ordinance sets a dangerous precedent.

“Blaming parents for what a child does? They are their own person,” said Alexandra Bougher of the group Moms for Liberty. “Sure, the brain is not fully formed yet, but if they are getting the correct guidance, they should be making the right decisions, and they know the difference between right and wrong. And if they choose to do something wrong, that child should be held accountable for it, not the parent.”

“I think if we start this, what does it open up?” Bougher questioned. “What else are we going to be at fault for? If a child gets in a car accident, is it my fault? I was at home.”

Nicole Stouffer, founder of parental rights group “The New Jersey Project,” blamed relaxed marijuana laws implemented in 2021 and changes in police enforcement policies for contributing to juvenile crime problems.

“There’s so many laws that prevent the police from doing their jobs, I’m not even sure this will work out in Gloucester Township,” Stouffer told NewsNation. She said she was skeptical that parents could effectively control their children’s behavior when law enforcement faces restrictions.

NewsNation’s Damita Menezes contributed to this report.