The Details
The “Minors and Parent Responsibility” ordinance lists 28 areas where parents can be charged if their child – under 18 – is a repeat offender for offenses like chronic truancy, breaking curfew, felonies, loitering, selling drugs, being drunk in public and destruction of playground equipment. Other violations listed are vague: incorrigibility, immorality and growing up in idleness or delinquency. Parents cannot be held responsible for a first offense.
The Cause
The township has experienced several public disturbances by teens. In 2024, one of the township’s annual family events – Gloucester Township Day – was overrun by a group of over 500 teens who erupted into a brawl that lasted two hours. 68 Gloucester Twp. police officers responded, and 30 additional officers were called in from other towns. In the end, 12 people were arrested – two adults and ten juveniles. The annual event was cancelled for 2025. At the start of summer this year, Wildwood instituted similar legislation after it experienced large crowds of disruptive teens in summer 2024. Wildwood’s new law imposes a $1,000 fine on parents of kids who break the law.
The Process
Both the Gloucester Twp. Police Chief David Harkins and Mayor David Mayer stress that the ordinance will follow due process, and the law’s intent is to make parents more responsible and accountable – not to put them in jail. The first step is a warning, which parents must sign stating they are aware of the ordinance. At a second occurrence, a judge will evaluate the case and determine the penalty.
The Parents
Critics say the law is unfair and could take parents away from other children or financially hurt a family who relies on the income of the parent. Emphasizing that the township’s intent is to make parents accountable, officials say parents will receive an educational sheet with the first warning, and the department offers a full-time social worker and parenting classes. “We understand being a parent is a tough job,” Harkins says. “We’re committed to giving help to those that need it.”
