Cincinnati is considering the reinstatement of a youth curfew in an attempt to tackle the city's escalating violent crime rates. The Cincinnati City Council has directed the police department to assess the feasibility of enforcing the curfew ordinance, with Council Member Scotty Johnson explaining that it's "another tool in the tool belt to make sure that Cincinnati is safe," according to LOCAL12. City Manager Sheryl Long is considering the establishment of a curfew center for minors found outside past curfew, aiming for a system that educates rather than criminalizes.
The proposal arrives despite a downward trend in the enforcement of youth curfews across Hamilton County. The Cincinnati Enquirer review of data showed that citations for curfew violations have decreased from a peak of 619 in 2000 to just 79 in 2024. Steve Johnson, Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, and others have voiced support for the initiative, seeing it as a preventative measure rather than a punitive one. Concerns about logistics and resources for implementation were raised by former Cincinnati police officer Dan Hils, who pointed out the need for places to hold the kids, along with adequate staffing.
This effort is part of a broader strategy to combat crime, as revealed by a series of crime reduction measures currently in place. These include a new drone program, a street crimes task force, and expanded walking, biking, and Segway patrols, particularly in areas like OTR (Over-the-Rhine). "We’re seeing real positive progress," said Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval in an interview with FOX19.
Additionally, Police Chief Teresa Theetge pointed out that even though crime is up nearly 50% in OTR and 54% in downtown Cincinnati, there has been a reduction in shooting victims by 23.2% and incidents by over 19% year-to-date. As part of improving public safety, the hiring of 58 new recruits and the potential for lateral hires from other law enforcement agencies are also underway. "I am still aggressively pursuing some type of parental accountability initiative," Chief Theetge told FOX19, alluding to measures that would involve the guardians of youth found in violation of the curfew.
The curfew itself is up for adjustment; city leaders and law enforcement officials are hammering out the details. City Manager Sheryl Long is advocating for a curfew that ideally would be active year-round on Friday and Saturday evenings, focusing on compliance rather than enforcement. "Our goal is to get these kids in safe places. That is what the overall goal is for the curfew," Long said in a statement shared by FOX19. Engaging discussions with business owners at The Banks and other affected areas are also on the docket, with potential updates expected imminently as the new school year approaches.
