Cambridge Passes Permanent Curfew for Minors

(CAMBRIDGE, Md) – After four years of renewals, the City of Cambridge has approved a permanent curfew for kids under the age of 16, with the goal of curbing youth violence in the city by making sure kids aren’t walking city streets like these unsupervised in the middle of the night.

Cambridge Police Chief, Justin Todd says they’ve been monitoring youth crime rates since first implementing the curfew in 2022.

Chief Todd tells WMDT, “We’re seeing juveniles, under the age of 16 carrying weapons, involved in shootings. Yes. Our juvenile numbers for as far as crime may be slightly down. However, the types of crimes are my concern.”

And after four years they believe they have enough information to make the curfew permanent change.

“The city commissioners have seen the positive part of this, the reduction in crime. They’ve seen that the police are looking at this as part of their community policing program,” says Cambridge City Manager, Glenn Steckman.

The curfew will run 10 P.M. to 5 A.M Sunday through Thursday, and 11 to five Friday and Saturday.

With law enforcement making sure no kid is wandering around during curfew hours.

“95% or more of our children in our community do the right thing. They go to school, they work hard. They do what they’re supposed to do. There’s a very small number out there that do not and are defiant to the law, and they need to be held accountable. And if they’re not held accountable, the parents need to be held accountable,” says Chief Todd.

Chief Todd also tells WMDT that the city hopes one day they can repeal the curfew.