Beginning Friday night, Denver police will cite and hold youths who violate the city’s curfew ordinance as part of the Denver SafeNite Program, authorities say.
The court diversion program is for youths 17 and younger who violate the city’s curfew of 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights and midnight to 5 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights.
From April 1 to Sept. 30, Denver police and youth safety program officers will place curfew violators in the Denver Juvenile Services Center at 303 W. Colfax Ave.
Once the youths are in the facility, officials call their parents and issue citations, according to a news release by Denver police and Denver Public Safety.
Exceptions to the ordinance include when a minor is accompanied by a parent or guardian or the youth is traveling from work without a detour stop.
Youths attending school, religious or recreational activities supervised by adults are also exempted.
Youths cited for the first time are given the option to participate in the diversion program. Once an individual plan is successfully completed, the case is dismissed without a court appearance.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206, kmitchell@denverpost.com or @kirkmitchell or
