Every year, the city of Santa Clarita and the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station work tirelessly to ensure the safety of all the youth in our community. As part of these efforts, the city of Santa Clarita sponsors and promotes numerous youth-related programs, partners with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station in crime prevention and enforcement programs, and provides resources to parents, which will assist in planning, controlling and surviving teenage celebrations, parties, and graduation events.

As we enter the summer break season and many of our youth in the Santa Clarita Valley have time off from school and other responsibilities, it becomes even more critical to remind parents how important it is that our youth relax and celebrate responsibly, and our parents stay closely involved with their teenager’s activities.

An overwhelming majority of our youth in the Santa Clarita Valley are making the right decisions and take personal safety and accountability seriously.  However, the harsh reality is that some may make poor decisions, especially during the summer months that can result in severe consequences. This time of year presents a good opportunity for parents to talk to their teenagers, educate them on the dangers associated with drug use and unlawful behavior and help them make the right choices.

In 2013, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s responded to approximately 3,330 calls for service involving either large parties or loud music complaints. Some of these incidents involved parties in which teenagers were found to be unsupervised and participating in unsafe or criminal behavior.  California law holds parents liable, both civilly and criminally, in the event of any injury or death when alcohol is either furnished or allowed to be consumed by a minor at a party.

Deputies would like to also remind parents that in the city of Santa Clarita, the curfew ordinance applies to those 17 years old and younger and makes it unlawful for any minor to remain upon any public street, public building, place of amusement or eating place, vacant lot, or unsupervised place between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Certain provisions of this ordinance require parents to know the whereabouts of their minor children during these late hours. The minor must be accompanied by his or her parent or legal guardian unless they are handling a specific errand at the direction of the parent or legal guardian, without any detour or stop.

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s deputies have curfew enforcement operations planned in the coming weeks.  Through these operations, deputies are hoping to help raise parental awareness regarding the potential dangers associated with allowing unsupervised teenagers to be out in the community during late night hours.

The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station urges all parents to stay involved and talk with teenagers about the importance of personal safety and making good choices.