Gloucester Township has enacted a new law that has become a point of scrutiny for many town residents. The “Minors and Parent Responsibility” ordinance allows authorities to hold parents and guardians responsible for repeated offenses committed by minors.
The law applies to anyone under 18, outlining 28 offenses, from felonies to lesser violations. It includes crimes such as assault, vandalism, drug use, habitual truancy, and public disturbances, as well as broadly defined behaviors like “immorality” and associating with “immoral people.”
If a juvenile is found guilty of multiple offenses in court, their parent or guardian could face penalties of up to 90 days in jail and fines upwards of $2,000.
Township officials say the measure is aimed at cases involving repeat offenders who regularly appear in juvenile detention. It follows a series of large-scale incidents involving minors, including one that saw hundreds of teenagers gather at a local shopping center, resulting in arrests, injuries to police officers and property damage.
The ordinance also lists behaviors such as loitering in groups, defacing property, consuming alcohol in public, and staying out at night without cause. Motor vehicle violations under state law, excluding parking, are also included.
Supporters frame the measure as a way to deter recurring disruptions, while critics have raised concerns about the vague nature of some listed offenses. The law is now in effect across the township.
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