CLEVELAND — Talks of increased violence in Cleveland have been dominating city hall since the start of summer, specifically the rise in crimes involving young people. 

Now, as kids are starting the school year, council members are considering legislation that would make penalties stricter for parents of children who are unsupervised in public spaces past curfew.

Council member Mike Polensek, who introduced the ordinance, has represented the Collinwood neighborhood for decades and said constituents have been coming to council about the violence they’re facing this summer more than ever before.

“We can’t hire. We can’t fire. We can’t deploy. We can’t administer,” Polensek said in council’s July meeting. “The charter is clear, but everyone in this body is hearing it. Going to neighborhood meetings, hearing it, hearing it, hearing it about what’s going on here.”

Polensek said council has done their part in passing legislation put forth by Mayor Justin Bibb to address violent crimes, but it’s up to the Mayor’s office to work with the police department on enforcement.

Bibb has hosted a public safety summit with police union leaders to come up with solutions.

He has also launched the Raising Investment in Safety for Everyone, or “RISE” Initiative, this summer to address a lack of new officers and increased violence. 

Polensek said the mayor has put forth some good long-term solutions, but they won’t make things better for residents right now. 

“There's got to be some accountability here,” he said. “So the curfew law, we are stiffening, calling for stiffening the fines and penalties.”

In council’s last summer session, Polensek introduced legislation that would create stronger penalties for parents of kids who are out past curfew.

Under current guidelines, the curfew for kids under 12 is at dark.

For 13 and 14 year olds, it’s between 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. while 15 and 16 year olds have a curfew of 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

And, for 17 year olds, the curfew is midnight to 6 a.m.

The proposed legislation would amend the ordinance so that the parents of those who break that curfew would face a 4th degree misdemeanor, up to $250 in fines, and up to 30 days in jail for a first offense.

Second time offenders face a 3rd degree misdemeanor, up to $500 in fines and up to 60 days in jail.

If the fine cannot be paid, parents can do community service instead.  

“We want them to appear in court," Polensek said. "I've been informed by muni court, there’s a special docket, where they would appear in, the parents. That's what we want. We want them to have to surface. We want them to have to come out in the open, rather than saying, 'You know, they're not my responsibility.' Well, they’re your kids, aren't they?”

In a statement, the Mayor’s office said, “We support efforts aimed at curbing the violence affecting our city, as evidenced by the Mayor’s RISE Initiative and other numerous new actions the Administration has taken towards improving public safety over the last 7 weeks.  We will review these proposals to see if they will have similar intended effects.”

Conflicting research exists about the effectiveness of curfew laws. 

Polensek said something immediately needs to be done to address the violence his community is facing every day, and this is what he can do as a member of council. 

“What that is about is people afraid,” Polensek said. “That's unacceptable to me. I won't live like that and I won't let my constituents live like that either.”

The ordinance must go through committee before it’s put before the full council. 

Council’s next meeting is Sept. 18, which marks the start of their return to regularly-scheduled weekly meetings.