In Gloucester Township, New Jersey, a new and controversial ordinance has put the spotlight squarely on parents, igniting debate across the Garden State and beyond. The "Minors and Parent Responsibility" act, which took effect on July 28, 2025, empowers authorities to fine or even jail parents if their minor children are found guilty of certain offenses—an approach that has both supporters and critics speaking out with passion.
The measure was adopted by the Gloucester Township Council following a dramatic spike in youth-related disturbances, most notably the infamous disruption at the township’s annual community day in June 2024. That event, meant to be a family-friendly festival complete with a drone light show, devolved into chaos when around 500 young people—many dropped off from out of town by rideshare services—began causing disturbances just before 9 p.m. According to ABC News, the disorder lasted for two hours, spilling from Veterans Park to a nearby shopping center. Police from surrounding towns had to be called in for backup, and the night ended with 12 arrests, including 10 juveniles between the ages of 13 and 17. Officers reported being spat on, cursed at, and even assaulted. "I've never experienced anything like it in 30 years as a police officer—the disrespect, the violent behavior that ruined a family event," Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins told ABC News.
The aftermath of that night was significant. Not only did it lead to the cancellation of this year’s Gloucester Township Day, but it also prompted local lawmakers to act. The new ordinance lists 28 specific offenses that, if committed by a minor, could trigger parental penalties. These range from serious crimes like drug use and assault to relatively minor infractions such as loitering, destruction of playground equipment, breaking curfew, and chronic truancy. If a minor is found guilty of a first offense, parents may simply be ordered to provide supervision. But a second offense ups the ante: parents could face a fine of up to $2,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both.
"We've gotten overwhelming support from our community," Harkins told ABC News. "People recognize the need for parental responsibility." He emphasized, however, that the ordinance isn’t about punishment for its own sake. "We're not looking to put anybody in jail. This is about warning parents and due process." Since the law went into effect, no parents have been charged, and police have focused on providing information and support services—including a full-time social worker and parenting classes—to help families manage difficult situations.
Still, the law has struck a nerve. Some parents and advocacy groups see it as an overreach, setting a "very dangerous precedent" for parental rights. Alex Bougher, chair of the Bergen County chapter of Moms for Liberty, told WKRC, "Parents are basically being told that they don't have rights as parents to know what's going on with their children, but then on the other side it's, 'How could you not know what was going on with your children?'" She expressed outrage at the idea that a parent could be jailed for up to 90 days for the actions of a single child, especially when other children might be left without care. Nicole Stouffer, an organizer for the New Jersey Project, echoed these concerns: "Now this person can’t pay their bills and their mortgage or take care of their children? And they’re going to go to jail because they have one child that’s out of control?"
Others in the community, however, believe the ordinance is overdue. Mark Barker, a father of four, told The New York Post, "Now you got kids running the parents. The kids are in charge. Or, you got kids raising kids and they don’t care. I agree with that new law because these parents are just letting their kids go out and putting the responsibility on someone else." Katie Crawford, a Gloucester Township mother, put it bluntly: "If it scares parents into parenting their kids, then I’m all for it." Another anonymous father said, "It’s been a problem because parents aren’t punishing the kid who’s causing the problem, so you’re going to have to move up the chain. The kid’s got to be held accountable or you’re just going to have bedlam."
Police and township officials say the ordinance is part of a broader effort to address what they describe as a "juvenile crisis." According to Patch, Gloucester Township has seen juvenile arrests nearly double from 68 in 2020 to 133 in 2023, before declining to 98 in 2024—still well above pre-pandemic levels. Most of the troublemakers at the 2024 event, police say, were from out of town and had been dropped off without any parental supervision. "Many times interviewing the parents, they had no idea who their kids were with or what they were doing," Harkins told ABC News. "That's got to change."
The ordinance isn’t unique to Gloucester Township, though it’s among the first in a larger New Jersey community to adopt such measures. "Our ordinance was actually sampled from other towns," Police Chief Harkins told NJ.com. "We’re not necessarily the first, but we’re probably the first bigger town to adopt it." The law’s reach extends beyond just Gloucester Township—other communities are watching closely, and some residents worry the approach could spread.
The broader context for the ordinance includes a series of high-profile youth disturbances across New Jersey. Over Memorial Day weekend in 2025, three people were stabbed and more than 70 visitors were arrested at Seaside Heights after violent altercations on the boardwalk, according to Patch. Of those arrested, 21 were juveniles. Such incidents have fueled calls for action to restore a sense of safety and order to public spaces, especially during the busy summer months when families flock to New Jersey’s beaches and festivals.
Despite the passionate debate, township officials insist the ordinance is not meant to be punitive but preventative. "We understand being a parent is a tough job," Harkins told ABC News. "We're committed to giving help to those that need it." The hope is that by holding parents accountable—and providing them with resources and support—youth will be steered away from the juvenile justice system before it’s too late.
As Gloucester Township’s experience shows, the challenge of balancing public safety, parental rights, and community well-being is anything but simple. The new law may be untested, but it has already forced a statewide—and even national—conversation about where responsibility begins and ends when it comes to raising the next generation.
