On Monday, May 29, Sea Isle City police received a 911 call at 12:12 a.m. The call reported a group of juveniles breaking fences and destroying property at the Dealy Field’s playground on Central Avenue. Two juveniles were arrested for criminal mischief, a third-degree crime if there are more than $2,000 in damages. The juveniles were processed and released on summonses, as required by New Jersey’s juvenile justice reform directives.
Police Chief Anthony Garreffi called the action by the officers part of the city’s “zero tolerance” strategy when it comes to “destructive, unruly, disorderly criminal behavior.”
The incident in Sea Isle City that Monday was just one of many since the state took steps that almost guaranteed juveniles a lack of interference from police as young people engaged in more and more brazen acts of mischief and rowdyism.
It all started with state-mandated juvenile justice reform that coincided with legislation to implement the public’s approval of legalizing cannabis use.
In 2020, then-Attorney General Gurbir Grewal issued a directive aimed at diverting young people away from the criminal justice system. In 2021, legislation decriminalizing cannabis possession and use further limited what local police departments could do with underage offenders.
The reforms left police with few options, even when they confronted obvious circumstances of underage drinking. In shore communities the summer season became an opportunity for juveniles to gather by the hundreds on beaches and boardwalks, often engaging in rowdy and destructive behavior.
Officials from shore towns pleaded with Trenton for greater flexibility as they suffered rowdyism that led to local ordinances closing beaches, establishing curfews, banning backpacks and even inserting breach-of-the-peace language into their local laws.
The summer experience was altered. At midnight the speaker system on the Wildwood boardwalk announced closing time. Laws limited backpack use in Ocean City and Sea Isle. Even towns on the mainland took action: Lower Township announced in March that it would enforce a juvenile curfew ordinance. Middle Township inserted breach-of-the-peace language into several ordinances that dealt with undesirable behavior.
The laws have had some positive impact. Curtailing large gatherings of teens helped reduce the unwanted behavior.
An Ocean City spokesperson said beach curfews and the backpack bans were effective in reducing the large gatherings of young people. Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio said he was pleased with the early results of the city’s prevention measures.
Desiderio also has said repeatedly that the real help needs to come from Trenton. He may now be getting some assistance.
In December the Legislature passed a bill that would allow for the issuance of a summons and impose a $50 fine for underage drinking. Parental notification would be required. There is no fine for underage cannabis possession or use.
The bill is now awaiting the governor’s signature. Shore officials have strongly supported the measure. A number of groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, opposed the legislation as increasing juveniles’ contact with the criminal justice system.
To contact the author, Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
