Providence enforces a juvenile curfew for minors under 17: 9 PM to 6 AM on school nights and 10:30 PM to 6 AM on weekends per Code §16-27. Cranston, Pawtucket, and Woonsocket have similar ordinances. Providence curfew survived constitutional challenge in Qutb-style litigation.
Providence Code Chapter 16, Article IV establishes one of New England's tightest juvenile curfews: minors under 17 cannot be in public places from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM Sunday through Thursday, and 10:30 PM to 6:00 AM Friday and Saturday. Pawtucket's curfew (Code Ch. 150) runs 10 PM to 5 AM. Cranston, Woonsocket, East Providence, Johnston, North Providence, and Smithfield have similar ordinances — hours vary by town. Exceptions under all ordinances include: minors accompanied by a parent or guardian, traveling directly to/from work with employer documentation, returning from school-sponsored or religious events, responding to emergencies, or exercising First Amendment rights. Enforcement typically involves police transporting the minor home and citing the parent or legal guardian. RIGL §14-1 (Family Court) provides the state juvenile code framework. Habitual truancy also triggers school-hour curfew enforcement during academic days.
First offense: warning to minor and written parental notice. Second offense: $100-$250 fine to parents/guardians. Habitual violations: referral to RI Family Court and possible family service intervention under RIGL §14-1.
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See how Foster Center's juvenile curfew rules stack up against other locations.
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