Jackson, NJ Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Chapter 172 defines a 'juvenile' as anyone under the age of 17 and sets the curfew window in § 172-3A: a juvenile may not be on any public street or in any public place, defined broadly to include sidewalks, parks, shopping areas and parking lots, between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Section 172-3B lists seven exceptions: a juvenile accompanied by a parent, guardian or other adult with care and custody; on a medical emergency or errand directed by a parent or guardian; traveling to or from a job whose hours overlap curfew; attending a function sponsored by a religious or educational organization; enrolled as a bona fide student at an evening school; attending a civic, cultural, recreational or social function; or traveling directly to or from home in connection with any of those excepted activities.

Section 172-4 makes a parent or guardian who 'knowingly' allows an unaccompanied juvenile to violate curfew separately liable, where 'knowingly' is defined in § 172-2 to include what a non-neglectful parent should reasonably be expected to know about a juvenile's whereabouts. Under § 172-5, the Jackson Township Police Department must immediately notify the parent or guardian of any curfew arrest, who must then take custody of the juvenile. The ordinance is adopted under N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.52 per § 172-8, and § 172-6 makes posting the curfew in the Municipal Building and Township schools sufficient notice, so actual knowledge of the ordinance is not a defense.