St. Clair County, IL Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

County Code Section 26-2-2, part of the Truancy and Curfew Code in Chapter 26, makes it unlawful for a minor to be present in any public place or on the premises of any establishment during "county curfew hours," defined in Section 26-2-1 as 11 p.m. on any Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday until 6 a.m. the next day, and 12:01 a.m. until 6 a.m. on any Saturday or Sunday. A parent, guardian or custodian who knowingly permits the minor to be out during those hours, or allows it through insufficient control, is charged under 26-2-2(B) exactly as the minor is under 26-2-2(A).

Nine defenses apply under 26-2-2(C): accompaniment by a parent, guardian, custodian or a responsible adult at least 18 years old; a direct errand for a parent with no detour; interstate travel with parental consent; travel to or from a job with no detour; an emergency; standing on the sidewalk outside the minor's own residence; a school, religious or recreational activity supervised by adults and sponsored by the county or a civic group; exercising First Amendment rights; or being legally emancipated. Establishment owners, operators and employees can be cited under 26-2-4 for letting a minor remain on the premises during curfew or truancy hours, unless they notified the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department and the minor refused to leave after being told to.

Sheriff's deputies may detain a minor on the spot under 26-2-5 whether or not a citation is issued, and must promptly try to reach a parent, guardian or custodian. Citations must name the person cited, state the section violated and the date, and be signed by the issuing officer or truant officer; a copy goes to the minor's parent or guardian, who must appear with the minor at any resulting hearing.