Southaven, MS Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

The curfew ordinance, Southaven Code § 10-6, applies to every minor, defined as a person under eighteen (18) years of age. The definition of curfew hours runs from 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday until 6:00 a.m. the next day, and from 12:00 midnight until 6:00 a.m. on Friday or Saturday night. The offense clause in subsection (c)(1) prints the weeknight start as 10:00 p.m., with the same midnight start on Fridays and Saturdays, so the two subsections do not match on weeknights. A third window runs from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday during the school term, and it reaches only minors covered by the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law.

The ban covers streets, highways, roads, alleys, parks, playgrounds, public buildings, apartment complexes, vacant lots and places of amusement, entertainment and refreshment within the corporate limits of the city, when the minor is unsupervised by a parent, responsible adult or guardian. The code defines a responsible adult by example: scout leader, grandparents, church leaders, civic leader, coach.

Liability does not stop with the minor. A parent, guardian or responsible adult commits an offense by knowingly permitting the minor to remain in a public place or on the premises of an establishment, or by insufficient control allowing it. The owner, operator or any employee of an establishment commits an offense by knowingly allowing a minor to remain on the premises during curfew hours.

Subsection (e) restrains enforcement by the Southaven Police Department. Before acting, the officer asks the apparent offender's age and reason for being in the public place or establishment, and the officer cannot issue a citation or make an arrest unless the officer reasonably believes an offense has occurred and no defense in subsection (d) is present.