The first reading of an ordinance amendment prohibiting the contribution to the delinquency or criminality of a minor in Oxford Township is set for the 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25 township board meeting.
Under the proposed amendment to Ordinance No. 43A (disorderly conduct), it’s a violation to “encourage, contribute toward, cause or tend to cause, by any act or by any word, any minor child under the age of 18 years to become neglected or delinquent so as to come or tend to come under the jurisdiction of the juvenile division of the probate court…”
It shall also be a violation to “encourage, contribute toward, cause or tend to cause, by any act or by any word, any minor child under the age of 18 years to commit any act prohibited by this ordinance, or any other ordinance, or any state or federal law.”
The ordinance amendment was requested by Oakland County Sheriff’s Lt. Al Whitefield, commander of the Oxford substation, at the Jan. 28 township meeting.
Whitefield said his officers have been confronted with a number of situations in which adults are harboring minor juveniles who run away from home. The lieutenant said it’s usually an older friend in the 18-to-25-old range.
Because the township ordinance currently lacks the language necessary to charge the adults, deputies are forced to cite them under state law, which requires them to work with the county prosecutor’s office, resulting in multiple court dates for the officer
Whitefield said it would be easier and more efficient for the officer to cite everything under the township ordinance thereby lessening the number of court appearances for his officers.
The lieutenant said more than 90 percent of the citations issued by his deputies are violations of township ordinance, handled by the township attorney.