A new 11 p.m. curfew for minors in Hattiesburg, passed on July 9, has sparked a citywide conversation about more than just safety. It has raised pressing questions about what local youth truly need to thrive.
The curfew was introduced in response to ongoing concerns about misbehavior among minors. While city officials believe the move could minimize nighttime incidents, some community leaders and teens argue that the curfew only scratches the surface of a much deeper issue.
“There’s a lot to be desired in those areas,” said Councilwoman Deborah Delgado, referring to the lack of supportive infrastructure for Hattiesburg’s most vulnerable youth. “We don’t provide programming for them. There’s nowhere for them to go. There’s nothing calling them to come into a space that’s going to be safe for them.”
For many young people, safety feels uncertain even in everyday environments like school.
“In my neighborhood, I feel pretty safe,” said 16-year-old Le’Cayden Ponce. “But in my school, it’s kind of different because of everything that has gone on around there. Youth violence is very common in my community. Everyone’s trying to fit in nowadays.”
Ponce has lost three friends to gun violence tragedies that have pushed him and his circle of friends to seek safer paths through academics and sports.
“Two of my friends got picked for college, so we basically don’t hang around school that much anymore. The rest, they participate in sports, so they don’t really have a choice but to stay away from trouble,” he said.
While extracurricular activities have been a lifeline for teens like Ponce, questions remain about what happens when the games end and the school day is over.
“There needs to be a center, or multiple locations in different communities, where children can go to places that provide support, entertainment, enrichment,” Delgado said.
Beyond programming, Delgado emphasizes that youth need connection and empathy from the adults around them. She believes that real change comes from small, genuine gestures.
“They can get to know them. They can acknowledge their humanness,” she said. “They need to not always start with the criticism.”
As Hattiesburg navigates this new curfew, some hope it will be more than just a boundary. It could be the beginning of broader, lasting investments in the city’s youth.
