"UNSUPERVISED PARTIES"- A MAJOR COMMUNITY CONCERN

WHAT CAN PARENTS AND GUARDIANS DO?

Your children are your responsibility.
You are responsible for acts that take place in your homes.
To avoid the possible arrest of your children or yourselves, you must maintain control.

THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE STRICTLY ADHERED TO:

No alcoholic beverages dispensed to underage minors!
No illegal substances allowed in your homes.
Absolutely no unsupervised parties.
Know where your children are and with whom.
Call the parents of any home in which a party is to be held. Receive their assurance that no alcoholic beverages or illegal substance will be dispensed. Check out the party yourself to see that adult supervision is in fact in place and that the adult is acting responsibly.

WHAT CAN THE COMMUNITY DO?

YOU CAN ASSIST BY:

Not allowing this activity in your home and not allowing your children to participate in this activity in someone else's home.
Communicating with your school administration regarding teen parties.
Not putting up with this activity in your neighborhood.
If you know about a planned party, call your local police. Call police if a
problem party is presently taking place.
Expressing your concerns to your local business person who can work diligently to reduce the sale of alcohol to underage persons.

If alcoholic beverages are given to underage minors and you are present, you may be charged with Endangering The Welfare of a Child.
If your child permits underage drinking, he/she may be arrested on that same charge.
If illegal substances are found on your premises, you or your child may be arrested. Use of any illegal substance in your home may subject you to arrest.
If there is unreasonable noise or disorderly conduct in your home, you may be charged with being a Criminal Nuisance. There are also Town Ordinances that address unreasonable noise.

Any assault, damage to property, larceny or permitting those at your home to drive under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs may subject you or any person in charge of the premises to be arrested.

You are responsible for your children's behavior.

YOU CAN BE HELD LIABLE FOR THE ACTS OF YOUR CHILDREN! !
RESULTS OF UNSUPERVISED PARTIES:

Substance Abuse
Property Damage
Fights
Assaults
Injuries
Family Violence
Underage Drinking
Overdoses
Larcenies
Rape
Absenteeism and poor school performance

IF PERSONS ATTENDING A PARTY AT YOUR HOME CAUSE INJURY OR DAMAGE TO OTHERS, YOU MAY BE CIVILLY LIABLE.

EVEN IF A PERSON INJURES THEMSELVES AFTER OBTAINING AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE OR AN ILLEGAL OR DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE AT YOUR HOME, YOU MAY BE LIABLE.

You may be liable if:

Someone is injured on your property.
If they are injured off your property after obtaining an intoxicating substance on your property.
If your neighbor's property is damaged by those attending a party at your home.
If someone is involved in a motor vehicle accident, with injury or property damage and obtained any illegal or dangerous substance at your home.
If there is a fight on your property and someone is injured.
If a person becomes sick from any substance they obtain on your property.

Whenever a legal problem arises, it is always best to consult an attorney. The best way to avoid legal problems is to be safe, NOT SORRY.

For more information contact:

Mt. Pleasant Police Youth Bureau: (914) 769-6292
or
Westchester County District Attorney's Office: (914) 995-3000