It’s been more than a month since large Fourth of July gatherings in Raleigh ended in violence, prompting city leaders to consider a youth curfew.

Now, a police chief east of the capital who says his town’s curfew is working is offering Raleigh officials advice.

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Since 2023, Nashville (NC) Police Chief Caleb Shockley said minors have been subject to different curfew hours depending on their age.

“We have 13 and under, and the hours are from 9 p.m. to 6 in the morning. And then we have 14- to 17-year-olds, and that’s from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.,” Shockley said.

Shockley said the idea for the curfew emerged after a string of vehicle break-ins.

Since the curfew went into effect, Shockley said Nashville’s juvenile crime rate has dropped 11%.

Following large gatherings over the Fourth of July weekend, Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce presented a draft ordinance that would restrict people under 18 from being in public spaces between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The issue was also discussed by top Wake County law enforcement officials during WRAL’s roundtable on youth violence in North Carolina this month.

Shockley told WRAL he reached out to Boyce to share Nashville’s experience.

“And I just kind of offered, ‘Hey, we had just come across a situation somewhat similar. This is what we did, and it was successful,’” Shockley said.

Staff with the Raleigh City Attorney’s Office have pointed to similar ordinances in Fayetteville and Winston-Salem.

WRAL asked city leaders what they have learned from youth curfews in other North Carolina communities and how those strategies could be applied in Raleigh.

Councilman Corey Branch said the city has been reviewing data and talking with community members.

“We’ve pulled data, comparing notes, as well as continue to have conversation within our own community,” Branch said. “I think one of the specific strategies is also making sure that young people who are working, young people who are taking care of parents, are not trapped.”

Branch said that if he were asked to vote on a youth curfew today, he would support it.

He also encouraged the public to share their opinions at Raleigh City Council meetings on Sept. 8 and Sept. 15.