Mayor Jim Kenney officially signed a bill on Wednesday morning which gives children and teenagers in Philadelphia a curfew during the summer months.

Children ages 14 to 17 years old are to be at home by 10 p.m., while children 13 years old and under will have to be indoors at 9:30 p.m.

Curfew times officially began last night and will continue to be placed until the end of September.

City officials are saying that this curfew should keep children safe and lessen the chances of gun violence, car jackings, and robberies that have been plaguing the city.

City Councilwoman Katherine Gilmore Richardson originally proposed the bill in early June in hopes of keeping children away from danger. However, she has been a staunch supporter of the curfew for quite some time.

"We're seeing our young people involved in more criminal incidents, criminal activity simply because they're out late," said Richardson at a press conference. "If you're under 18, you need to be in the house by 10 o'clock."

If minors have nowhere to go, Richardson is suggesting they go to one of the two evening resource community centers in Philadelphia, which operate between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m.

"They have wonderful fun activities, financial literacy classes. They have drone classes, photography classes and everything you can imagine," said Richardson.

One center, Community of Compassion CDC, in Southwest Philadelphia is located on 6150 Cedar Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143 and will open its doors to children who live in the 12th, 16th, 18th, and 19th Police Districts.

The other hub, Diversified Community Services, located at 1529 S 22nd St. Philadelphia, PA 19146 in South Philadelphia, will care for children who live in third, fourth, and 17th police districts.

If there is no resource center located in their neighborhood, children will then head to a nearby police station where their parents will pick them up.

It is no surprise that the city has been victim of a violent crime wave in recent years. There has been a barrage of bullets in the city just over the past week. Two officers were shot at the Ben Franklin Parkway during Fourth of July celebrations.

Just last week, a 21-year-old female was shot dead inside of a bar In Northeast Philadelphia. She was an innocent bystander.

As of July 7, 2022, there have been 252 fatal shootings in the city this year.