Prom and Graduation Night Safety Tips

This time of year we celebrate proms, graduations, and summer vacation.

The Sheriff's Office encourages everyone to celebrate safely and responsibly. Deputies will be looking for open house parties where alcohol is served to minors or where acts of violence, child neglect, and/or delinquency can occur.

Be a responsible host! Be aware of the following state statutes.

• 856.015 (2) Open House Parties - “No person (18 or older) having control of any residence shall allow an open house party to take place at said residence if any alcoholic beverage or drug is possessed or consumed at said residence by any minor where the person knows that an alcoholic beverage or drug is in possession of or being consumed by a minor at said residence and where the person fails to take reasonable steps to prevent the possession or consumption of the alcoholic beverage or drug. ” (1^st degree misdemeanor.) 
• 827.03 (b) Neglect of a Child - “A person who willfully or by culpable negligence neglects a child and in doing so causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement to the child...” (2^nd or 3^rd degree felony, depending on the severity.)
• 827.04 (1)(a) Contributing to the Delinquency or Dependency of a Child - “Any person who commits any act which causes, tends to cause, encourages, or contributes to a child becoming delinquent or dependent child or a child in need of services...” (1^st degree misdemeanor.)
• 810.08 (1) Trespass - “Whoever, without being authorized, licensed or invited, willfully enters or remains in any structure or conveyance, or, having been authorized, licensed, or invited, is warned by the owner or lessee of the premises, or by a person authorized by the owner of lessee, to depart and refuses to do so, commits the offense of trespass in a structure or conveyance.” (1^st degree misdemeanor.)

Acts of violence often occur when uninvited guests arrive. If any uninvited guests “crash” your party, first ask them to leave. If they refuse, then call the Sheriff’s Office! To report underage drinking, child neglect/delinquency, or a trespass on property, contact the Sheriff’s Office Non-Emergency Dispatch at 247-8200. In the event of an emergency, dial 911!

You can also submit tips to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS or by texting “CSTB (plus the tip info)” to 274637.