Innovative practices in Bulgaria
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Parental Control Time
Montana Municipality
Background
In May 1998, the Montana District Directorate of Home Affairs and the Montana Local Council held a joint meeting to discuss juvenile delinquency in the Municipality. The existing trends caused considerable concern: crime among children was on the rise; truancy, prostitution, drug abuse (especially marihuana, no hard drugs as yet); alcohol served to children and adolescents in public places; lenient parent attitudes.
The local administration and the police force got down to finding new ways of combating those negative trends. After broad public consultation, involving medics, psychologists and psychiatrists, educationalists, lawyers, and police officers, an ordinance was drafted introducing what was termed Parental Control Time. The Ordinance is compatible with the national legislation and has drawn on similar experience in the West.
In May 1998, the Montana District Directorate of Home Affairs and the Montana Local Council held a joint meeting to discuss juvenile delinquency in the Municipality. The existing trends caused considerable concern: crime among children was on the rise; truancy, prostitution, drug abuse (especially marihuana, no hard drugs as yet); alcohol served to children and adolescents in public places; lenient parent attitudes.
The local administration and the police force got down to finding new ways of combating those negative trends. After broad public consultation, involving medics, psychologists and psychiatrists, educationalists, lawyers, and police officers, an ordinance was drafted introducing what was termed Parental Control Time. The Ordinance is compatible with the national legislation and has drawn on similar experience in the West.
Practice
Under national law, minors (under the age of 18) cannot or can only partially be held liable for their actions. Instead, liability is to be assumed by their parents. Provisions to this effect exist in the Family Code, the Persons and Family Act, the Convention on Children s Rights, the Juvenile Delinquency Act.
The draft Parental Control Time Ordinance was unequivocally welcomed by parents and teachers, the local Education Authority, the District Attorney s Office, the District Directorate of Home Affairs. There was some discontent among the students, but a targeted persuasion effort did a lot to win their support as well. Within the meaning of the Ordinance, parental control time is the time of day during which parents are solely and fully responsible for their children s health, life, and behavior.
The following time brackets were introduced:
during the school term, including Christmas and Easter Holidays, from 22:00 hours to 06:00 hours
on Friday and Saturday nights, the control time is set to begin two hours later
during the summer holidays, from 24:00 hours to 06:00 hours
There are also the following exemptions:
children accompanied by their parents or by another legal family representative
group events attended by teachers or coaches
cases of emergency
The enforcement authority under the Ordinance is the local police force, jointly with the local Juvenile Delinquency Commission or such commissions set up by schools.
No disciplinary action is to be taken by school authorities. The schools have made a commitment to use persuasion and explanation to enhance the sense of responsibility in both parents and children.
In addition to the introduction of parental control time, the Montana Council adopted an amendment to the local Business Ordinance expressly prohibiting the offering and sale of alcohol or cigarettes to minors. Furthermore, minors are not to be allowed into licensed alcohol outlets after 22 hours, except in the company of a legal family member. Offenders will be fined from BGL 5,000 to 500,000.
Under national law, minors (under the age of 18) cannot or can only partially be held liable for their actions. Instead, liability is to be assumed by their parents. Provisions to this effect exist in the Family Code, the Persons and Family Act, the Convention on Children s Rights, the Juvenile Delinquency Act.
The draft Parental Control Time Ordinance was unequivocally welcomed by parents and teachers, the local Education Authority, the District Attorney s Office, the District Directorate of Home Affairs. There was some discontent among the students, but a targeted persuasion effort did a lot to win their support as well. Within the meaning of the Ordinance, parental control time is the time of day during which parents are solely and fully responsible for their children s health, life, and behavior.
The following time brackets were introduced:
during the school term, including Christmas and Easter Holidays, from 22:00 hours to 06:00 hours
on Friday and Saturday nights, the control time is set to begin two hours later
during the summer holidays, from 24:00 hours to 06:00 hours
There are also the following exemptions:
children accompanied by their parents or by another legal family representative
group events attended by teachers or coaches
cases of emergency
The enforcement authority under the Ordinance is the local police force, jointly with the local Juvenile Delinquency Commission or such commissions set up by schools.
No disciplinary action is to be taken by school authorities. The schools have made a commitment to use persuasion and explanation to enhance the sense of responsibility in both parents and children.
In addition to the introduction of parental control time, the Montana Council adopted an amendment to the local Business Ordinance expressly prohibiting the offering and sale of alcohol or cigarettes to minors. Furthermore, minors are not to be allowed into licensed alcohol outlets after 22 hours, except in the company of a legal family member. Offenders will be fined from BGL 5,000 to 500,000.
Results
The Montana initiative has been noticed and applauded throughout the country by leading organizations and authorities in the field of social work, such as the Bulgarian Drug Addiction Association, UNICEF/Bulgaria, the National Society for the Protection of Children s Rights, the Central Juvenile Delinquency Commission. All school authorities in the city have sent letters of support. Other communities in the country have expressed interest in the initiative.
The Montana initiative has been noticed and applauded throughout the country by leading organizations and authorities in the field of social work, such as the Bulgarian Drug Addiction Association, UNICEF/Bulgaria, the National Society for the Protection of Children s Rights, the Central Juvenile Delinquency Commission. All school authorities in the city have sent letters of support. Other communities in the country have expressed interest in the initiative.
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