What Are Teen Takeovers and How Serious Are the Charges?

 Posted on May 15, 2025 in Juvenile Crimes

On a Saturday night in April 2025, dozens of teens began gathering in small groups along 53rd Street in Hyde Park. In accordance with the city’s 10:00 p.m. youth curfew, police officers instructed the teens to leave the area and go home. Unfortunately, physical altercations occurred, resulting in the arrests of four juveniles. Two of the teens were charged with assault, obstruction of traffic, and resisting arrest, another with reckless conduct and resisting arrest, and the fourth with reckless conduct.

This latest trend is known as "teen takeovers." These large gatherings of teenagers are organized over social media and have prompted debate over youth curfews, with an ordinance recently introduced to lower Chicago’s teen curfew to 8:00 p.m. In 2022, a Millennium Park shooting took the life of a 16-year-old during a teen takeover, resulting in the youth curfew being lowered to 10:00 p.m. and access to Millennium Park for minors being restricted.

During the first week of May, the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Public Schools issued a warning regarding a possible teen takeover planned for Chicago Beach. Perhaps because of increased police presence, that particular teen takeover never materialized. If your teen has taken part in a teen takeover and is now facing criminal charges, it is important that you speak to an experienced Wheaton, IL juvenile crimes lawyer.  

What Charges Could My Teen Face for Participating in a Teen Takeover?

While the exact charges will depend on the facts and circumstances surrounding the teen takeover, some of the more common charges include obstruction of traffic, reckless conduct, resisting arrest, and potentially even assault. Obstruction of traffic is detailed under Section 11-1416 and occurs when a person willfully and unnecessarily obstructs, delays, or attempts to delay, hinder, or obstruct another person who is lawfully driving.

This is a misdemeanor offense with penalties of up to $500 for each offense. Resisting arrest is a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois, punishable by up to one year in jail, a $2,500 fine, or both. Reckless conduct is also usually a Class A misdemeanor. Assault—when nobody is seriously injured—is a Class C misdemeanor in the state, with a penalty of up to 30 days in jail. If the judge does not order jail time, he or she must order 30 to 120 hours of community service.

How Are Juvenile Offenses Handled?

For the most part, these misdemeanor offenses are handled through the juvenile court system for juveniles under the age of 18. If a juvenile is under 12, police can only hold them for six hours. A juvenile who is between the ages of 12 and 16 can be held for 12 hours for a non-violent crime and up to 24 hours for a violent crime.

Following the arrest, a reasonable attempt must be made to reach the juvenile’s parents. If the police question a juvenile, a youth officer must be present. As "protected persons," juveniles have special rights when being questioned by police. The police are not allowed to lie to a juvenile to elicit a confession or offer leniency in exchange for a confession.

Once a juvenile is charged, he or she can be released to a parent or legal guardian or can be held in a juvenile facility. When a juvenile is found delinquent, he or she can be placed in a detention facility for 30 days. A juvenile over the age of 13 who committed a crime that an adult could be put in jail for can be sent to the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice.

Contact a DuPage County, IL Juvenile Crimes Lawyer

If your child is facing criminal charges, speaking to a highly skilled Wheaton, IL juvenile crimes attorney from Stephen A. Brundage can be extremely beneficial. Attorney Brundage has a law enforcement background as an instructor, police officer, evidence technician, and investigator, which provides key advantages to his clients. He has also practiced Illinois law for over three decades. Call 630-260-9647 to schedule your free consultation.