A Deptford Mall policy requiring parents and chaperones to accompany visitors under 18 on weekend nights is drawing new attention after local police issued a reminder on Facebook over the weekend.
Both Deptford police and mall officials said nothing specific prompted a reminder of the Gloucester County mall’s parental escort policy, which says teens can’t be in the mall’s Common Area without an adult chaperone on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
“These rules will be STRICTLY enforced,” Deptford police said in a social media post on Saturday.
The widely-viewed Facebook update prompted several news stories saying the parental escort policy was new, as a growing number of malls throughout the United States have been placing limits on teenagers to cut down on disruptive behavior.
However, the Deptford Mall policy dates back to November 2020, according to Deptford Police Sgt. Robert Jones.
“This is not a new policy at Deptford Mall. Our commitment is to provide the most enjoyable shopping experience for our guests,” Frank Lucia, the mall’s general manager, told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday.
Nothing about the Deptford Mall’s policy has changed since it was introduced a few years ago, he said.
“Levels of enforcement may vary at times as a reminder that the policy is in effect,” Lucia said.
The mall’s policy says visitors under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or a “supervising adult” age 25 or older on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays after 5 p.m. Proof of age may be required and those lacking identification may be denied entry or asked to leave.
The policy applies only to the mall’s interior Common Area. Visitors should check with the mall’s anchor stores, restaurants and other retailers with exterior entrances about their policies about unaccompanied children and teenagers, according to the rules.
Other malls in New Jersey have enacted similar policies placing limits on teenagers in recent years. The state’s largest mall, American Dream in East Rutherford, has a parental escort policy requiring anyone under 16 to be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older from 4 p.m. until closing, seven days a week. One adult may supervise up to 10 visitors, according to the policy.
In April, New Jersey’s second largest shopping mall, Westfield Garden State Plaza, began requiring visitors between ages 11 and 17 to be accompanied by an adult age 21 or older on Fridays and Saturdays after 5 p.m. The mall, located in Bergen County, is closed on Sundays.
The Deptford Mall’s policy states one parent may escort all of their own children, no matter how large the group. However, the policy says the mall will limit the size of non-family groups of young people. A supervising adult over 25 may only escort up to four visitors, according to the rules.
Jones, the Deptford police sergeant, said enforcement is being handled by mall security, not the department’s police officers.
A view of the Deptford Mall during an Eagles pep rally on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.Joe Warner | For NJ Advance Media
Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust.
Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.