Full Notification

The New Castle Police Department is issuing this reminder following two separate parties involving hundreds of underage individuals that occurred in our community this past weekend. During one incident, a 16-year-old had to be transported to the hospital, and neighboring property was damaged. These incidents demonstrate how quickly an unsupervised gathering can get out of control and harm not only those attending but also surrounding residents and the community.

What may begin as a small gathering among friends can quickly become an uncontrolled event. In today’s social media environment, invitations, party locations, and videos can be shared instantly, attracting far more people than originally intended. A gathering planned for a handful of teenagers can quickly grow into a large, unsupervised party, creating significant safety concerns for everyone involved.

Parents and property owners should understand that:

• Legal Responsibility: New York State law prohibits knowingly permitting underage individuals to consume alcohol on property you own or control, subject to limited statutory exceptions. Violations can carry criminal and civil consequences.
• Social Media Can Quickly Change the Situation: A party advertised or shared online can attract uninvited guests, push attendance beyond your control, and make it difficult to manage who is coming and going.
• Injuries and Emergencies Carry Serious Consequences: If someone becomes intoxicated, suffers an injury, is involved in a fight, or is hurt in a motor vehicle crash after leaving your property, the consequences can extend well beyond the party itself. Depending on the circumstances, hosts and property owners may face civil liability.
• Property Damage Can Become Your Problem: Damage to neighboring homes, vehicles, landscaping, or other property can result in costly claims and potential financial liability.
• Supervision Does Not Eliminate Liability: Providing alcohol, allowing underage drinking, or knowingly permitting illegal activity on your property can expose adults to significant legal and financial consequences.
• The Consequences Can Be Permanent: A single incident involving underage drinking, drugs, violence, or impaired driving can have lasting effects on a young person’s education, employment opportunities, and future.

A Message to Parents and Guardians

Know where your children are, who they are with, and what type of gathering they are attending. Do not simply drop your child off at a friend’s home or party without knowing the circumstances: who is hosting, whether responsible adults will be present, and what level of supervision will be provided. Take the time to speak directly with the parents or responsible adults hosting the event. Do not assume another parent is supervising simply because the gathering is at their home.

If you are hosting a gathering, establish clear expectations, control attendance, do not provide alcohol, and do not permit underage drinking or drug use.

If a gathering begins to get out of control, take immediate steps to stop it and call the New Castle Police Department at (914) 238-4422. Do not let concerns about embarrassment, disciplinary consequences, or what others may think delay calling for help when someone’s safety is at risk. In an emergency, call 911.

The New Castle Police Department is not looking to discourage responsible social gatherings. Our goal is to prevent situations that can result in serious injuries, criminal charges, financial liability, property damage, and lifelong consequences for young people and their families.

We ask parents and guardians to take an active role in preventing these situations before they happen. A few extra precautions and responsible decisions can prevent a gathering from turning into a serious incident.

Please be a responsible host and parent. One party is not worth a lifetime of consequences.
 
James D. Carroll
Chief of Police