Casey City Council Passes Ordinance Holding Parents Responsible for Minors’ Vandalism

Casey City Council Meeting | October 20, 2025

Article Summary: The Casey City Council has approved a new ordinance making parents and legal guardians financially liable for ordinance violations, such as vandalism and property damage, committed by their minor children. The measure, prompted by ongoing damage to city parks and property, establishes a system of escalating fines for repeat offenses.

Parental Responsibility Ordinance Key Points:

• Ordinance #591 was unanimously approved during the council’s regular meeting.

• The ordinance applies to parents or guardians of children aged 11 to 19.

• Penalties start with a warning or a $250 fine, rising to $500 for a second offense and $750 for subsequent offenses within a 12-month period.

• The ordinance explicitly covers a range of acts, including vandalism, curfew violations, trespassing, and property damage.

The Casey City Council on Monday, October 20, 2025, unanimously approved a new parental responsibility ordinance aimed at curbing juvenile-related crime and vandalism by holding parents and guardians accountable for the actions of their minor children.

The ordinance, #591, makes it a civil infraction for a parent or guardian to fail to exercise “proper parental responsibility” when their child, defined as a minor between 11 and 19 years of age, violates city ordinances. The measure was developed in response to persistent issues with property damage throughout the city.

City Attorney Tracy Willenborg, who drafted the ordinance, explained the motivation behind the new law. “We’re seeing a lot of damage to like parks and bathrooms and shelter homes and park equipment,” Willenborg said. “Casey, like most of the municipalities I represent, has been dealing with that sort of damage… and so in an effort to address that, one of the options is to make the parents responsible for the acts of the minor.”

Under the new law, parents or guardians can be penalized through an escalating system of fines. A first offense may result in a written warning or a fine of $250, at the discretion of law enforcement. If the same minor commits a second violation within 12 months, the fine increases to $500. A third or subsequent offense within the same 12-month period will carry a $750 fine for each incident. The ordinance also notes that a minor caught trespassing after receiving a no-trespass order will automatically trigger the $500 second-offense fine.

The ordinance holds parents responsible for a wide range of violations committed by their children, including vandalism, criminal trespass, curfew violations, disorderly conduct, battery, and possession of alcohol or firearms.

Mayor Mike Nichols praised the measure, stating it gives the city a necessary tool for enforcement. “It puts a little teeth into it,” he said during the meeting. “The wording is very good and it specifically puts out what we’re authorizing… for the acts that are being held accountable for parental responsibility.”

The ordinance also aligns with the Illinois Parental Responsibility Act, which allows the city to seek restitution from parents for actual damages caused by a minor, including reasonable attorney’s fees. Enforcement will be carried out by the city’s police officers and officers of the Clark County Sheriff’s Department.

The council approved the ordinance with a unanimous vote from all members present.