(a) Whoever commits any act or omits the performance of any duty, which act or omission causes a child under the age of 18 to become in need of the care and protection of the juvenile and domestic relations division of the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both. In addition, the parent or the person responsible for a child's care and/or custody whose child is found in violation of the provisions of subsection (b) of this section may be subject to community service of up to 100 hours for the first offense and for subsequent and repeated offenses may be subject to community service of up to 200 hours or a fine of not more than $500 or both. If the parent or the person responsible for the child's care and/or custody fails to exercise parental authority to prevent a curfew violation, during which a felony was committed, the Virgin Islands Police Department may cause the name or names of the parent or person responsible for the child's care and/or custody to be published in the official police blotter unless the parent or the person responsible for the child's care and/or custody has notified the Police Department that they are unable to exercise parental authority to prevent a curfew violation immediately upon such a violation occurring.
(b) Any child under the age of 16 years found upon or remaining upon the streets or highways after 10:00 p.m., unaccompanied by a person legally responsible for such child's behavior, except the child shows to the satisfaction of the police that he is in transit to or from his home to another place supervised by adults either with the express consent or under the direction of his parent or guardian, shall be taken into custody by the police and held until released to the parent or guardian, who shall be notified forthwith. In addition, the offending child may be subject to community service of up to 100 hours for the first offense; for subsequent and repeated offenses, the offending child may be subject to community service of up to 200 hours or a fine of not more than $500 or both. A child who commits a second or subsequent violation of the curfew herein while operating a motor vehicle may have their driver's license suspended for not more than six (6) months. The child shall be referred to the Department of Human Services for investigation and services.
(c) For purposes of this chapter, a parent, legal guardian or person responsible for the care and/or custody of any child under the age of 18 years shall have the duty to exercise reasonable care, supervision, protection, and control over such child.