At the Bronx mall, the owner temporarily banned younger shoppers who weren’t with someone 21 or older. These chaperone policies—sometimes called youth-escort or parental-guidance policies—started decades ago and have increased alongside the rise in mall disruptions over the years.
In some cases, mall takeovers have devolved into physical fights, robberies and gunfire. Landlords view banning unaccompanied minors as the most direct way to address the problem. Chaperone policies are also used to respond to gang violence, food-court brawls and shoplifting.
Owners say the bans have reduced violence and disorderly gatherings—to the relief of most shoppers—without having a noticeable impact on sales.
But some teens feel betrayed by these moves. Houston resident Zane Miller, who frequented the Willowbrook Mall in Houston as a teenager and now serves as president of the nonprofit organization National Youth Rights Association, said it was unfair to penalize all teenagers for the poor behavior of a few.