Friday at 4 p.m. was the start of the new youth supervision policy. Guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult to receive a verified wristband.

ORANGE PARK, Fla. — Friday at 4 p.m. was start of the Orange Park Mall‘s new normal. On Fridays and Saturdays, guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult to receive a verified wristband.

Mary Scarbrough told First Coast News she’s lived in Orange Park for quite some time raising four boys. She added that she’s in favor of the mall’s new policy. In fact, she has suggestions of her own.

“I think it’s a good start, but I think they should do it seven days a week,” Scarbrough said. “It’s about time … when the mall’s open, they need to be supervised.”

On Fridays and Saturdays, at each entrance, teenagers and their parent or guardian will be asked to show their ID. If they’re with a parent or guardian, they’ll be given a wristband which alerts security inside that they’ve been verified and free to shop. Off-duty Clay County deputies will be teaming up with mall security during this process.

First Coast News reached out to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office for an interview with Sheriff Michelle Cook, but she was unavailable for comment. We did speak with CCSO spokesperson, Ben Ryan, on Wednesday when the policy was announced. Here’s what they had to say.

“As a sheriff’s office, we’re supportive of any sort of policy that supports order and safety and anything of that nature,” Ryan said.

First Coast News asked what the consequences are if this policy is violated.

“The mall security is here to handle any sort of issue. Obviously if someone violates that policy. They’re going to get involved, they’ll be consequences up to the mall officials on what happens there,” Ryan said. “If it meets the level of criminal, we’ll handle it and if anyone breaks the law— we’ll arrest them.”

Consequences are something long-time residents like Mary say are important to teach young people… whether in her household or at the mall.

“I told them; we taught them right from wrong and if they got in trouble they had to pay the consequences,” Scarbrough said.