According to document one, some teens resent curfews and feel that it is unconstitutional. Parents and teens argue that the laws violate minor's freedom and that the First Amendment is evidence of that. Parents should determine when their children should be in the house not the government. Statistics show that most juvenile crimes happen between 3 pm. And 6pm, therefore youth curfew really don't serve a purpose. The money used on enforcing curfews could be put to better use, such as after-school recreational or educational programs. According to experts youth curfews are more strictly enforced in minority neighborhoods rather than white areas, this can worsen racial tensions.
According to the timeline in document two there are alternatives instead of youth curfew. The Police Athletic League gives teens a variety of sports and recreation as an alternative to crime. Instead of getting in trouble after school, teens can join the PAL. The Boys and s Clubs of America offer social, educational, career and leadership programs to disadvantaged youths. Both of these are better environments for teens to be, especially teens that tend to get into trouble.
Curfews cannot possible reduce juvenile crime in the long run because juvenile crimes mostly happen in afternoon hours, not at night time. "The problem with curfew laws is that most kids, the good, the bad and the tired, are asleep at midnight." Teen curfews will not stop youths from being engaged in criminal lifestyles and is almost pointless.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Curfews over the years have lowered teenage crime rates by 23 percent around the world. Some people believe that Curfews do not lower the crime rates in our generation of teens. “Studies in Tulsa, Oklahoma showed that arrests rose despite the curfew law.” That might be true, but that is only in one place. Curfew laws still lower the amount of arrests in teens. Greasers are believed to be hoodlums in their society without a curfew. “Greasers are almost like hoods; we steal things and drive old souped-up cars and hold up gas stations and have a gang fight every once in awhile.” If the Greasers and Socs had a curfew, maybe things that happened late at night wouldn’t have happened.…
- 531 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
To many teens and young adults, curfew laws have negatively affected their lives and their viewpoints of the criminal justice system. In the essay “Curfew Laws: Demonizing Teens,” written by Nora Gold, Gold illustrates why curfew laws are bad in the U.S. and all they do is punish the teens that do not need to be punished. The main points that Gold gives to help back up her theory that curfew laws are bad are that curfews on teens take away some of their civil rights, curfews don’t actually reduce the crimes committed by teens, politicians propose curfew laws so it seems like they are being tough on crime, and also that there are other ways that will help reduce the crime among teens. One of which being after school…
- 131 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
If the opportunity to make some difference in the community presents itself, would you not have the desire to? Particularly when it concerns the wellbeing of not only adolescents, but all citizens in the community. Even if you do not have kids, all of us can relate because we were all kids once. The idea that kids under the age of eighteen ought to be free to roam the streets after 10 p.m. is faulty as it fails to protect everyone. A curfew for adolescents will bring them valuable boundaries which can transfer into other areas of their lives. Some may have no boundaries or discipline at home and at least they will learn to respect this…
- 421 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
For every parent there is nothing worse than hearing the phone ring late at night while your teenager isn't home. There is a sense of panic that most of the time is just a false alarm from paternal or maternal instincts. However, a fraction of those parents have their fears actualized. This can be achieved through the implementation of curfew laws. Although teenagers may believe curfew laws will inhibit their freedoms, there will be greater safety because their will be more supervision during earlier hours of the night, less sleep deprivation among teenagers and other drivers, as well as greater visibility for young drivers and pedestrians. Young people are the most targeted groups for criminals in society. At night, criminals…
- 481 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Many cities in the state of Arizona have put a curfew on all kids. Kids under the age of 16 cannot be out unsupervised between 10 pm and 5 am. Kids 16-18 cannot be out during 12 am to 5 am. Our country is a free country and allows parents to control their own kids how they choose. Who is to tell a parent how to raise their kid? The government should not be allowed to bully parents and give them rules for their own kids. These curfews are not allowing parents to control their kids to their liking. Many people feel curfews hurt teens rights, are unconstitutional and ineffective. Studies show that curfew do not lower the crimes that teenagers commit. Curfews hamper the teen’s right for free speech by not letting them congregate at certain hours. They go against what America was built for - religious, political and economic freedom for all. . The 1st amendment states the right of the people peaceably to assemble. This amendment is broken by having a curfew. Many people believe curfews stop the crime rate in juveniles. However if a teenager is going to break laws what is to stop them from breaking the curfew law along with it? A curfew does nothing but restrict law-abiding citizens. The curfew law is the easiest law for teens to break, on purpose or on accident. Sometimes things such as car accidents happen, causing traffic. This later causes a teen to be late for curfew, and are caught and charged as juveniles for something that was not even their fault. Curfews are just setting teens up to be charged as juvenile delinquents. Anything that can be done during curfew can be done after and before curfew. This law is just keeping teens away for a few hours until curfew is up and they go do drugs, drink, etc… Thus there is no point to a curfew. When a child is at home during curfew they will become bored and try and figure out ways to be entertained. Some may include breaking curfew or getting high or drunk. The more teens are bored…
- 1475 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
A way to be prepared for the outside world is to learn responsibility and how to be independent. As a parent of a teen you should try to give them room to be independent meaning give them some trust enforcing a curfew on teens is just going to encourage them to sneak out. If teens do disregard the curfew not only are they in trouble with their parents but then their parents have no idea where they are and if something bad happens the parents are unable to help. Not to be harsh but let them learn the hard way give them freedom but to a certain extent, if they won’t listen to you let them find out on their own.…
- 539 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Last weekend, the curfew kept one of my friends from driving under the influence of alcohol. It also kept one of my friends from driving after a long and tiresome day. Driving white under the influence of alcohol or fatigue will greatly impair your driving abilities, and the curfew effectively kept my friends from being unsafe on the roads after midnight. Another example that was in the news recently that supports why a curfew is necessary is the death of a boy named Wilberto in the town that neighbors mine. The officers in this town don't necessarily enforce the curfew law, and a freshman boy's life was taken because of it. He left his home illegally (he didn't have his license) to drive with his girlfriend around 1 a.m. While he was driving, he became distracted and spun off the road, killing himself and seriously injuring his girlfriend. If the curfew law had been enforced more strictly in that town, Wilberto's chances of getting killed or hurt would have been much slimmer. An argument against a curfew might be that teens have the right to be on the road at any time they would like, and that a curfew law is imposing on their freedoms as human beings and citizens…
- 613 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
A youth curfew in Oakland is a waste of time for a lot of Police. Crime is still the same with or without a curfew and a curfew would take away teenagers freedom. At night there's danger all around Oakland and you can hear the screaming and gunshots. Many teenagers have been killed lead to many to argue that teenagers should have a curfew at night. A youth curfew would get teenagers home by 10 pm and if they stayed out past that time, a police would be allowed to pull them over to take them to jail or give them a ticket. Many teenagers have been killed at night time and most of the crime suspects are adult not the teenagers. Teenagers shouldn't have curfew because it takes away their human rights and freedom, and doesn't address the real perpetrators of violence : adults.…
- 850 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Many believe that teens are responsible for a large percentage of crimes, particularly violent ones, and that having a curfew in effect helps lower crime rates. This is simply not true. All minors shouldn’t be punished for something that only a few do. As a matter of fact, in some cases, applying curfew laws have actually increased juvenile crime rates. Teens begin to associate police officers with the curfew, and police officers begin to see any minor that is in violation of curfew as a criminal. This tension may lead to crimes being committed by those who may not normally break laws.…
- 410 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Many children under the age of 15 are immature and although age does not define maturity, the lack of life experiences can. Many children think that they are old enough to go out and stay late forgetting that they are still children and have many other years to experience life. A child can sometimes not be as wise as an older person. When they are out with their friends they can do things that could get them into trouble and all because they thought it would be fun. A child under the age of 16 should have a curfew. A curfew can help children learn that sleep is essential, they can learn about responsibility, and it could keep children safe.…
- 943 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Having a curfew isn’t fun. Children from ages 16 and under should not have a curfew. For example, on November 2, 2007 a child who was concerned for his constitutional rights, has anonymously filed suit against the city of Rochester to have the curfew law over turned. This is what happens when stuff isn’t fair.…
- 442 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Not only are curfews not needed in the community; but, they are also “Already in the USA, more children are charged with curfew offences than with any other crime.”(parenting tips). Another point is "statistics show that most juvenile crimes occur between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m." This fact totally goes against the idea of teen curfews. “Children have a right to freedom of movement and assembly which curfews directly undermine, by…
- 935 Words
- 4 Pages
Better Essays -
Within the United States there exists a law which protects teens nationwide known as the state curfew act. The state curfew act is a law that was put in place to stop teens from going out late at night and getting in trouble. The law makes it illegal for teens to be out past a set time. This law is highly debated upon by many teens and some adults as to whether it is needed or is just an unnecessary law that infringes upon the teenagers right to freedom. Of course the law does exist for a clear purpose which in most cases it fulfills and prevents many casualties and crimes. I have wrote this paper in order to hopefully shed some light on the validity of the law by sharing some statistics such as the crime rates passed certain times as well…
- 1060 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Although it is obvious that the world we live in is far from perfect, at times, certain figures and statistics can just be plain startling. The growing crime rate in the country is one of these statistics. It seems as time goes on, more and more crime is developing, especially juvenile crime. From 1984 to 1994, the juvenile homicide arrest rate almost tripled. On top of that, the number of gun homicides committed by juveniles quadrupled during those years also. These statistics bring us to a certain point where something must be done to decrease juvenile crime and keep teenagers safe. In our community, instating a youth curfew would be an effective way to take care of both these tasks.…
- 737 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
When it comes to having a curfew, opinions can be wide spread about what it right and what is wrong. I believe though, that it is a parent’s decision whether or not they let their child out. As long as your parents know where you are, you aren’t doing anything dangerous or illegal, and you always have somebody with you in case something happens, then you shouldn’t have to worry about a curfew or getting punished for something that is perfectly harmless.…
- 533 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays