Essay on Curfew: Worth It Or Not

Curfews have been the bane of many young people's lives for generations upon generations. Unlike this instance, though, these limitations were usually set by parents or other guardians. I realize that curfews decided on by cities as a whole also stem from the same place that those set by parents are, that is, in the interest of the teen's safety. However, I do not believe that it is the city council's place to interfere in the personal lives of these people. There are many reasons for teens to be out late at night, such as getting home from work or just waiting to be picked up by their guardian, and a set curfew for teens would cause many of them to be unfairly punished for doing things that can hardly be called criminal. Many teens hold part-time jobs, either to

It is hard for law enforcement to enforce curfews and curfew violations are not taken seriously. Juvenile curfews will not stop young people who are intent on committing crime, in part, because the penalties for a curfew violation are not that serious (O 'Neil). There are also limited police officers to help with the enforcement of curfews. Because of the curfews, it takes the police away from more serious crime that are happening in cities across the United States. The enforcement of juvenile curfews is hard to put into effect, and there are limited police officers to enforce these curfews, which are often not even taken seriously.

Do curfews keep teenagers out of trouble? This topic has always been on the cover page of today's newspaper headlines and a hot topic that has been discussed by every family. What are curfews like? A curfew is a time frame given by an authority like a parent or the government to teenagers below 18 to be home before a certain period of time. So, ask yourself, do you think that by implementing curfews into a teenager’s life, he or she would keep out of trouble. Our group has discussed and came to an agreement that curfews really do help teenagers keep out of trouble. Firstly, curfews help teenagers to stay

Most people would say yes. This is because many crimes, such as burglary, rape, and drunk driving occur much more often at night than during the day. According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, two-thirds of sexual assaults happen at night. Curfews can prevent teenagers from interacting with people who commit these crimes, as well as keep them inside their rooms so they can’t commit these crimes themselves. As it is seen in the news very often, most DUI’s are given to teenagers who are driving home on their way back from a party they shouldn’t have been at. That is the purpose of these kinds of parties being late at night, so teens can do things such as drinking, smoking, and drugs, which they cannot do as easily in broad daylight. I believe that if a parent sets a curfew and sticks by it firmly, then the number of DUI’s will greatly decrease. In addition, many states have laws and restricted licenses for teens regarding how late they are permitted to drive. Setting a curfew can help your child abide these laws and is a good way of justifying your having a curfew for them. Our streets will be much safer if teenagers everywhere had a curfew which they had to abide by.

First and foremost, if the city council mandates the curfew law, they could help secure the protection of adolescence driving or hanging out at late hours of the night. Did you know that teenagers that are driving

under the legal age due to the physical, mental, and legal consequences alcohol can cause.

Many parents tell their kids that if they want something they have have to pay for it; but what they don’t get is that it’s hard to get a job as a teen. It is especially hard for teens under the age of 17 if there is a curfew. Many teenagers have after school activities, sporting events, or a school club. So if parents want their kids to get a job how are they going to be able to if they have to do their homework, study, or go to practice or a game if they can’ be out past 9:00? This is another reason why a curfew is not necessary.

There’s an old saying, “don’t do the crime, if you can’t do the time”. Our youth is doing the crimes, not realizing the true consequences of their actions; hence their immaturity. “Per a 2011 report on the National Institute of Corrections, 250,000 minors wind up in the adult criminal justice system each year.” (Hannum, 2016). But that does not mean, they should be tried as an adult for their crimes. Nor should they get off easy because they are under the age of eighteen. You can pick any day of the week, about 10,000 of our children are being put in adult prisons and jails. (Hannum, 2016). Nearly every year, the FBI arrest more than 33,000 young adults under the age of eighteen for offenses.” (Khan, 2010.). It’s time for society and our

The New York State Legislators did the right thing and increased the age of criminal responsibility to eighteen-years-old. New York State will not automatically prosecute sixteen and seventeen-year-olds as adults anymore. Annually, nearly 28,000 sixteen and seventeen-year-olds face the possibility of criminal prosecution as an adult (Raise the age.com, n.d.). Now Adolescents don’t have to worry about adult prosecution in the criminal system. Sixteen and Seventeen-year-olds will have the opportunity to call their parents if they get arrested. Sixteen and

Juvenile crime statistics show that offenders under the age of 15 represent the leading edge of the juvenile crime problem. "Violent crime grew some 94% among these youngsters from 1990 to 1995- compared with 47% for older youth (Siegel and Welsh, 2011).

If a juvenile, over fourteen has the ability and willingness to commit a violent crime they should be tried and punished as an adult. A fourteen year old knows right from wrong. He (or she) is able to tell whether they are committing a crime. If a juvenile is mature enough to commit an adult crime, they should be treated as an adult, and punished justly according to the adult law. The difference in age in two people should not determine their punishment if they have committed the same crime under the same or similar pretenses.

Curfews are not in effect everywhere and not everyone follows them, whether it is intentionally or unintentionally. Sometimes, curfews that are in effect are not followed intentionally, as previously discussed, or unintentionally. Many times some people don’t even know what the curfews are in set cities; if the city has a curfew set at all. Dallas, Texas has recently set a curfew for teens ages 17 and under. The teens must be inside by 11 o’clock on weekdays and midnight on weekends (Rosado, and Manly). Agreeing to this, Sutphen and Ford argued that different curfews throughout the United States are unreasonable. If teenagers were used to a curfew of midnight, adjusting to a curfew

  The punishment of juvenile criminals, specifically those between the ages of 13 and 18, in the event that they commit crimes of murder, is not severe enough. Minors between these critical ages in the teenage life who commit crimes of murder should be prosecuted as adults in all situations and locations.

Juvenile crime is a major problem in today's society, nevertheless it's one of the most

Just because they have a curfew it doesn’t mean that they aren’t going to get in trouble. It may limit the things they do. Which in turn limits the trouble they get in, but it doesn’t stop them from doing things to get them in trouble. (Wylie Tanton said on April 11, 2012 “I personally think teens shouldn't have a curfew because whether or not they have curfew teens still get themselves into trouble, not only during the night. http://www.collegenet.com/elect/app/app?service=external/Forum&sp=42891)