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Do curfews keep teens out of trouble?
In recent days, local news stations have reported more incidents of violence, and crimes among today’s teens. It is a growing epidemic without much of a solution from our local political leaders. It leaves us wondering what can be done. What will it take to end the crime and violence? Is having a curfew for teens the answer? This paper will look at the possibility of having a law enforced curfew and pros and cons it may have. To begin with, violence is one of many issues among teens in the local cities of Columbus, MS. Violence is a behavior involving physical force or intended to hurt or kill someone (Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus p. 90). There are several reasons that will cause teens to act in violence for example, the movies they watch, the music they listen to, the video games they play, and what they witness on the streets. (Teenhelp.com) Most teen violence is also cause by children living in a low poverty home and broken homes. Some example of violence that are being committed by teens are bullying in the school. Bullying is a very serious issue that can cause children to become emotionally depressed and make them want to take their own life. For example, in the city of Starkville, MS a twelve year girl hung
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Sunday through Thursday and after midnight on Friday and Saturday. Any minor caught violating the ordinance would be taking by the Columbus Police Department the youth detention and parents would be notified. First violation warning, Second violation is parents pay $125 or community service, and Third violation parent pays $500 or 50 hours of community service. Curfews are ineffective even though curfew is being enforced by local authorities’ helpful parental involvement will help local authorities keep teens off the streets if parents are held responsible
As shown above, curfew laws can play a very critical role in a teenager’s life. It can assist with keeping the city safer, help them get enough sleep, and help them build their personal skill under a well-structured system routine. A lot of people might find curfew laws for teenagers unconstitutional and contradict the first amendment, so they decide not to abide with it. But by doing so, they are placing more a bigger experience to teenagers who are still working on developing their skills to take on new challenges. After all, Teenagers are the future of our society if we don’t teach, coach, direct, and offer guidance their future will be unstable and unproductive and that will affect the entire nation.
“The youth identified 35 causes of youth violence, but most students focused on specific subcategories within each of the four factors: individual, peer, family, and social. Although most students mentioned multiple causes, few identified causes within all four factors” (Zimmerman et al., 2004). The factors were broken down as such:
Today, teen curfews are commonplace and supported by voters. Bainbridge observes that according to Jet Magazine’s survey taken in 2011, 75% of the voters were in support of curfew laws (13). Parents arrange for young children to go to bed at an earlier time than teenagers (Psychologytoday.com). Teens receive the privilege to stay up later but this can mean that they will be out on the streets later at night. McKinny indicates that curfews are in place to protect the youth from crimes that may harm them or take the children’s lives (Time.com).
Violence is defined as the intentional use of force to harm a human being. Its outcome is injury (whether physical or psychological, fatal or nonfatal). Violence among teenagers is on the rise, and has been since the early 1980's. In my opinion this is due to the increase of violence in the media, the astounding availability of firearms and the lack of proper guidance in the home. Northeastern University's College of Criminal Justice reports that from 1985 to 1993 murders committed by people over the age of 25 dropped an impressive 20%; meanwhile they increased 65% for people between the ages of 18-24 and an astounding 165% growth for teenagers 14 to 17. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, in 1996, 6548 young people 15-24 years old were victims of homicides. This amounts to an average of 18 youth homicides per day in the US. It also states that homicide is the second leading cause of death for persons 15-24 and is the leading cause of death for African-American and Hispanic youths in this age group. There are a few things that we as Americans can do to stunt this problem, and it starts with the home. By focusing on the home first, we as Americans can drastically reduce the amount of violent crime committed in the US.
With today’s violence among teens rising, most people would like to know why? Does it have anything to do with the way we are raising our children? Some would blame the parents for their child’s aggression, or some would declare that it only has to do with the peers the child associates themselves with, and others would blame media, such as television or video games. Well, which is it? What is the main cause for teen violence today?
In regards to recommending if the policy should be extended to areas outside of Northbridge, I believe that unless there is a significant amount of research placed on the specific areas which are believed to need a curfew, then yes, it should be extended. Despite this though, from the research above, showing that there was a drop in the amount of people apprehended, it was set out on a specific racial group, from low socio-economic areas, and not areas in which middle class people reside, as it is usually believed that people from low socio-economic background are more commonly at a higher risk of crime than that of middle class.
Over the course of history violence in teens has always been a problem. Look back five hundred years to the time of Romeo and Juliet. In that story the Capulets and Montagues have a long history of hatred for each other in their back ground. When Romeo, a Montague, and Juliet, a Capulet, try to become lovers it causes backlash. Romeo goes to a party at the Capulets, without being invited, and that sends the Capulets into a fury. Teens in the family take action into their own hands and try to fight. Violence breaks out and eventually people are killed. Today, things like this still happen. A small thing that does not really cause anyone harm could just make one person angry enough they want to hurt another. Family background can also play a huge part in why people become violent.
Intervention programs can happen with a fiscally responsible implementation strategy across the US. In some communities, kids are seeking recreation centers afterschool and before curfew hours with inadequate programming and resources that work with the at-risk youth population. Sprouse, Klitzing, Parr, assert, “Recreation programs have also begun to address the growing concerns of youth at risk” (1). Do the recreation programs cause problem for law enforcement? If so, do the problems lie with the at-risk youth population as a punitive behavioral modification
Sutphen, Richard D., and Janet Ford. “The Effectiveness And Enforcement of A Teen Curfew Law.” Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare 28.1 (2001): 55. Academic Search Complete. 20 Mar. 2012.
Curfews help the streets of many cities all around the U.S. More than 146 U.S cities, according to findarticles.com, have curfews that require kids under the age of 18 to be off the streets and in their house at a certain time. According to youthservicesslc.wordpress.com the U.S Conference of Mayors sent out a survey to other Mayors in 347 cities and discovered that 83 percent of the cities alleged that gang-related crime in some of the cities had decreased. For example, police in Phoenix say that gang affiliated murders, drive-by shootings, robberies, and major assaults have shrunk by 42 percent since the curfew law has been in effect according to findarticles.com. Even in Michigan curfew have been known to reduce teen crime, In Ludington, according to Capital News Service, “When Lake County had a problem with mischievous youth, the police department stepped up curfew enforcement for those under 16 and it paid off. The number of youth crimes decreased, Lake County Sheriff Robert Hilts said. Similar effects have been reported elsewhere. After curfew laws are put in place, youth arrests drop ...
Weigel, Margaret. "Impact of Juvenile Curfew Laws on Arrest of Youth and Adults." 29 November 2011. Journalist's Resource. 7 May 2014 .
spraying graffiti on public places, ect. In many cities crime rates among teens have declined at substantial amounts. The U.S Conference of Mayors surveyed mayors in 347 cities with curfews and found that 88 percent of the cities found that curfews made their streets safer for residents. While only 72 of the 347 cities had daytime curfews, 100 percent of those cities showed a decrease in truancy and daytime crime. Gang related problems also d...
In today’s society, some parents create curfews for their children while others allow their children to create their own curfews. Numerous people argue that setting curfews for teenagers help them refrain from taking part in mischief and help them to develop into superior adults. The remaining group of people state that curfews would make teenagers rebel. Teenage curfews produce many different positive and negative views in parents and teenagers. Different opinions on curfews are expressed through parents, teenagers, and mayors; and there are numerous reasons for people not supporting curfews.
Curfew is the time at which you should be back home and safe. Most High Schooler’s will argue that “it’s stupid” and “I won’t get in trouble anyways”. Curfew for High Schooler’s and younger children is an excellent idea because it keeps students in line and out of possible trouble. If curfew was enforced it would eventually help kids be more responsible and trust worthy. Although some might think otherwise, High Schooler's are irresponsible and can not be trusted enough to not have a curfew.
In today’s society, some parents create curfews for their children while others allow their children to create their own curfews. Numerous people argue that setting curfews for teenagers help them refrain from taking part in mischief and help them to develop into superior adults. The remaining group of people state that curfews would make teenagers rebel. Teenage curfews produce different positive but many negative views in parents and teenagers.