Do Curfews Keep Teens Out of Trouble?

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There is some debate on whether curfews keep teenagers out of trouble. A curfew is defined as a law or regulation that requires a person or group of people must stay indoors for a designated time, usually through the night. Curfews usually apply to teenagers and are there to help keep them out of trouble and keep them safe. City regulations have different views on curfew times and age groups. For example, a 13 year old will need to go indoors earlier than a 17 year old. Usually a curfew is set at about 11 p.m., but can also be set for in the daytime. In consideration of having a curfew for teenagers, the crime rate has greatly decreased. 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 ...

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...y can but at any point in time a cop can roll by or a parent can call the cops and the teen will be taken back to their house or even receive worse punishments.
Curfews are here to stop teenagers from roaming the streets at night and causing trouble. In consideration of having a curfew for teenagers, the crime rate has greatly decreased. Many tests and studies have confirmed that curfews do keep teenagers out of trouble. Curfews have helped keep many of the streets safe and free of crime in various cities around the world, even cities in Michigan.

Works Cited

Facts about teen trouble and when:
Snyder, H.. N.p.. Web. 11 Dec 2013. .

Research on teen curfew:
Gorman, Fitzalan. n. page. .

Research on teen curfew:
N.p.. Web. 11 Dec 2013. .

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