Setting Up a Curfew Law for Teens

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Setting a curfew for teens and young adults under the age of eighteen is very helpful in keeping teens off the streets as night when most crime occurs. Having this as law will give the parents the peace of mind that their children aren’t out roaming around town at night. I agree that this is not going to stop people from breaking the law just because you are restricting them from a certain time of the day. Setting this curfew will help law enforcement to single out the people who are breaking the law any way because it is not going to stop them from being out when they are not supposed to be. A curfew law is considered a “Status offence” meaning it is illegal when a minor commits it but is not illegal when an adult commits the crime. (Protection or Punishment)
Most crime occurs during the night hours because it is known that it is easier to get away when no one is watching. A lot of teen crime happens between 11:00pm and 3:00am. Setting up a curfew that takes place during those times or even later on in the night will keep children off the streets where bad things can take place. Drug deals and robbery mostly take place during the night because it is easier to hide from the police. It has been proven that if curfew laws are enforced constantly it will reduce juvenile crimes. (Bodenhamer) I strongly believe that if there is a curfew put in place the crime rates will decrease more than ever. The law abiding citizens are going to always abide by the law but the ones who break the law are going to break the law. Curfew laws are not set for people who are obeying the law, but for those that have careless parents and attitudes. These people being the ones who are already breaking the laws. (Bodenhamer)
Doing drugs, burglaries, and man...

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...st teens. Making it to where children have to be home by a certain time will help with getting drugs and crime rates off the streets. Though I agree that someone who wants to break the law is going to break the law no matter what, I still believe that having a curfew will only contribute to finding more out about those people who want to break the laws anyway. Setting a curfew will also help the child’s parents out to raise the teen the right way and to know how to abide by the law. Setting a county or state wide curfew would cause many positive effects on our surroundings.

Works Cited

Gregory Bodenhamer. The New York Times “Curfew Laws Benefit the Children of Neglect”
Portland, Ore., July 23, 1996 Web. Nov. 11, 2013

The Benefits of Teenage Curfew Laws. “Youth curfews: Protection or Punishment?” “Balancing Rights and Safety”
Feb. 2013 Web. Nov. 11, 2013

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