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Can curfews help keep teenagers out of trouble? argumentative essay
Can curfews help keep teenagers out of trouble? argumentative essay
Curfew:is it effective in keeping teen out of trouble
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Throughout the United States a question regarding teenagers is “Should there be a legal curfew for minors”. Some parents agree that there should be, while others think otherwise. The whole issue behind teen curfew came about when 80 percent of juvenile crimes began happening between 9a.m – 10p.m. Nothing seemed to reduce the crimes so the only solutions the law enforcement officials could come up with was a curfew. Little did they know it would cause more problems than the actual issue itself. The mayor and police say that curfew for teens reduces juvenile crime and prevents young children from becoming crime victims. During the weekdays teens have a curfew of 11:00p.m and 12:00am on weekends. Having a curfew for teens is supposed to reduce …show more content…
Legal curfew teen laws were originally endorsed in the 1890 's to decrease crime among youth. Between 1988 and 1992, criminal offenses by juveniles rose to at least 26%. During World War II, curfews were observed as an effective control for parents who were busy helping with the war effort. Typically under the jurisdiction of local governments, curfews were commonplace in cities and towns across The United States. Curfew laws vary with respect to the locale affected, timeframe, and sanctions. Minors are to be at their homes or property between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., with some exceptions for weekend nights or summer months. Many curfew regulations provide exemptions for youth who are going to or from a school, religious events, or civic sponsored event. Youth traveling from places of employment or responding to emergencies often are excluded from curfew provisions as well. Several regulations allow unrestricted mobility for youth who are married, accompanied by an adult, or traveling with a parent 's …show more content…
The United States has always had laws against children staying out late. When parents begin to get intimidated by their children, it is comfortable for them to know that society is behind them one hundred percent letting them know that their kids are in safe hands. The whole idea of curfew for minors also gives more responsibility to the parents. Some complain that the activities of the good teens would be restricted because of the misbehavior of others while not looking at the whole picture. A curfew law would simply hold parents more accountable for the actions of their children. The curfew protects children from criminals. It protects them from abusive adults. It also protects them from their own
Curfew laws provide greater safety for the residents of the city. A survey was conducted by the U.S. conference of mayors in 1995 stated that 86% of the cities believed that applying the curfew law for the youth helped make their streets safer for their residents (USCM). with more people outside being fatigued or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, curfews can help teenagers stay away from the greater risk that can come as hours gets later states Carl Pickhardt, Ph.D., a psychologist writing for Psychology Today (Hatter).
I am in favor of the minority opinion considering that it is more of a situational aspect compared to the majority which would reflect as a principality aspect. The curfew set for this town is too extreme. There are many understandable reasons as to why a minor would be out past 11 p.m. such as a friends/family birthday dinner, work, studying or even extracurricular activities. Many guardians allow their child under the age of 18 to be out past that time. I believe curfews should be set by the guardian of a child and not by the law.
As Zimmerman explains, teen curfew laws gained their popularity in the 1900s. Their presence flourished during the 1920s with the Prohibition movement, when gang violence caused the community to become increasingly worried about children’s safety at night. As a result, more juvenile curfew laws were enacted. During the 1950s and 1990s, communal concern for youth grew, causing more curfew laws to be enacted to protect those under the age of eighteen. In 1996, President Bill Clinton approved a bill, providing the nation with $75 million to implement curfew ordinances. (Philly.com).
The answer teens today must make is no longer just what shoes to wear or what matches what, but the must decided on drugs. Amongst those is alcohol, which is a choice most teens make even before they are teens. I have actually talked to some people that were drinking at the age of eleven and twelve. Everybody I have met has at one time drunk alcohol before graduation. Police officers sit day and night coming up with ways to extinguish this problem, but no matter how much effort they put forth it will and has continued. People all have different views on the solution to this problem, but before we get to their thoughts and mine, I would like to ask you a question. Would you as a parent or person rather have kids drinking at a house with chaperons where they will be staying all night or driving home drunk because you do not approve of it, and enforce a curfew?
They open up the doors to a new discussion that explores the idea of not punishments for crimes they commit, but preventing them before they take place. Staying after school, involved in productive activities seems to help students stay out of trouble. Curfews are imposed in some states, preventing juveniles from being out past a certain time until a time early the next day. These curfews are said to be in place in order to prevent crimes, but there are no statistics to back this up, as there are for the crime rate dropping with kids staying after school. Regardless, these are matters of precaution taken in order to attempt to prevent crimes from happening at the times in which they’d be anticipated to. If things are in place in order to prevent juveniles from committing crimes, the crime rate will drop, and many people will be saved from entering a world unknown to the world that is prison. Stopping juveniles from committing crimes would maybe them cause adults to not commit crimes as well, since in essence, these juveniles will indeed one day be adults. By implementing laws, states and law makers understand that there will always be people that don’t follow them. By stating programs, allowing juveniles a place to reconcile with small mistakes they make, or creating a safe-place where they can seek help from
Although crime is committed at all hours of the day, juveniles and adults differ in the time period they are most likely to commit a crime. Juveniles are more likely to commit a crime after they get out of school for the day, between 1500 and 1900 (Crime Solutions). The cut off being at 1900 most likely has something to do with parents wanting their children in early for the night to prepare for school the next day or other possible chores or homework. It could also have something to do with the advance i...
Jason Tashea, writer for The Baltimore Sun states, “Youth delinquency primarily occurs afterschool and not during curfew hours” (1). This started a fierce debate in Baltimore, as Tashea points out,
Strict rules create rebellious teens. Many people think that curfews are a fundamental way to keeping teens out of trouble, but this is not the case. Curfews are neither applicable, justified, nor are they a way to diminish criminal activities committed by adolescents. Curfews are ultimately useless because there are too many reasons that contradict why a curfew would work.
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 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.
A curfew can be described as an order establishing a specific time in the evening after which certain regulations apply, especially that no civilians or other specified group of unauthorized persons may be outdoors or that places of public assembly must be closed (Dictionary.com). This definition refers to the curfews that are enacted in some states throughout the United States and some countries. A curfew can also be described as a regulation requiring a person to be home at a certain prescribed time, as imposed by a parent on a child (Dictionary.com). Local city curfew laws are enforced with the intension of reducing the juvenile crime rate. On the other hand, parents enforce curfews to keep teens safe, to protect them and to save them from getting involve in illicit things.
Should teenagers be restricted to a curfew? That's a question many parents question themselves. What is my son up? What is my daughter doing? How do I know if they're safe? What time will he/she be home? When following curfews, teens tend to stay out of trouble more because criminal activity or high-risk behaviors is more likely to occur later in the evening when parental supervision is not present. Therefore teenagers need have a curfew, imposing curfews would help keep young teens out of trouble legally, set strict boundaries, and provides safety.
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.
Strict rules create rebellious teens. Many people think that curfews are a fundamental way to keeping teens out of trouble, but this is not the case. Curfews are neither applicable, justified, nor are they a way to diminish criminal activities committed by adolescents. Curfews are ultimately useless