Do Curfews Keep Teens Out of Trouble?

Many teenagers have a set time they have to be home by their parents. Usually teenagers must be home from dates and nights out with friends by anywhere from 10 o’clock at night to 2 o’clock in the morning. Each parent has extremely different curfews set for their children, based on the individual level of responsibility and trust levels. Some local government decides to set their own curfews, to keep teens off the streets at night and out of trouble. Many people argue whether this actually solves anything, or is even legal to do, since it is taking away a piece of teenager’s freedom. Although there are many good and bad points to enforcing curfews, they should be less enforced because they do not necessarily keep teens out of trouble, aren’t always followed and can cost unnecessary money for enforcement procedures.

Curfews could be enforced, but in all reality, they do not keep teens out of trouble. Teens still will do what they want, no matter what the time. Also, many people bring up the point, if somebody wants to go against the law on one thing, they will more than likely go against the law on another to participate in their desired actions. As noted in “Manitoba town to ban kids at night,” Dearman fought that curfews often target the wrong people. He says his son worked, often past what would be the curfew time, and he should not be punished for going to work. Many people like him are punished and that is unfair. The article “Keeping Teens off the Street” also brings up a good point in saying, “ ‘The reality is that kids who are doing drugs, committing murders, rapes and burglaries aren't going to look at their watches and say, 'Gee, guys, it's 10 o'clock',’ says Dallas City Councilman Glenn Box.” Dearman and “Keeping Teens...

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...s is a large issue when discussing the subject. Curfews cause many problems for towns and cities, and fail to reduce many issues that should have been addressed. A much better way to punish crimes would be to simply punish those who are committing the felonies. It is unnecessary to punish all, when those who illegally act, still continue to do so. Curfews are far too confusing and should be brought to an end, everywhere.

Works Cited

Henheffer, Tom. "Manitoba town to ben kids at night." Maclean's 122.35 (2009): n.pag. Academic Search. Database. 1 Apr 2014.

Rosado, Lourdes, and Howard Manly. "Keeping Teens Off the Street." Newsweek 118.3 (1991): n.pag. Academic Search. Database. 1 Apr 2014.

Sutphen, Richard, and Janet Ford. "The Effectiveness and Enforcement of a Teen Curfew Law." Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare 55-77. Academic Search. Database. 1 Apr 2014.