Curfew is a rule that requires individuals, usually teenagers, to stay indoors at specific hours, mainly during the night. Its aim is to guarantee their safety and discourage them from getting involved in any trouble. The curfew hours and age groups affected vary according to the regulations implemented by each city.
Teenagers have different curfews based on their age, with younger ones having earlier curfew times than older ones. The usual curfew is around 11 p.m., but it can be set at other times as well. Implementing teenage curfews has effectively decreased crime rates in numerous cities across the United States, playing a major role in creating safer streets nationwide.
According to findarticles.com, there are curfews for children under 18 in over 146 cities in the U.S. These curfews require children to be indoors by a specific time. The U.S Conference of Mayors conducted a survey among Mayors in 347 cities as reported by youthservicesslc.wordpress.com. The survey revealed that 83 percent of these cities witnessed a decrease in gang-related crime. In Phoenix, specifically, the police have observed a reduction of 42 percent in gang-related murders, drive-by shootings, robberies, and major assaults since the implementation of the curfew law.
Michigan’s curfew laws have been effective in reducing teen crime. In Ludington, the police department took a stricter approach to enforcing curfews for individuals under 16 due to increased misbehavior among young people. This resulted in positive outcomes, with a decline in youth crimes reported by Lake County’s Sheriff Robert Hilts (Capital News Service). Similar effects have been observed elsewhere, showing that implementing curfew laws leads to decreased youth arrests. However, it is important to note that law enforcement can intervene if a teenager violates curfew regulations at any time. In such situations, the teen will either be escorted home or face more severe consequences if necessary.
Curfews are implemented to prevent teenagers from wandering the streets at night and engaging in disruptive activities. The enforcement of curfews for teenagers has resulted in a significant reduction in crime rates. Numerous examinations and research have validated the effectiveness of curfews in deterring teenagers from getting into trouble. Curfews have proven to be successful in maintaining the safety and crime-free environment of various cities worldwide, including cities in Michigan.
References
- Facts about teen trouble and when:Snyder, H.. N.p.. Web. 11 Dec 2013.
