Taming Teens

TAMING TEENS

In the words of Thomas Jefferson “Any society that will give up a little liberty to gain security will gain neither and lose both.” (Anders 1) In today’s society many jurisdictions are looking toward teen curfews to help stop teen crime. The curfew generally prohibits anyone younger than the age of seventeen from being in public from 11PM until 6AM on weekdays and from midnight until 6AM on weekends. Although, teen curfews are put into effect to tame young teens, teen curfews will not reduce crime rates among teens.

Historically, America’s first wave of juvenile curfew laws took hold in late nineteenth century. However, it has been over the past three years that the effectiveness of teen curfews has been questioned. Many people say that teen curfew draw’s precious manpower and resources away from investigations of homicides and other violent crimes that are committed by adults, not the juvenile’s. In the end, they say, the police got stuck with the babysitting job of the parents. Under the curfew, if teens were found outside after curfew, police would spend up to two hours trying to locate the parents. When the police are unable to locate the parents, most kids are dropped off at home with a simple warning.

Only seventeen percent (17%) of violent crimes occur during curfew hours, compared to twenty-two percent (22%) between 2PM and 6AM so a fifth of the violent juveniles commit crimes when they are supposed to be already inside or at school. (Show 1) The statistics clearly show that the curfew does not stop acts of violence or crime; it merely sets time limits to them to let society think that curfew is the answer.

One-half of the students polled by the Education Department say that they have seen weapons in schools, and four out of ten students have had to put up with gangs. (Show 1) This statistic shows that even schools are not a safe havens for teens. Teen crime then, is all around us. The more that adults try to restrict teens, the more angry teens will become, and, indeed, will feel more need to rebel.

The punishment for breaking local curfews varies. Some kids and parents can be fined up to $500; others face suspension of drivers’ licenses, community services, and/or counseling. The punishments were not only designed to affect teens, but the parents as well. For instance, parents may be asked to take part in classes or also have to pay fines themselves.

Identifying the law breakers is also a time eater for police, for example, juveniles attending and educational or a religious event are exempt; so are homeless kids and kids standing outside neighbors’ homes. Overall, the law has too many loopholes; police believe the law should cover all kids. There are also the problems with racial issues, wherein police will enforce curfews more regularly and harshly in cases involving black kids, a practice that inevitable will incite racial tension.

It is important to know that society does try to protect us. Some may look at this as the only way to keep are community safe. But restraining teens will just not work. It is almost like stopping teens from enjoying life. Whether it is going out with friends to catch a late movie, or hanging out at a local diner, the counties have become so strict that you cannot walk down your neighborhood streets without being hassled by a local police officer. This action makes most teens as well as adults feel their freedom is slipping away. Whatever happened to the freedoms that are great ancestors fought for!

There is also much to be said about kids with summer jobs. Many kids are worried about staying late in the store, and having to leave when curfew is in effect, which means that there is a risk of trouble to be had. So, many teens simply can’t work late hours, which not only affects the business, but also prevents service to the community after late hours.

Many people believe that teen curfew is a good way to keep kids safe, Kids will be kids no matter what parents say. There will be crime and violence towards one another until the whole world can be at peace. So you can’t really put all the blame on unruly teens. If you look at it from their perspective, they are following the example of the adults in committing crimes. But there is no curfew that is placed on adults.

Curfews need to be established and enforced by the family. Parents must be held accountable for actions of their children, and not allow to abdicate their responsibilities to the government. Parents must be aware and responsible for their teens at all times, which means every second of every day.

Courts are cracking down on teens to try to prevent crime from starting, when in fact, to punish the violators they are also punishing the innocent. Teens who are repeat offenders should be monitored more closely and teens who have no criminal record should have the freedom to make there own choices as long as they are being safe and not breaking the laws. To punish all teens is setting a standard and labeling teens as unruly and delinquents.

There are many different answers to juvenile crime other than curfews. If cities and counties want to cut juvenile crime, they should use a mix of recreational sports, job training, and mentors for troubled teens. Such a program may help teens from falling into trouble in the first place. However, everybody should keep one sobering fact in mind: The real crime is just about to begin, and there’s no way anybody can contain it simply by telling teens to stay indoors.

WORK CITED

Anders, John. “Strict Curfew Law has Taken Some Liberties.” 8.

August. 1996. Infonautics Corporation. Electronic

Library. Gar-Field High School Library, Woodbridge. 10.

December. 1999

Anderson, Jackson L. “Teen Curfews Won’t Work.” 9. June. 1996

Infonautics Corporation. Electric Library. Gar-Field High School Library, Woodbridge. 17. December 1999.

Jackson, Derrick “Youth Issues: Curfews are poor Answers to

Teen Crime.” 11. June. 1996. Infonautics Corporation.

Electric Library. Gar-Field High School Library,

Woodbridge. 10. December. 1999.

Show, Tony. “Curfews Won’t Tame Teens Despite Many Programs,

Juvenile Crimes are on the Rise.” 3. June. 1996.

Infonautics Corporation. Electric Library. Gar-Field High School Library, Woodbridge. 10. December 1999.

Urschel, Joe. “Curfews are Wrong Answers.” 22. March. 1999

Infonautics Corporation. Electric Library. Gar-Field High School Library, Woodbridge. 17. December. 1999

Washington, Adrienne T. “Cosmetic Laws Won’t Tame Unruly

Teens.” 29. June. 1999. Infonautics Corporation. Electric Library. Gar-Field High School Library, Woodbridge. 17. December. 1999.