Should young people be subjected to night-time curfews as a way to reduce crime?

[Miggz]

Ok to be honest I don't think enforcing a nighttime curfew would work. In fact, I feel enforcing a curfew just might increase violence. Teenagers are at a very important point of their character development. We human beings are a social organisms, and enforcing a curfew only deprives us our rightful interaction with our environment. To some degree I understand the government's concern over our well being. All of us live in a dangerous environment. This is the same reason my parents sometimes feel its necessary to call me repeatedly after 12:00 in the morning to know where I am. Sometimes, they would make me stay home the night after a gang fight or something. But to be honest, just because we live in a hostile environment doesn't mean I or anyone else for the matter should be sheltered in a protective bubble. How am I suppose to "defend" myself in this hostile environment if I am forced away from it?


The way I see it, curfews would tempt a lot of teens to actually sneak of out the house. Our urges to socialize would simply overwhelm our judgment. Everyone in life is given choices. Just because you sneak out to go to a party doesn't mean you have to smoke or drink. Regardless of who you're hanging out with after sneaking out...technically you are interacting with your environment and with the people in it. Sure, some people can argue that there is plenty of things to do during the day or at school. The truth is, school grounds dilute all of it's student's personalities. There are some hobbies or activities that different people are into that simply aren't acceptable at school.

So how do you feel about the matter?

 

[Pez55]

I don't think that curfews should be made to stop crime, it just wouldn't work. If they are made to make sure that the teen gets home before a certain time, then thats fine.

 

[Nysyarc]

I don't think that curfews should be made to stop crime, it just wouldn't work. If they are made to make sure that the teen gets home before a certain time, then thats fine.

I don't understand. So you're saying that the reasoning behind it is what matters? Not the curfew itself? Don't you think that with a reason like 'it's just so that the teens get home at a certain time', teens would be even more motivated to sneak out as Miggz suggested?

I personally don't think a curfew, for any reason, would be an effective solution for crime. The types of teenagers who are willing to commit crimes would not let a curfew law stop them.

 

[Pez55]

So you're saying that the reasoning behind it is what matters? Not the curfew itself?

Yes, I'm saying that it's the reason for the curfew is what matters. If they are made as a way to stop crime, teens would want to sneak out more, which is what we agree upon here. But if a curfew is made simply as a way to be home by a certain time and nothing else ,then that's fine.

 

[Nysyarc]

Yes, I'm saying that it's the reason for the curfew is what matters. If they are made as a way to stop crime, teens would want to sneak out more, which is what we agree upon here. But if a curfew is made simply as a way to be home by a certain time and nothing else ,then that's fine.

That doesn't really make any sense. If a teenager is being forced to go home at a certain time by law, I really don't think they would care what the reason is. Like I said before, a teenager who is prone to committing crimes would be out on the streets after the curfew anyways, no matter what the reasoning behind it is.

A curfew is a curfew no matter how you look at it, and I'm sure a lot of teens wouldn't be wondering 'why', but rather 'how can we get around it'. Besides, I very much doubt that if such a law were instated, it would give a reason why it was instated. The law says we can't murder another person, but it doesn't say why (it shouldn't have to). So arguing over the reasoning is useless because it wouldn't be common knowledge anyways.

 

[Miggz]

I don't think that curfews should be made to stop crime, it just wouldn't work. If they are made to make sure that the teen gets home before a certain time, then thats fine.

I disagree with this, too. To me, its like saying you can't buy ice cream after midnight. But if you happen to have ice cream at home after midnight then its fine to eat. See how redundant that is? Not being allowed to buy ice cream after midnight wouldn't stop people from eating it...that kind of law has no logic. I feel the same way with your suggestion. What other reason would government have teens come home early if it wasn't stop crime? Honestly, I don't see any other possible purpose for a curfew.

 

[Pez55]

Hm, I understand your point now. I thought that the reason behind the curfew was all that matters, but now I see what you mean by a curfew is a curfew and the reasoning doesn't matter. I now agree with your reasoning about how curfews wouldn't work.