Teen Curfews

Juvenile crime is a major problem in today's society. It's one of the most troubling issues the government deals with. Setting curfews is the most commonly used method by government to regulate juvenile crime. I disagree with this. I believe that curfews are just a lazy way of dealing with the problem and that government should invest money into to programs that help with juvenile crime instead of setting restrictions on teens.

Setting curfews on teens is meaningless and a waste of money. Teens are looked at as the age group that causes the most trouble and society often targets them when it comes to matters for crime. People think setting curfews will solve the problem of teen violence, but all it does is patch it up and leaves the problem hanging. In the text, lines 23 to 25 reads, "In Pittsburg, Pa., the number of juveniles murdered in 1994 was 47% greater than the number murdered in 1980." This increase in juvenile murders shows that curfews, in fact, are not helping with teen crimes. Again in the text, lines 40 and 41 reads, "statistics show that most juvenile crimes occur between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m." This fact totally goes against the idea of teen curfews. According to the text, teen curfews are usually between 11 p.m. or midnight and dawn. If juvenile crimes occur between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., then curfews between 11 p.m. or midnight and dawn wouldn't be doing much.

I understand people are concern and want to protect their children but if the method you choose is not working then there is no point on even enforcing it. All you're doing is wasting good money that can be use for useful purposes, such starting programs that can help teens. In the graphic, both in 1936 and 1953 organizations were formed to help teens by giving them activities to enroll in (PAL and Boys and Girls Clubs of America). Such programs give teens things to do and get their minds off negativity. I believe that this is a much better way of dealing with juvenile crime. If teens are kept occupied instead of having so much free time on their hands there will be a definite decrease in the number of juvenile crime.

Juvenile crime is a major problem in today's society which needs to be approached in a smart and wise way. And that way is by starting programs that will help teens. Setting up curfews is a waste of time and won't get us anywhere. People should realize that restricting teens won't do anything but forming

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