Teenage curfew laws as preventative measures for youth

Teen Curfew Hala

Teenage Curfew Laws

This is a paper that argues for the implementation of curfew laws for the youths to preserve the youths from going astray. It has 3 sources.

The young individuals have extra energy, which if not controlled, may lead them astray and curfew laws are viewed by some as punishment for all teens; however, in the end it is only a preventative measure in a struggle to preserve the youth.

Thomas Ognibene, Councilman of Queens City, has come up with legislation for creating a curfew for the juveniles, which he intends to introduce shortly. According to him the curfew will be applied to boys and girls below eighteen years of age and will be effective from 10:00 P.M. This has created much reaction in the city. Some of the people consider the intended legislation as amounting to throttling the freedom of teen-age boys and girls. Others see it as a welcome move, which will make them more responsible. Such curfew has already been imposed in many cities of the country such as Las Angeles, Dallas, Phoenix and Buffalo, etc. And has shown positive results [Queen, 1996].

Analysis:

Teenagers need boundaries

The most crucial period in the life of human beings is the time when they are in their teens. This is the age in which his mental and physical capabilities can be molded in a fashion that he will endeavor for creating in his bosom a thirst for knowledge and yearning for a happier condition of social and moral life. But if he is allowed to grow, like weeds in the fields, without any type of restrictions and limitations, then his animal instinct will take hold of his mind and body and he is bound to be a blot on the face of civilized society and the humanity as a whole.

Like all animate creations of the world, people are born with animal instincts in them. They crave for nothing except the desire to quench their thirst and extinguish their appetite irrespective of the means, which is adopted for the satisfaction of his objective. But later as the child grows he looks around and through his parents becomes capable of judging between good and bad. He does not touch a burning candle because he has learnt that it will burn his finder. Had he not been guided he will not only burn his fingers but his whole self.

Addresses teen crime

The adoption of the legislation for imposing a curfew on the boys and girls in their teens will be conducive to the creation in the youth the sense of responsibility, respect of the law of the land and devotion to the pursuit of their studies. Instead of roaming on the streets, engaging themselves in vandalism and quarrels with fellow boys and girls, they will remain with their parents. At their homes they can get correct guidance about their future life or about leading a good and virtuous life [Ward, 2000].

Some critics of the legislation are of the opinion that such arrangement will give the impression of a police state and that it will be a severe punishment to our younger generation. But they forget that in our country there are a number of cities in which such curfew has been imposed and its impact has been great. There have been less of youth vandalism; lesser juvenile crime and they boys and girls have been found paying more attention to their studies. [Ward, 2000].

Conclusion:

The above analysis makes it clear that some sort of limitation should be placed on the teenaged boys and girls for inculcating in their bosoms an urge to be good and law-abiding citizens and this is only possible through imposition of curfew on boys and girls below eighteen years of age.