Should minors have to abide by a curfew?

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Law Debates

19 Contributors
in this discussion.

Yes
68% of users

  • Minors should abide by a curfew, since parents don't know how to raise their children anymore.

    The saying is that it takes a village to raise a child. This law is a perfect example of this philosophy. Unfortunately, not all parents monitor and supervise their children the way that they should. As a society, we need to act to give these children guidelines when the parents fail to raise children responsibly.

    Yes J Lamb 43

  • It only makes sense since so many parents seem unable to reign in their kids.

    Historically, kids have gotten into trouble when given too much freedom to wander around ,especially in the late hours of the night. Teenagers have no reason to stay out all night; they do not have the internal checks necessary to make wise decisions and consider the consequences of their actions. So the state can step in and help out by establishing a curfew.

    Yes NettN355

  • Minors should have to abide by a curfew, because parents need to maintain control over them while they're young.

    Minors are not yet capable of making decisions as to where they are going and when to return on their own. Minors tend to be spontaneous beings and are, therefore, subject to rash decisions. It is the responsibility of the adults in a minor's life to give direction and set limits for them. Without curfews, minors are more apt to participate in less than desirable activities.

    Yes C0rd3FIames

  • I believe that minors should have to abide by a reasonable curfew, which should be age-appropriate, because a child needs to learn to respect boundaries and to listen to his parents.

    Although a curfew should vary with the age of the child, it is important to establish one early on. A child needs to learn to respect boundaries and to listen to his parents, and a reasonable curfew is one way of teaching this lesson. The difficulty is in creating a balance between discipline and freedom. Establishing a curfew that is too early will cause a child to rebel. Finally, children generally require more sleep than adults, and should have an appropriate bedtime that will provide them with enough rest.

    Yes R Bowen

  • I support kids having a curfew because it keeps many of today's children out of harms way

    The curfew makes it law to be indoors at a certain time or period to protect our youth from dangerous people like predators and gang members. Also the curfew increases the chance that the adolescent will go to sleep at an earlier time. That, along with the study that teens that recieve the recommended amount of sleep do better in school and society. Insuring they will make better decisions that will better their future when they must take on the responsibility of being adults

    Yes Anonymous

  • Kids should have a curfew to learn responsibility.

    Having a curfew is very important for kids today. One reason is obvious, safety, but there is also the need for them to learn responsibility in making smart, healthy choices. A child or teenager needs to be aware that they have to earn trust. The more they earn from their parents, the more freedom in their choices they'll be given. Making responsible decisions is also part of their future and being successful as adults.

    Yes SAugustus

  • There may be plenty of legitimate exceptions, but the goal should be letting youth make their own choices in the context of trusting, honest relationships with parents.

    Curfews are an understandable idea--having a clear standard for being home and sleeping helps young people establish good habits and priorities. But curfews are not the only or, in many cases, the best way to promote these goals. Stretching the limits of one's schedule is part of having an active social life and developing an independent personality, which does not reliably emerge simply from following rules. Young people feel an urge to go out, to stay up late, to explore the world, to take risks and the like, and learning to balance these feelings and needs with pressures of safety, academics, family and other responsibilities is part of growing up. This process is short-circuited by emphasizing rules such as curfews as an inflexible, strict standard for behavior. In some situations they may be useful, especially among young kids, but the goal should be good communication and increasingly independent decision-making.

    Yes M4I4cFeIine

  • Yes, minors should abide by a curfew because they are underage minors and most get into trouble late at night.

    Yes, minors should have to abide by a curfew because they are underage minors and most of the trouble they get into happens late at night. If they are out unsupervised than they are more likely to break rules and get into trouble with the law. Many teenagers don't have parental supervision at home so keeping them off the streets late at night will reduce crime.

    Yes MycCra2ii

  • Minors should abide by a curfew for their safety as most violent crimes happen at night.

    I believe minors should abide by a curfew but not for reasons of thinking that they will cause trouble. I believe, rather, that it should be for their safety. Most violent crimes in the United States happen after curfew. If minors are legally allowed to be out after curfew, it will make it much more likely that they become involved voluntarily or involuntarily in such crimes. Our minors are the future of this country so it is beneficial to all to keep them safe.

    Yes BrianDj

  • Minor should have a curfew to abide by. There is no reason for minors to be out late at night without an adult. Typically, no good comes out of kids being out on their own, and often times, NOTHING good comes of it.

    I've talked with enough Law Enforcement officers to know what can happen when minors are out at all hours of the night. It's not safe for the minors or the the general population.

    Yes JacksonE

  • Minors should have a curfew that is imposed by their parents not the government.

    I believe that all parents are making a mistake if they do not impose a curfew on their minor children. Kids need rules to know that they are cared for. I do not believe in imposing city wide curfews. All parents need to be in control of their kids.

    Yes TaraThi

  • I support that minors should abide by a curfew.

    It is very necessary that minors should abide by a curfew as it is imperative that adults keep a check on the ongoings of minors. Many minors get into wrong company leading to substance drug abuse, violence and drinking leading to a life long regret of the bad habit that they get accustomed to. By keeping a curfew on the minor, the adult ensures a more disciplined life of the minor at least till the minor is of a major age and understands the difference between the wrong and right and is ready to take his own decisions.

    Yes A Richardson

  • I feel that minors should abide by given curfews.

    As children get older, it is healthy for them to be entitled to some new freedoms, such as going out unsupervised or going out on dates. At the same time, teenagers need some restraint and guidelines under which to follow. Teens aren't capable of making all decisions and are going to make mistakes; having some rules, such as curfews, can help keep them on the right track.

    Yes 54ndDavi
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No
32% of users

  • It is up to the parents to decide when their children should be home.

    By giving a strict curfew for minors, they could be arrested for taking a walk at night. This is not fair, because minors don't always commit crimes, just because they are outside at night. Parents should decide when their children are allowed to be out, not the law.

    No NineLester37

  • I do not think minors should have to abide by a curfew, because it is not a decision for the government to make.

    I do not think minors should have to abide by a curfew. I do not believe in a law that should enforce a curfew for people under a certain age. If a teenager's parents set a curfew, I do feel the teenager should abide by it. I do not feel there is any reason the government should become involved in the decision.

    No TickoCa22

  • I disagree that minors should have to abide by a curfew, because it violates their right to freedom of movement.

    The assumption that kids will get into trouble, if left to roam at all hours, amounts to profiling. Troublemakers will be who they are, no matter what the time of day or night. I believe that parents should set a curfew that is appropriate for their children, based on the level of maturity and responsibility of each child. Studies have shown that curfews do not significantly reduce youth crime. Instead, law enforcement wastes time and resources tracking down teens on the loose, when their time could be better spent protecting the community from would-be rapists, thieves and murderers.

    No N3vinFace

  • Minors should not have to abide by a curfew. Parents should be responsible for rules set for their children.

    It is not fair to set a blanket curfew for all minors. Parents and guardians should be responsible for managing the behavior of their children and for setting and enforcing rules accordingly. A curfew may be appropriate for some individuals, but certainly not for all minors.

    No Mo2esDonaId

  • I oppose curfews for minors; it is the responsibility of the parents, not the government, to determine when minors should be off the streets.

    Minors should not have to abide by a legally imposed curfew. Their parents should be the ones who determine what is a reasonable time for them to be at home, not the government. In addition, many minors work at night or are involved in activities, such as sporting events, that end late at night. A curfew would do more harm than good because they either could not meet it, in which case they would not only be subject to fines, but also would be learning that laws may be disobeyed when necessary, or they would be tempted to speed home in order to be home earlier than the curfew. Encouraging minors to speed is not a good thing. In addition, if the minors are not engaging in criminal behavior, I see no purpose in turning their being out at night into a crime.

    No dangorious

  • Minors should not have to abide by a government-mandated curfew because it is up to the parents to decide.

    Minors are their parents' responsibility, not the rest of society. It should not be up to the government or law enforcement to decide an issue that does not affect other people. It should be up to parents to decide when and if there is a curfew for their children. This is the land of the free and too many laws restricts freedoms.

    No SascM0n
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