NCJ Number
153042
Journal
Policy Review Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1994) Pages: 1-4
Date Published
1994
Length
4 pages
Annotation
In an effort to reduce juvenile delinquency, many jurisdictions are implementing juvenile curfew laws, and those cities that had curfew ordinances on the books are beginning to enforce them more vigorously.
Abstract
Police officers, merchants, and other citizens often welcome juvenile curfews as a way of curbing delinquency and helping police interdict juvenile gang activity. On the other hand, most curfew laws are challenged in court by groups or individuals who find them to infringe upon personal freedoms to an unacceptable degree. Specific legal challenges to curfew laws claim that they violate minors' right to due process, deny juveniles equal protection of the laws, and interfere with parental autonomy. Curfew laws should be drafted so that they do not unnecessarily infringe upon juveniles' rights. They are most likely to be upheld in court if they delineate with some specificity the prohibited conduct and provide reasonable exceptions for legitimate activities. Police executives must ensure that officers are aware of departmental policies and procedures regarding curfew law violations and that they enforce those procedures fairly and consistently. 12 notes