NCJ Number
164784
Journal
Youth Studies Australia Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1996) Pages: 28-30
Date Published
1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article presents 10 arguments to support the author's view that youth curfews in Australia are neither fair nor effective.
Abstract
Youth curfews arbitrarily and unnecessarily discriminate against youth on the basis of their age, and they criminalize noncriminal behavior. Further, youth curfews will increase the likelihood of some young people being drawn even further into the criminal justice "net." Also, youth curfews are invariably applied disproportionately against the least powerful and most vulnerable social groups, such as homeless youth, the unemployed, indigenous youth, and ethnic minorities. Other arguments against youth curfews are that they will increase conflicts between youth and the police, do not address the prevalent patterns of juvenile crime and juvenile victimization, and do not take into account differing family and parenting contexts. Moreover, youth curfews are premised on the concept of youth as threats to the community just because of their age; rather, youth should be viewed as valued members of the community. Finally, youth curfews are negative and coercive; there are more positive ways of providing opportunities for youth to engage in constructive behaviors in their leisure hours.