Since that survey was done the trend toward establishing curfews—both nighttime and daytime—has continued across the USA, with former president Bill Clinton praising the value of such initiatives. A 1997 survey gathered information from 347 cities with a population over 30,000. Mayors and city officials were asked for information on:
Among the findings of the survey:
Four out of five of the survey cities (276) have a nighttime youth curfew. Of these cities, 26 percent (76) also have a daytime curfew.
Nine out of 10 of the cities (247) said that enforcing a curfew is a good use of a police officer's time. Many respondents felt that curfews represented a proactive way to combat youth violence. They saw curfews as a way to involve parents, as a deterrent to future crime, and as a way to keep juveniles from being victimized. In addition, they commented that a curfew gives the police probable cause to stop someone they think is suspicious. Examples of city comments:
Tulsa: There is generally no useful purpose for a juvenile to be out late at night. Enforcement of curfews serves to protect them from being victimized by the criminal element.
Charlotte: This is a good tool to protect children. Most parents didn't even know their children were outside the home.
Jacksonville (NC): It provides officers with "probable cause" to stop the youth.
Claremont: It frees up officers' time during the curfew hours to do other police work. Kids don't go out because they know they will get in trouble.
Anchorage: Parents are contacted each time a juvenile is picked up, often eliminating repeat occurrences.
St. Peters (MO): It assists in providing a method of controlling juveniles when adult supervision is lacking. Less time is spent by officers in getting them off the street than responding to problems they create.
Toledo: It provides officers an opportunity to intervene with potential issues before problems develop. Periodic sweeps remind the public about the law officer. Curfew enforcement has, in large part, become a part of routine enforcement.
Ninety-three percent of the survey cities (257) said that a nighttime curfew is a useful tool for police officers. The city officials commented that curfews help to reduce the incidence of juveniles becoming victims by preventing "gathering,"
A curfew for Cranbourne and Casey would compel parents to be more responsible and give parents a specific reason to tell their children they cannot be out after a certain time, - curfews are a good prevention tool, keeping the good kids good and keeping the at-risk kids from becoming victims or worse victimizers. Their is no good reason for kids to be congregating late into the early hours of the morning, and a cerfew will help establish and identify troublesome youth. It will also maximize police resources, and help identify associated issues such as family violence, or neglect that may have contributed to youth either being absent from school or roaming the streets late into the evening, and early mornings. Presently not enough is being done to identify youth commiting crime, and cerfews offer the opportunity for the community to work closely with police to assist in identifying problem hotspots. Families and parents identified as suffering with the pressures of life, raising young children, and paying the never ending stream of bills could also be offered assistance through councilling whether financial or in relationship issues. Curfews help identify why the child was out late at night or absent from school. It is important that as a community we work together to address the issue of truancy and at risk youth. Unfortunately Cranbourne suffers from high domestic violence , coupled with tight budgets which put strain on the family unit. Often domestic unrest can be harmful for children and youth to witness, and it is important our police have the necessary power to detain youth and return them to their parents where it can be assesed if out reach sevices and/or councilling is required. This is another area where local councils could contribute by making available youth workers after hours when they are most needed. Integration of council youth workers along side support agencies , would offer the opportunity for immediate family support.. Cerfews work-In Queensland for instance, hoons see their cars confiscated permantly on a 3rd offence. Of over 1700 cars impounded since introducing 3 strikes and you loose your car legislation 2 years ago -only 22 were aprehended a second time and only 3 people have notched up a 3rd offence, and the permanent loss of their vehicle. Curfews dramatically reduce re-offending. As a community we need to give the police the resources to do their job, and with call out and response times ballooning , a cerfew will drastically free up police resources and legitamize police authority to apprehend youth.Intervention is the key, and only a cerfew will dramatically increase the possibility of identifying problem youth and allow for assistance.. I defy any councillor or politician to dispute this..Down the track, Governments could also look at instigating and training community police personell to also work along side our police officers, as a cost effective way of maximizing success and resources..Once again-councils could assist here.
Examples of city comments:
Orlando: Since we have had the curfew we have seen dramatic declines in youth-related crimes.
Murray (UT): Prevention is nine-tenths of the cure.
Fresno: Because of the curfew there is less gathering. Less gathering means fewer calls for police.
South Bend: Few first time violators are repeat offenders.
Maui: It compels parents to be responsible
DAYTIME CURFEWS
All of the 72 cities which have a daytime curfew report that it has cut down on truancy. They said that it reduces daytime burglary, holds parents accountable and keeps kids in school. Examples of city comments:
Columbus (OH): Seventeen hundred truants have been processed, less than seven percent have been re-fined (as repeat offenders).
Allentown: Since the inception of our daytime curfew, students know there are consequences to their actions. It has had a favorable impact on school attendance.
Torrance: It discourages truants' trips en masse to "hang-outs." With this curfew, students must stay at home or risk detention.
Philadelphia: Daytime curfew enforcement causes the minor to attend school, which can only benefit the minor.
Roswell: It cuts down on graffiti, vandalism and truancy. It keeps kids at home or in school where they are safe.
Eighty-eight percent (236) of the cities said that curfew enforcement helps to make streets safer for residents. The officials commented that there is less traffic late at night; residents feel safer; it is easier to find runaways; it is harder for criminals to hide from the police during curfew hours because there are fewer people to blend in with; graffiti and vandalism are reduced; and parents are helped to feel responsible. Examples of city comments:
Canton: Police find more runaways and missing juveniles, reducing the number of delinquencies.
Tulsa: The criminal element has to work harder to "hide" from cops.
Inglewood: It does, in fact, make it safer. There is less traffic at night.
Corpus Christi: The daytime curfew has cut down on the truancy problem considerably simply because school-aged kids observed wandering the streets or in locations away from school are easily detected, and they have come to know that.
Eighty-three percent (222) of the cities said that a curfew helps to curb gang violence. City officials believe it is a tool to reach "wanna-be" gang members and keep recruitment to a minimum; it prevents gang members from gathering; it gives the police a legal reason to contact individuals or the group; it tells kids their movements are being monitored and lessens gang activities during curfew hours. They also said that curfews help the police to identify gang members and come in contact with them at an earlier stage, help to curb young peoples' activities before they become more violent, and help the police to seize the guns and drugs of gang members, thus impairing their ability to fight. Finally, the curfew helps to educate parents to the signs of gang membership and activity. Examples of city comments:
Moline (IL): Gang activity stops after curfew hours begin.
Dearborn: It curbs activities before they get to a more violent level.
Shaker Heights: If you address inappropriate behavior, you will minimize the opportunity for it to escalate into violence. In other words, if you catch youths early it is more likely they can become valuable members of society.
Napa: I have never seen a gang member who wasn't a truant first. Curbing truancy curbs gang violence.
Houston: We have had an increase in drug and weapons seizures from gangs. Seizing these things lowers gangs' ability to fight.
Here in Cranbourne we have an issue with dissafected youth gathering throughout our parks, shopping precints,skate parks and rail stations. Casey,s rail network is also a haven for criminal activity with many wan-a be gang members and organised youth travelling and using our public transport hubs to steal from patrons parked cars,deal drugs, chrome and jump back fences into homes. Rivalry has also become an issue with many Dandenong and Pakenham based youth travelling to Casey looking to challenge for turf. Accross Casey from Pakenham to Endeavour Hills, residents,councillors and politicians continue to highlight incidents of vandalism, youth gatherings,illegal fireworks, and , seemingly a sense of despair .Currently the law seems to be powerless. We need to protect our suburbs and protect our youth. Roaming the streets can quickly become habitual for at risk kids and locks out all opportunity of employment, a future for these kids, leading into a life of crime...
Over the years both myself and Rev Paul Creasey have worked with Cranbourne youth to try to involve them in the community, we,ve involved kids in the cleaning of rail stations, and the Rev Paul Creasey instigated the successful Cranbourne Car and Bike Show which utilizes, assists and involves traders with youth.. The goal is to put kids in touch with local traders and give them an achievement to be proud of through helping organise the car and bike show. This year the event attracted 15,000 people. We,ve worked hard to involve large and small companies in a successful attempt to find local youth employment and tried to educate our decisionmakers on the need for trade schools in our region as well as an efficient public transport system that can deliver locals to employment opportunities. We were successful in securing security personell for the Cranbourne and Merinda Park rail network and in 2002 and celebrated the up grading of Cranbourne station to a premium station with personel from first to last train . The almost deliberate decision by politicians over a number of years to ignore security for our rail networks as well as accesable timetables has contributed dramatically to isolating and dramatically limiting employment opportunities for our young kids looking to secure a job.Reliable , clean public transport , is a must. Young kids just starting out, and single car families need reliable, safe public transport. Unemployment is a major contributor to ones self worth and can quickly sap a persons energy and enthusiasm-leading to bordom and ultimately in some instances the mistake of filling the void by falling in with the wrong crowd. From their all of society suffers.
To work hand in hand with a youth curfew both The Rev Paul Creasey and myself have produced a youth document (Breaking the Cycle) which has been presented to both the Liberal Party (Robert Doyle) and the Minister for Police (Tim Holding). We believe Cranbourne needs a tradeschool, industry and jobs so as to secure the economic future of our region and with that the future prosperity of those growing up here and presently living down south. Our youth policies for 12 to 18 year olds offer an answer to the problem of young disafected kids, and we believe strongly in the possibility of success in our region with its implemintation. Residents however need compensation for damage and vandalism, and councils need to instigate civil action against youth offenders and their parents so as to recoup the costs of vandalism on behalf of ratepayers and in so doing send a clear message-Vandalism will not be tollerated. Councils, as do State and Federal Governments have a responsibility to take action on behalf of residents.Civil action also offers one last chance as it does not saddle the offender with a criminal record. The criminal justice system fails to address financial loss to victims and the responsibility of offenders to offer compensation.