Effect of Curfews in Reducing Juvenile Crime - Essay Example

Running Head: Effect of Curfews in Reducing Juvenile Crime Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code: Institution: Date Assignment is due: Research Proposal on Effect of Curfews in Reducing Juvenile Crime Abstract This study is an assessment of curfews and the correlation they have in reducing juvenile crime. It will prove how efficient curfew is in affecting the juveniles and actually deterring them from doing crimes. The research will aim at answering the questions, is curfew an effective eliminator of juvenile crimes? Does it serve as a deterrent factor for juveniles? Alternatively, does it just help in keeping the streets clean and pushes juveniles to go deeper underground? Is it a real solution to the problem or something that the police are just wasting their time? In answering these questions, the research will take the form of simple exploratory study as my evaluation design. I chose this design because this is the best way to access the information, which I need from the juveniles themselves. Introduction Studies actually show that the reason why curfews have been of use in more than 300 towns all over the USA is to manage juvenile crimes. However, it is still a dilemma of whether or not it is effective really in lessening crimes done by juveniles. Though curfew implementation has been complete in many states, it has yet to have proven it effectiveness. Curfews are commonly of use in order to control crime rate by juveniles. It is an intervention, which covers juveniles, as they are under-aged (Cohen & Marcus, 1979). Curfews implementation has been successful in various states, just so they can keep juveniles out of the streets in the most dangerous times of the day. However, over time, curfews have also become a way to control these juveniles so they are, not caught up in situations where crime is particularly susceptible to the situation (Endersby, 2001). Let us remember that teenagers are undoubtedly just curious and confused most of the time. This is why sometimes they get to do some things, which they will eventually regret in the future. Being part of the moral community, it is our role to keep them away from the wrong path and to guide them wherever needed. If juveniles know that they need to be home at a certain curfew time, they will most likely go home. Especially when they know that, they can get into problems with the police (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1997). Because of this, it will be helpful to analyze how effective curfews are in terms of reducing juvenile crime. In covering this assessment, this study will look into the available literature on curfews and their applicability in reducing juvenile crime. It will also engage an evaluation through a simple exploratory study in which juveniles will participate in providing information on the topic under discussion based on the set research questions. Later, an analysis of the findings will be appropriate and completed to develop an understanding of the topic at hand drawing conclusions from that and making some recommendations of how best curfews can be of use in reducing juvenile crime. Review of literature Local governments around the world have enacted juvenile curfews to their State statutes or general police powers specifically authorizing the respective ordinances (Fuller, 2005). There are seven cities across America whose curfew programs are operational enacting their ordinances pursuant to particular authorizing State legislation. Law enforcement expert generally prospect a juvenile curfew ordinance mainly as an effective means of combating late evening crime (Cohen & Marcus, 1979). Nevertheless, curfews also are, intended to provide protection to the youth from coming victims of advent crime (Lait, 1998). Most curfew ordinances across America were, enacted in the context of an all-inclusive, community-based program to protect both the juvenile and the community from victimization as well as serve as a positive intervention against the developing and prevalent patterns of delinquency (Harvard Law Review Association, 1994). Each of the jurisdictions in America collected respective statistical data on crimes and juvenile victimization well before they passed a curfew ordinance. The respective activity also laid a strong foundation for the formulation of a curfew ordinance addressing the jurisdiction’s exclusive juvenile crime and other victimization problems. Although juvenile crime is precisely not restricted to just evening hours, from the data analysis done by respective cities, they demonstrated that the respective rates of crime and juvenile victimization were serious enough warranting a warily crafted curfew program for the evening. Each of the cities has its own exclusive and innovative approach that addresses the problem of juvenile crime as well as victimization using a curfew ordinance (Endersby, 2001). The approaches illustrate a range of community partnerships as well as non-punitive strategies geared towards promoting early intervention in preventing delinquent behavior development and addressing issues related to parental responsibility, family dysfunction and discipline (Marketos, 1995). The strategies are credited with offering help to prevent crime and juvenile victimization as well as repeated curfew violations and providing safety and protection to the community (Lundman, 1993). While the far-reaching, community-based curfew programs in these cities employ a number of diverse strategies, each program comprises one or more of the common elements, which include the creation of a curfew center or use of recreation centers as well as churches to welcome juveniles picked up by the forces after violating curfew (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1997). They also engage in staffing of curfew centers holding social service professionals as well as community volunteers. Another key role they play is the intervention, in the form of individual referrals to social service providers as well as counseling classes, for the respective juveniles and their own families (Harvard Law Review Association, 1994). Procedures are, also provided for repeat offenders, which include fines, sentences or counseling and community service (Fuller, 2005). Among other provisions include, recreation programs and jobs, antidrug programs and hotlines for follow-up services as well as crisis intervention (Morial, 1995). The cornerstone of the curfew programs is creative community involvement, which works to transform the respective juvenile curfew from a punitive, reactive response to a moral proactive intervention against the causes of juvenile delinquency as well as victimization (Reynolds, 1997). In coming up with a juvenile curfew for Dallas, officials from the government and the police department collaborated to create an effective and appropriate curfew program. The curfew that went into effect on 1994 May 1, applies to all youth those under the age of 17. Before the effective date of the established curfew ordinance, the Dallas Police Department was involved in a media campaign promoting the curfew awareness. The multi-component campaign involved public service announcements on posters, radio, both in English and Spanish, which were distributed and facilitated at recreation centers in various public schools and the press conferences. In addition, 1 week prior to the curfew taking effect, officers to the youth in public relatively handed out warning fliers (Hunt & Weiner, 1977). When Dallas police arrest juvenile curfew violators, they either, give them a verbal warning, or issue a fine ticket as high as $500, take them home, or custody (Reynolds, 1995). In cases of where they experience repeated curfew violations, the parents of the child may be fined an approximated $500 (Habib, 2004). In addition to the enforcement mechanisms, the curfew program in Dallas features comprehensive programs of the youth, which address juvenile crime and juvenile victimization, including a School Liaison Unit, Law Enforcement Explorers, supervised midnight basketball and a Police Athletic League (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1997). The Dallas Police Department did an assessment of the juvenile curfew effectiveness after 3 months of enforcement (Reynolds, 1995). The results of the assessment indicated that juvenile victimization especially during curfew hours experienced a drop by 17.7 percent, from 1,950 particularly from May to July 1993, to an approximated 1,604 during the same time in 1994 (Habib, 2004). Further, juvenile detainees during curfew hours experienced a decrease by 14.6 percent, from 294 from May to July 1993, to an approximated 251 during the same time in 1994 (Hunt & Weiner, 1977). These initial statistics are an indication that the Dallas efforts of establishing a curfew enforcement program are fruitful and effective reducing juvenile crime and juvenile victimization efficiently. Research question(s) This research study will test the claim that curfew is directly correlated to reducing juvenile crime. It will prove how efficient curfew is in affecting the juveniles and actually deterring them from doing crimes. The research questions for the study include: 1. How effective is curfew as an eliminator of juvenile crimes in United States, Dallas? 2. Does curfew serve as a deterrent factor for juveniles in United States, Dallas? 3. How effective is curfew as a solution to the problem high rates of crimes in United States, Dallas? Research Hypothesis The research is based on the hypothesis that curfew is in an effective strategy in reducing the juvenile crimes and actually deterring them from doing crimes. It also espouses that with appropriate practice of curfews, it can be the most effective problem solution of the high and increasing rates of crime in the United States. Evaluation site This research will try giving a general evaluation of how curfew directly affects youth crimes statewide. I will use the data gathered by relevant literature in order to know the factors that affect the effectiveness of curfew in reducing juvenile crime. In order to give this general point of view a satisfactory evaluation, I will be using my own community as an evaluation site. My community has an approximated 100, 000 people. It is a community within the urban peripherals of United States (Dallas, Texas) located within the current curfew legislation by the government. The community has experienced the legislation of curfews for a period of two years now with an 8 p.m. curfew on juveniles across the region. Here I can directly test these findings and can administer research questions to juveniles themselves. The juveniles that I will study will be within 13-17 years of age, and they all live in our community. My community is generally peaceful but there are also youth that gets into trouble occasionally. It has become an issue of how to manage juveniles, and a stricter curfew law is now being administered as a solution. It is a terrific place to test the effectiveness of curfew in reducing crime. In addition, it is relevant in looking into deterring youth, and keeping the juveniles away from doing things that are against the law. Evaluation design This research will use simple exploratory study as the evaluation design. I chose this design because this is the best way to get the information that I need from the juveniles themselves. Juveniles might be uneasy of I interview them personally so I will be using specially formulated questionnaires. This will be done by giving relevant questionnaires to juveniles that will help me know the exact factors that deter them from doing crimes, and if curfew is one of those. I specifically intend to measure the effectiveness of curfew using a questionnaire that will measure how they follow curfew, what they feel about it, and what factors they think will help in eliminating juvenile crime in the community. In this way, I can measure how deterrent curfew is to the juveniles and if curfew is part of the reasons why they keep off the streets and if it actually prevents them, or others their age from doing crime. This design is appropriate to study this form of intervention because I can go directly into what juveniles themselves think. Population and sample A random sample will be used in this research. A stratified random sampling frame will be in place. I will first sample the schools around my community then take a sample of students from each school. The sampling frame will consider diversity of both boys and girls schools and the distance covered to include a sizeable representative sample of the populations within my community. I will select minors aged 13-17 from our community schools who are willing to participate in answering the questionnaire. A stratified random sample of 30 minors will be utilized in this study. I anticipate that some might not be interested to participate in the questionnaire and others might not take is seriously. That is why I plan to explain to them my study first and ask them if they would like to volunteer for the questionnaire. Given that the population and sample will only be taken from a single community, it might not generalize easily to the larger population. However, it will give us a brilliant idea of what minors generally think. Variables and Data Collection methods The study will be carried out using a quantitative research model and a survey that I will be personally making. The data gathered will be quantified using an index to determine how effective curfew is in deterring juveniles from crime that was prevalent to my respondents in using cohesive devices. I will be measuring the degree of deterrence, how strictly do they follow curfew, how easy it is to violate curfew, and other factors, which they think, are effective in reducing juvenile crime in the community. The goal is if curfew has a direct effect on reducing the crime rate for juveniles. The analysis will be more descriptive of what the juveniles think about curfew and its correlation to reducing crime, as compared to data gathered through police records, so not requiring dependent and independent variables. Data analysis This research will used both quantitative and qualitative data analysis because it entails both forms of data. The qualitative will be dealing with behavioral data collected on juvenile crime while the quantitative will be dealing with numbers (number of crimes, arrests, recidivism etc). The first step of this study will be data entry or computerization. This will be input of data collected in questionnaires in the computer for a soft copy of the same. This way, it will be easy to edit the data and rectify the mistakes as well as prepare for easier data analysis. Nevertheless, there is the requirement to “edit” data, after or even before being computerized. The first step will be “visual editing”. Before keying in the data the questionnaire forms will be reviewed to spot irregularities as well as problems that escaped notice during monitoring. Data forms will be, keyed, typically into a computer for which a program will have been, designed for the data entry screens matching the layout of the questionnaires used in the research. Then, the open-ended questionnaire responses will be, coded. Once the data are computerized as well as verified, they will be subjected to computer checks to “clean” them. Range checks will be, used to compare each data item to the particular set of permissible values for the respective variable. They will be of relevance in detecting and correcting invalid values as well as information, noting and investigating unusual responses and check the reasonableness of research distributions since these will affect other procedures of the research. Ethics To ensure the ethical participation of the respondents, the simple exploratory study will start with an educative process. These will be making the members of the community aware of the research to be, carried within the community and its relevance to them in general. The sample population will therefore be aware of what they are engaging in before the research starts. Confidentiality will also be assured among the participants of the research basing on the fact that the minors would fear defamation and therefore not disclose their criminal record if not assured of confidentiality. In this case, there will be no names on the questionnaires but rather, the participants will be labeled alphabetically (e.g. sample A, B, C etc). The information provided will also be, represented fairly without prejudice or victimization totally doing away with comparison of the regions in terms of crime to avoid any suspicion of the area reported with the high crimes. There is no information, which will be handed to any organization, community or any institution to avoid harm to the respondents. This way, confidentiality will be a guarantee and participants will have no fear in participating and providing information for this research. Project organization, management, schedule and budget The project will take a maximum of two months. The two months will involve the educating process, the sampling, data collection, data analysis and presentation of the findings. The research plan will flow as the table below. Activity Start Date Target Date Completion Date Complete proposal 11/7/2010 11/27/2010 Develop methods 11/30/2010 12/7/2010 Collect data 12/10/2010 12/10/2010 Analyze data 12/20/2010 12/21/2010 Finish draft paper 12/28/2010 12/29/2010 Present findings 12/30/2010 12/30/2010 Research Budget A research project to be conducted on 100% sponsor agency funding Project period 11/7/2010 to 12/30/2010 Budget period 11/7/2010 to 12/30/2008 (2 months budget) Request Senior Personnel 14,000 Head of research @ 2 SM months 10,000 Other Personnel Analysis Technician 16,000 2 Graduate Students @ 2 SM months 12,000 Total Personnel: $ 52,000 Equipment 15,000 Travel 4,500 Materials and Supplies 9,500 Consultant 2,500 Printing 1,500 Total Direct Costs $ 33,000 Total Project Cost $ 85, 000 Conclusion To conclude, this study will test the claim that curfew is directly correlated to reducing juvenile crime. It will prove how efficient curfew is in affecting the juveniles and actually deterring them from doing crimes. Curfew ordinances are effective and operational in a majority of the United States largest cities. While curfews have been under the challenge by many jurisdictions on a number of constitutional grounds, narrowly crafted curfew ordinances designed to address identified problems are capable and appear to withstand the respective challenges. Statistical analyses of the effectiveness of curfew ordinances on juvenile crimes victimization in communities continue. The information availed by the community highlighted in this paper and by other communities where such programs have been under implementations indicates that an all-inclusive, community-based curfew programs are great in helping with the reduction of juvenile delinquency as well as victimization. It is relevant for communities that are already enforcing curfews or in making considerations of curfew ordinance to keep abreast of all required legal developments, establish a great and firm foundation for the ordinance, and operational model of the curfew program with the involvement of community-based contributions. References Cohen, L. & Marcus, F. (1979). “Social change and crime rate trends: A routine activity approach” American Sociological Review 44: 588–607. Endersby, A. (2001). Child Curfews: International Debate Education Association. Retrieved May 15, 2010, from: http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topicID=114 Federal Bureau of Investigation (1997). Uniform Crime Reports for the United States 1996. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, Tables 28, 38 Fuller, J.R. (2005). Criminal Justice: Mainstream and Crosscurrents. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ Habib, M.J. (2004). “Juveniles and Legal Rights” B418: A Site by Teens to Defend Teens Rights. October 18, 2007, from the World Wide Web: http://www.b418.com/teenlegal.htm Harvard Law Review Association (1994). Curfews May Be Ineffective and Discriminatory” In Bender D., and Leone, B., eds. (1997). Juvenile Crime: Opposing Viewpoints, San Diego, CA: Green haven Press, 193-198. Hunt, A.L., & Weiner, K. (1977). “The Impact of a Juvenile Curfew: Suppression and Displacement in Patterns of Juvenile Offenses.” Journal of Police Science and Administration 5(4):407–412 Lait, M. (1998, 10 February). “Report Questions Teen Curfews” The Los Angeles Times, A15 Lundman, R.L. (1993). Prevention and Control of Juvenile Delinquency, New York: Oxford Press Marketos, A.K. (1995). “The Constitutionality of Juvenile Curfews” Juvenile and Family Court Journal 46(2):17–30. Morial, M. (January 30, 1995). “Our Juvenile Curfew Is Working.” The Washington Post Reynolds, K.M. (1997). “Curfews and Delinquency in Major American Cities” Crime and Delinquency 41(3):347–363. Reynolds, R. (1995). Curfews Can Be Effective and Constitutional. In Bender, D. eds. (1997) Juvenile Crime: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego: Green haven Press, 187-192. Read More