IMPACT OF A JUVENILE CURFEW - SUPPRESSION AND DISPLACEMENT IN PATTERNS OF JUVENILE OFFENSES

• NCJ Number: 44614
• Journal: Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1977) Pages: 407-412
• Author(s): A L HUNT; K WEINER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DETROIT POLICE DEPARTMENT JUVENILE OFFENSE RECORDS ARE EXAMINED IN A STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF A CURFEW ON THE PATTERN OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AMONG YOUTHS.

Abstract

IN THE SUMMER OF 1976, DETROIT OFFICIALS SOUGHT TO REDUCE CRIMES BY YOUTH GANGS BY IMPOSING, PUBLICIZING, AND STRICTLY ENFORCING A 10 P.M. CURFEW. ANALYSIS OF JUVENILE OFFENSE REPORTS FOR THE CURFEW MONTH (AUGUST) AND FOR THE SAME MONTH IN OTHER YEARS SUGGESTS THAT THE CURFEW EFFECTIVELY REDUCED OR SUPPRESSED THE LEVEL OF CRIME DURING CURFEW HOURS. AN ACCOMPANYING EFFECT, HOWEVER, APPEARS TO BE THE DISPLACEMENT OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY TO EARLIER HOURS OF THE DAY, PARTICULARLY THE EARLY AFTERNOON. THE SUPPRESSING EFFECTS OF THE CURFEW APPEAR TO EXTEND BEYOND THE 6 A.M. TERMINATION WELL INTO MIDMORNING HOURS. THE FINDINGS DEMONSTRATE THAT: (1) A CURFEW CAN WORK, BUT MAY HAVE UNINTENDED OR UNNOTICED SIDE EFFECTS, AND (2) AN EFFECTIVE CURFEW REQUIRES A COORDINATED EFFORT OF PARENTAL SUPERVISION AND/OR COMMUNITY RECREATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND WORK ACTIVITIES, FOCUSING ON THE AFTERNOON TIME PERIOD. GRAPHS ARE INCLUDED.