Do Youth Curfews Help Curb Crime?
Consider This from NPR
NPR
4.2 • 6.2K Ratings
🗓️ 1 September 2023
⏱️ 14 minutes
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Summary
On September 1st a curfew went into effect in seven neighborhoods across the District of Columbia that will affect those aged 17 and under.
Like many other cities, the nation's capital has seen an increase in violent crime. And some of the most shocking crimes have been committed by young people.
Teens as young as thirteen as well as pre-teens have been suspected of, or charged with carjacking. In the past couple of months a 14 year-old and a 16 year-old have been charged with murder. And young people are also the victims of violent.
Keeping kids inside at night may seem like a good strategy for cities facing a surge in youth violence. But experts say that research doesn't back up the effectiveness of curfews.
Host Scott Detrow speaks with Kristin Henning, director of the Juvenile Justice Clinic at Georgetown University about what does and doesn't work.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | If you got a college in the heart of a major city, your comfort level getting around can depend on what you're used to. |
| 0:13.0 | I'm just very comfortable here because I feel like I know my surroundings. |
| 0:17.0 | Take Naima Caldwell, a senior at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and a filling native. |
| 0:22.0 | I know the people in some way share their form. |
| 0:27.0 | I feel like nobody's going to bother me. Maybe that's a problem, but I'm straight. |
| 0:31.0 | Karisma Copeland, on the other hand, is a sophomore from Atlanta. |
| 0:34.0 | And she isn't used to navigating a city on foot or on public transportation. |
| 0:38.0 | I have a taser and pepper spray, but no. |
| 0:41.0 | I don't feel 100% safe as I would do in Atlanta. |
| 0:45.0 | Like many cities in the U.S., D.C. has seen an increase in violent crime this year, |
| 0:50.0 | some of which took place near and on Howard's campus. |
| 0:53.0 | Last month, a 14-year-old was arrested and charged in the murder of a construction worker that occurred on campus. |
| 1:00.0 | The teen is also accused of committing two car jackings and an armed robbery before that murder. |
| 1:06.0 | In August 15th, a large group of teens who were not students instigated a brawl near two of Howard's residence halls. |
| 1:13.0 | This chaotic scene broke out around 2 a.m. Monday morning. |
| 1:16.0 | Police say at least one student was stabbed and several others were hurt. |
| 1:19.0 | It was just the latest high-profile incident to happen at or near the college this summer. |
| 1:24.0 | I am it so students are feeling uneasy about safety. |
| 1:27.0 | I've noticed that a lot of my friends are apprehensive to be outside at certain hours, |
| 1:31.0 | like once the sun sets, they're not leaving, they're homes. |
| 1:34.0 | We have an open campus, like literally anybody can walk in and anything can happen. |
| 1:38.0 | And a lot of people are really worried about the fact that young teens have been charged in these incidents. |
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