Security Through Efficiency Curfews Essay Example

effects on the community. These include a reduction in juvenile victimization, under-age crime, and dangerous binge drinking at clubs. In Bangkok, many teenagers either sneak out or obtain permission from their parents to go to clubs that are often targeted by police raids. If these underage teens are caught drinking or possessing drugs, it could have severe consequences for their personal lives and education, potentially jeopardizing their chances of attending a reputable university.

However, some of these teens simply visit the mall to watch movies, have meals with friends, or attend late-night events. It is unjust for the police to threaten them with a ten o'clock curfew. Imposing such a curfew violates their rights to freedom of speech, civil liberties, and peaceful assembly. Moreover, instead of fostering trust within families, these actions impose negative consequences on the teens and may drive them towards rebelling against these unfair sanctions.

City-wide curfews can indicate a lack of trust between parents and their children. While teenagers generally accept curfews in normal situations, they may perceive a city-wide curfew as unjust, ineffective, and unwise. Multiple studies have demonstrated that strict curfews have had minimal impact on youth crime rates. In fact, cities with the most stringent curfews often experience higher rates of youth crime. For example, the New York teen curfew in 2007 only deepened the divide between young individuals and the government. In Bangkok, integrating the curfew into daily life could be feasible if the police department were not corrupt and possessed more efficient enforcement methods.

When I mention "corrupt," I am referring to prevalent incidents of child trafficking and bribery in Thailand. However, determining the actual ages of these teenagers

is challenging due to their utilization of counterfeit identification cards. Moreover, they provide false explanations for being out after curfew to avoid punishment.

The majority of young offenders come from dysfunctional families, live in poverty, or face various social issues. Their upbringing includes domestic violence and discouragement, which often leads to mental health problems and eventual involvement in criminal activities. Consequently, when a minor commits illegal acts, they are legally seen as victims of inadequate care. It is crucial for the government to intervene at this stage to prevent further, more severe crimes. Moreover, imposing a curfew on teenagers not only confines them to abusive homes but also exposes them more to physical and verbal abuse. This exacerbates their issues and fuels their defiance against the law. If I were in this situation, I would feel anger towards the government for forcing me to remain in an abusive environment, thereby motivating me to seek opportunities for escape whenever possible.

I think the curfew should only be enforced on weekdays and not weekends. It is important for teenagers to get enough sleep, especially during the week when they have to wake up early. Getting sufficient sleep is crucial for their academic performance. However, on weekends they can catch up on any lost sleep by sleeping in later. Academic underachievement can negatively affect their grades, effort, and social behavior. Nevertheless, many adolescents who want to hang out with friends on weekends have an understanding with their parents that as long as their grades are not impacted, they are allowed to spend time with friends.

This is something the curfew does not accomplish. It is a blanket measure that is not

connected to individual behavior, applying to all teenagers regardless of their actions. I find this unacceptable since temporary solutions are ineffective for addressing significant problems like this one. In conclusion, implementing a curfew would have irreversible consequences for Bangkok society. Many teenagers would resort to sneaking out without permission and facing consequences repeatedly. Lying would become common, perpetuating a never-ending cycle. Trust within families, which is crucial, could be destroyed due to a minor mistake made by the teenager. I strongly believe that parents should have the authority to decide whether their child should have a curfew, rather than the government.