With a violent crime rate approaching major-city proportions, Annapolis floated the idea of a youth curfew this week. It’s an extreme measure proposed at a time of extreme concern in the state capital.
Curfews sound like a simple plan with specific goals: Keep kids under 18 or so off the streets at times when youth are mostly likely to commit crimes or be victimized by them.
If only fighting crime were so simple.
The Annapolis City Council‘s Public Safety Committee is studying a variety of ways to make the streets safer. This week, the council began reviewing a report on the city’s crime problem prepared by the International City/County Managers Association. The report includes some troubling statistics, including a homicide rate three times the national average and a robbery rate higher than the state or national rate. In a brief report to the committee this week, ICMA officials cautioned that comparisons among different cities can be misleading, but it’s clear that Annapolis officials have a problem on their hands. The recommendations included beefing up the police force and targeting patrols in high crime areas ? nothing really unexpected.
But the committee also scheduled hearings on curfews, not as an endorsement of the proposal but just to start additional discussion in the shadow of violence darkening the streets. This week, scheduling conflicts forced the postponement of the first hearing after two speakers opposed the idea.
Those two were on the right track. City-imposed curfews aren’t going to solve the woes of Annapolis ? and probably not any other area facing rising crime and a down-turned economy.
First off, teenagers should have curfews. State-imposed midnight-to-5 a.m. limits on young drivers are appropriate because of teens’ inexperience behind the wheel. But parents, not government, are the ones who should decide their evening curfew.
“I think it starts us down a very difficult and slippery slope,” community activist Trudy McFall said of the proposed Annapolis curfew. McFall is founder of Citizens for Better Annapolis, a volunteer group that addresses crime and other municipal issues. She said their statistics simply don’t support that curfews imposed elsewhere reduced crime, even in areas that claimed success.
Proponents defend curfews for some intangible reasons. They give parents another tool to show children why they should avoid dangerous situations. And, supporters say, they enlist government in controlling kids whose parents are unable or unwilling to take that responsibility. Some others say that imposing a curfew sends the message that the community cares deeply about fighting crime and protecting citizens.
The negatives of curfews, however, far outweigh that rhetoric.
Curfews imposed elsewhere over the last few decades have carried misdemeanor penalties. And the crimes they attempt to prevent are far more serious. It’s safe to assume that a person intent on stealing a car or breaking into a house won’t be deterred by the possibility of a $100 fine.
Some studies suggest that curfews can even boost the crime rate just before the restrictions kick in.
There are other issues.
Research by the American Bar Association shows that judges have been uncomfortable with the constitutional issues raised by curfews. And even when they have passed legal tests, they are criticized for unfairly restricting honest citizens.
Cynthia Carter, commissioner of the City Housing Authority, said an Annapolis curfew would certainly open the door to racial profiling among the enforcers. And besides, she said, “What are we going to do with the children when we find them?” Will police track down their parents? Take them into custody?
Carter believes the answer to keeping children safe is finding programs to engage and entertain them. “There’s a lot of energy out there, and it’s going to be exposed ? positive or negative. We’ve got to do something to occupy the minds of our youth.”
Annapolis officials also need to remember that this lovely Colonial town may be a home to nearly 40,000 residents and state government, but its economic lifeblood is tourism. Curfews aren’t a very friendly welcome to visitors.
No, a government-imposed curfew won’t solve the problems in Annapolis. It is a topic of conversation to get citizens thinking about other ways of reducing crime. But it should not become a distraction in a discussion of meaningful ways to tackle the problems on the streets.
