Juvenile Curfew Laws Don’t Work, Outline Example

Thesis:

In an attempt to curb youth violence, crime, and delinquency, juvenile curfews have been an oft-used tool of city officials, government agencies, and law enforcement.  However, there is little evidence to support the effectiveness of these laws, which ineffectively target young people while failing to address the root causes of criminal behavior and delinquency.

Paragraph One:

1. History of juvenile curfew laws in the United States
2. Reasons for recent rise in use of curfew legislation
3. The connection between young people and crime

Paragraph Two:

1. The popularity of youth curfew laws with the public.
2. The role of parental responsibility in curbing negative behavior in youth.
3. The role of the state/civil officials in dealing with juvenile crime

Paragraph Three:

1. Civil rights and juvenile curfew laws
2. The effectiveness/ineffectiveness of curfew laws
3. Other ways to deal with youth crime, violence, and delinquency

Conclusion:

1. The impact of juvenile curfew laws on young people
2. Constitutional challenges to juvenile curfew laws
3. Future trends in juvenile curfew laws

References

Jahn, R. (n.d.). Analysis of U.S. Curfew laws. National Youth Rights Association. Retrieved from http://www.youthrights.org/issues/curfew/curfew-analysis/

Kline, P. (2010). The impact of juvenile curfew laws. UC Berkeley/NBER. Retrieved from  http://www.econ.berkeley.edu/~pkline/papers/Youth%20curfews%20latest.pdf