Curfews have been around for hundreds of years. They originated for the public good-to get youth offenders off the streets. Most curfew ordinances trace back to a public safety regulation imposed by Alexander the Great that required the residents of Oxford, England to retire and cover their fires when an evening bell was rung. (Ruefle and Reynolds, 1996) In the early 1900s, the curfew bell could be heard throughout America as a sign to teenagers and children that it was time to be home. In recent years, cities nationwide have expanded the use of youth curfews to address growing public concern about juvenile crime and violence. By reducing the number of youth on the street during certain hours, curfews are assumed to lesson the number of circumstances in which youth crime can occur. It also assumes that curfews reduce youth crime by deterring youths from being on the streets at certain hours out of fear of being arrested. Curfews have been a tool for policy makers to reduce ju!
             Most curfew policies require teens under 18to be home at certain hours at night unless they have a legitimate excuse or are accompanied by a parent/guardian. For example, the nighttime curfew imposed in Dallas, Texas, is as follows:
             Specifically, the curfew applies to juveniles under 17 years of age and only between the hours of 11pm to 6am, Sunday through Thursday, and midnight to 6am on Friday and Saturday. The exemptions include juveniles who are accompanied by an adult, traveling to or from work, responding to an emergency, married, or attending a supervised activity. (Drowns and Hess, 264)
             Many juveniles and their parents found in violation of curfew laws are subject to fines and the label of a juvenile offender.
             There is an article involving teen curfew in Harris County, and by the end of the year, Montgomery County is going to be taking in effect the teen curfew law. It has been said by one of the local sheriff's that he is not going to be ...