A teen curfew law was recently passed in the District of Columbia. This was a needed law to alleviate crime teenagers fall victim of. Minors under the age of 17 should be in their home at a very reasonable hour so they will be energetic, fresh and alert when attending school. I am convinced that the more freedom teenagers have the more opportunity they have to get into trouble. Although most parents feel that the government is taking their place in raising their kids - that's far from the truth. The government realizes that most teenagers are not receiving the right amount of discipline from home. Studies have shown that teenagers coming from a dysfunctional home their parents were either divorced separated, drug abusers or poverty stricken. Children must come from a home that is nurturing and loving in order to have a stable and functional behavior.

             Studies have further shown that the majority of juvenile delinquents get into trouble around the age of 13, I believe that the curfew will elevate some of the problems that juveniles get into at night. Juveniles are more prone to get into trouble during the night than day primarily because parents are not taking account to where their children are spending their time. This is where parental guidance should come into play. Parents should know where their children are at all times of the day or night. .

             Parents have to take a stand and develop some values and good traits in their children from a young age. Parents must also make sure that their children have a good spiritual foundation. I have personally witnessed the difference between a child that attends church and one that does not. A juvenile who attended church from their childhood and up are most likely not to get into trouble because of the spiritual values they were instilled with. A child with no spiritual concept or values is that more likely to commit a violent crime or become involved in drugs then a child who has spiritual values.