Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-07
DELINQUENCY CURB?
By RENE CAPPON

An outbreak Of youth gang brawls
in San Francisco wave Of
teen-age disturbances in Wakefield.
Mass. a near-riot on Halloween
in sedate residential section of
Boise, Idaho
Authorities reacted similarly in
each case. They proceeded to clip
the wings of adoleScent night owls
by either tightening enforcement
of an existing curfew law or by
passing new one.
Is this the answer? Many cities
say yes. But the method is not
universally accepted. 1t is opposed
as loudly in some cities as it is
praised in others.
What happened in San Fran
cisco, Wakefield and Boise points
up the fact-Shown by nation
wide Associated Press survey-that
curfews for juveniles enjoy con-
siderable vogue today. You'll find
them on the books of communities,
large and small, from Portland,
Me-. to Portland, Greg.
Some we're enacted as long as so
years ago. Others came in re-
spouse to specific incidents or the
rising pressure of postwar youth
problems.
The theory behind the regula-
lions is that nocturnal wanderings
by teen-agers invite trouble, that
parental discipline alone won't
keep them at home, and that
curfew provides the logical start
ing point for an attack on de-
linquency.
But some of the Nations biggest
cities. like New York, Boston, and
Chicago, haven't bought the theory
Even among towns that have cur
Jews, you'll find much difference
Of official opinion on their use
fulness.
The enforcement picture, like
wise, is checkered. While some
communities rigidly adhere to the
rules. others are largely ignoring
them. So at Springfield, Mo-, which
has a theoretical pm. deadline
for youngsters under IA. one lad
replied with an astonished, what
curfew?" when he was asked
about it.
Found Very Effective
In California. George Casperi,
juvenile control consultant tor the
State Youth Authority, reported
after a survey of conditions in 20
representative cities and counties
that "all law enforcement officers
questioned" thought the curfew
ordinances very effective in con-
trolling delinquency and late-hour
activities of youths under 49,"
At Boise, which rules kids under
16 off the streets at II pm. and
those between Is and 16 an hour
later. Police Chief Gus Urresti said:
Believe me. the ordinance is a
Godsend to the police force. 1t
has reduced vandalism by as much
as 80 per cent in the nine months
that the law has been in force"
But at Sioux Falls, S. OAK,
which also has an IL pm. deadline,
Chief of Detectives Jack Steen said
fatty: THE law has no effect on
curbing delinquency. Youngsters
who are prone to get into trouble
will ignore the law. and the others
are going home anyway"
In San Diego, Calf, 1t. Ralph
Lukehart of the Juvenile Bureau
felt most parents are very happy
to have our curfew and pickups."
On the other hand, at Fargo,
N. D., with curfew in force since
1918, the ordinance is used chiefly
as a preliminary charge to hold
suspicious minors and Arthur Lieb,
Cass County Juvenile commissioner,
said:
I'm general, community senti-
ment today is against a compulsory
legal curfew and more in favor Of
allowing parents to control their
children's hours"
Resentment Dies
What do teen-agerS themselves
think of night life restrictions? For
the most part, authorities in curfew
towns assert that any resentment