I have to write a persuasive speech for my English class. It was due Tuesday and I've been avoiding it all week for various reasons, and now I have to have it by tomorrow. A lot of things have been going on with me lately, and my medicine is messed up and I've been having a lot of trouble focusing. My topic is government imposed teen curfews. I'm against it. I didn't choose the topic, by the way. It's supposed to be 3-5 minutes long. It need to be written in an outline sort of format and have certain things to it. I've got some stuff written down. Mostly info and stuff I've attempted to pull together and write in some way that makes sense. If anyone could offer any suggestions or be of any help I would be so greatful! Thanks in advance!! Here's what I have so far:


Government Imposed Nighttime Teen Curfews

Authorities in many cities have utilized curfew laws making it illegal for minors to be outside their homes during designated night hours. These curfew laws are ineffective and unconstitutional. Government imposed nighttime curfews do not reduce crime. Instead, they invade people’s rights and focus police attention to less important crimes.

Stats and Facts---Ineffectiveness
Did you know that nighttime is not the most common time for juvenile crime? According to the FBI, youth between the ages of 12 and 17 are most at risk of committing violent acts or being victims of violent acts between 2pm and 8pm. If this is so, then why have authorities in many cities utilized curfew laws that make it illegal for minors to be outside their homes during designated night hours?

These curfew laws are ineffective and unconstitutional. Government imposed nighttime curfews do not reduce crime. Instead, they invade people’s rights and focus police attention to less important crimes.


Nighttime curfews are not making a difference. According to a three year study by Robert E. Sheperd Jr., a professor of law at the University of Richmond, juvenile crime dropped only 9% during curfew hours and increased slightly during non curfew hours. He concludes that the total drop in juvenile arrests for serious crime was about 5%- the same rate of decrease that had occurred in cities the 2 previous years. Nighttime curfews are not making a difference. They are clearly ineffective.



Unconstitutioanl---Invasion of Rights

According to Mike Males, sociologist and author of several books, curfews do not work because the vast majority of teenagers are not criminals. Several studies have found that whether measured over time, by county, by city, or by specific case study, juvenile curfews had no effect on crime, youth crime, or youth safety,

Independent research has found no evidence to support the claim that curfews reduce any type of juvenile crime


Teen curfews have the greatest impact on the activities of youth who are least likely to commit crimes. Teens that follow the rules have to modify their conduct to conform to the law, even though it requires that they give up socially productive activities. These kids haven’t done anything wrong. Why are they being punished? It’s just not fair. Teens are being denied important rights (give examples).

“Curfews violate rights of young people who are citizens of this country,” said Alex Koroknay-Palicz (Kor-ook-nay Pal-eez), executive director of the National Youth Rights Association., a nonprofit organization based in the Washington D.C. area. Koroknay-Palicz, says that curfews stereotype youth and that there is no conclusive evidence that curfews reduce crime rates.

Police time---
Many police officers across the country feel curfew laws create a drain on police time and resources, forcing them to not only serve and protect, but also to parent. Police officers also feel that increased police stops and questions performed during investigations of possible curfew violations might further strain tenuous citizen/police relations.
Curfews place an extra load on police officers at hours when juvenile crime is at its lowest. Police are deterred from preventing malicious crimes while detaining teenagers at night.

Go easy on the word "unconstitutional." Used once it can be effective, used multiple times it gives the impression that the speaker is a pretentious bastard.

Writing a speech is essentially writing a paper. Come up with a thesis in the beginning ("Imposing teen curfews is bad because ______ "), at least two points to support your thesis, and at least two subpoints for each point. Practice your speech to make sure it stays within the time limit and edit as necessary.

Well, great, people already think that about me...now they're just going to...just kidding. Gr. Yeah, if it wasn't 2 in the morning I'd have written something much more impressive. I'm actually really good at this kind of stuff. It's just late...and I'm tired.

Thanks though. I appreciate it.