For millennia humans have understood a fundamental distinction of "right" and "wrong".
They named intrinsic evil such as murder "malum in se": evil; wrong by itself.
That which was "wrong" by arbitrary declaration they named "malum prohibitum": wrong by prohibition.
Some may consider curfew a gray area. There are persuasive arguments on either side.
This lead post #1 cites a law enforcement example of holding parents responsible for children breaking curfew.
Three challenges limit their effectiveness.
- First, my own research finds that parents, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, often lack knowledge of juvenile justice laws and processes. Parents cannot prevent or respond to violations they do not fully understand.
- Second, fining parents for curfew violations may put extra financial pressure on families that are already struggling. These fines are based on the idea that parents aren’t supervising their children well enough. In reality, even caring and attentive parents may not be able to stop a teenager from breaking curfew if they’re working late or juggling multiple jobs. Families that can least afford these fines are hit the hardest, making their financial situation even worse. On top of that, fines can damage relationships between parents and kids, and add stress and stigma to the household.
- Third, punishing parents with fines can make existing inequalities worse, since youth from disadvantaged backgrounds are more often cited for minor offenses such as curfew violations.
These penalties especially affect single mothers of color who already face poverty, heavy policing in their community and accumulated disadvantage from loss of generational wealth after decades of earning lower incomes.
theconversation.com
So what is society to do?
Would it make sense to attempt to hold children violating curfew to adult standards?
Punishing parents victimizes such parents twice?
We should obey the law?
What law makes sense here?
They named intrinsic evil such as murder "malum in se": evil; wrong by itself.
That which was "wrong" by arbitrary declaration they named "malum prohibitum": wrong by prohibition.
Some may consider curfew a gray area. There are persuasive arguments on either side.
This lead post #1 cites a law enforcement example of holding parents responsible for children breaking curfew.
Detroit parents face fines if their children break curfew
research shows the policy could do more harm than good
Published: October 15, 2025 8:49am EDTDo parental responsibility laws work?
Despite widespread use, there’s little evidence to support the idea that parental responsibility laws deter delinquency. Instead, they may produce unintended harms.Three challenges limit their effectiveness.
- First, my own research finds that parents, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, often lack knowledge of juvenile justice laws and processes. Parents cannot prevent or respond to violations they do not fully understand.
- Second, fining parents for curfew violations may put extra financial pressure on families that are already struggling. These fines are based on the idea that parents aren’t supervising their children well enough. In reality, even caring and attentive parents may not be able to stop a teenager from breaking curfew if they’re working late or juggling multiple jobs. Families that can least afford these fines are hit the hardest, making their financial situation even worse. On top of that, fines can damage relationships between parents and kids, and add stress and stigma to the household.
- Third, punishing parents with fines can make existing inequalities worse, since youth from disadvantaged backgrounds are more often cited for minor offenses such as curfew violations.
These penalties especially affect single mothers of color who already face poverty, heavy policing in their community and accumulated disadvantage from loss of generational wealth after decades of earning lower incomes.
Detroit parents face fines if their children break curfew − research shows the policy could do more harm than good
The fines of $250 for a first offense and $500 for a second hit low-income families the hardest.
theconversation.com
So what is society to do?
Would it make sense to attempt to hold children violating curfew to adult standards?
Punishing parents victimizes such parents twice?
We should obey the law?
What law makes sense here?