Local curfew another tool against crime

Tuesday, June 18, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

AMID the national debate over juvenile crime, Southern Nevada is ahead of the curve.

President Clinton has recommended reimposing curfews throughout the nation to curb the alarming rise in juvenile crime. The laws give police the tools to round up teens in the early evening before they get into trouble.

But, as a SUN story reported Sunday, Las Vegas has had a curfew for more than 30 years. Teens under 18 must be home by 10 p.m. on weeknights and cannot be on the Strip on weekends and holidays after 9 p.m., unless accompanied by an adult.

As in other remedies, curfews don't work by themselves. Manpower-short Metro Police are busy enough at night without acting as citywide baby sitters. Some police officers allow juveniles to go about their merry way because they don't view curfew violations as a serious matter. Fortunately, most officers consider enforcement as crime prevention. Nearly 3,000 underage miscreants were referred to Clark County Family and Youth Services last year. Interestingly, that number seems to be decreasing. Nearly 4,000 were taken into custody in 1994.

Most are sent home or placed in WestCare, but repeat offenders can be given counseling or ordered to perform community service. The parents, many of whom are not even aware that there is a curfew, can face fines.

If Clark County voters insist on tougher enforcement of the curfew, they can help Metro by endorsing a $120 million bond issue in the September primary. That would add 80 beds to the juvenile detention facility, providing a realistic enforcement option for repeat offenders.

But, as always, the best deterrent is in the home. Parents should know better than to permit their children to roam the city in the late hours. Responsible parents would never allow this, but others may need a financial incentive from the courts.

There also is a serious question on whether the curfews are effective. Metro officers estimate that most of the juvenile crimes occur after school and before 9 p.m. By curfew time, those children have probably gone home. Late hours are nevertheless a temptation to many youths that can be nipped in the bud by curfew enforcement.

Curfew enforcement is one of many tools needed to prevent juvenile crime. It should be enforced and law enforcement agencies should have the manpower to do an effective job. But it's no panacea. The best insurance that youngsters don't commit crimes begins in the home. If parents don't get the message, perhaps a stiff fine might get their attention.