Juvenile Curfew Laws

When children, particularly teenagers, congregate in large groups, it tends to make adults nervous. It's also the cause of many curfew laws and ordinances that restrict juveniles from being in public places at certain hours. Curfew laws are common, especially in large cities. But how do they work?

What Are Juvenile Curfew Laws?

Curfew laws typically restrict people younger than 16, 17, or 18 from remaining or loitering outside or in public areas at night, or between specified hours. For example, a curfew may restrict juveniles from remaining outdoors or in public areas between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and between midnight and 6:00 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and legal holidays.

Curfews may also apply during daylight hours. For example, a juvenile who is not in school, such as a child who has been suspended or expelled, may not loiter or remain outdoors during school hours.

Some curfew laws vary by age or change in the summertime. For example, Indiana sets a curfew between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. for any minor younger than 15, but allows a later curfew on Friday and Saturday nights for 15, 16, and 17-year-olds. The District of Columbia sets different curfew hours during the school months versus the summer months.

(D.C. Code § 2-1542 (2025); Ind. Code §§ 31-37-3-2, 31-37-3-3 (2025).)

Why Do Juvenile Curfew Laws Exist?

Government officials often state that juvenile curfew laws are necessary to:

• reduce juvenile delinquency
• prevent youth victimization
• maintain order and public safety
• identify high-risk youth, and
• help parents set boundaries with teens.

Juvenile curfew laws date back to the 1800s, but the most recent waves of these laws were enacted in the 1990s and then again in the 2020s during and after the pandemic.

Do All Cities Have Juvenile Curfew Laws?

Most curfew laws are established at the local level by city or county ordinance. Many larger cities and counties have enacted juvenile curfews, but not all. To find out if your local government has a juvenile curfew ordinance, check out the city or county government website and search the ordinances. The National Youth Rights Association also provides links to many city and county curfews on its website.

A few states have laws establishing a baseline curfew and penalties that apply if a local government doesn’t impose a curfew. Some of these states include Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Tennessee.

(Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 577-16, 577-16.5, 577-18, 577-19; 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/12C-60; Ind. Code §§ 31-37-3-2, 31-37-3-3; Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 722.751, 722.752; Tenn. Code § 39-17-1702 (2025).)

What Happens If a Juvenile Breaks Curfew? Will They Be Arrested?

Enforcement varies depending on the law and policing priorities of that city or county. Sometimes, police stop the minor, ask questions about their age and purpose in being out, and then bring them home or call their parents to pick them up. Cities might also have Juvenile Curfew Centers where police bring curfew violators and staff track down the parents.

Can Parents Get in Trouble Too?

Yes, many juvenile curfew laws apply both to the minors and their parents. Parents or guardians violate the curfew law by knowingly permitting their minor to violate curfew. Some laws go further and make it unlawful for a parent to have “ineffective control” over their child by being indifferent or negligent in knowing their whereabouts after curfew hours. Businesses can also get into trouble by allowing minors to remain on their premises after curfew.

Juvenile Court?

Some curfew violators might end up before a juvenile judge, especially repeat offenders. The judge might order the juvenile and parents to pay a fine or perform community service hours. Suspending a minor’s driver’s license is another possible penalty. For parents, judges may also order them to attend parenting classes or participate in counseling with their child.

Are There Curfew Exceptions? What If There’s an Emergency?

Yes, many juvenile curfew laws have exceptions. Common ones include when a minor is:

• accompanied by a parent or guardian
• on an errand at the direction of the parent or guardian
• working or going to or from work
• involved in an emergency
• attending a religious event, an official school event, or a recreational activity supervised by adults, or
• exercising a constitutional right.

Businesses generally have a defense if they directed the minor to leave and notify the police if the minor refuses.

Do Juvenile Curfews Work?

Most studies conclude that youth curfew laws don’t work as intended. They don’t reduce juvenile crime or victimization rates. Juvenile crime rates tend to peak during non-curfew hours, usually after school when teens are unsupervised. Some researchers suggest that curfews may actually increase crime rates because fewer people are on the streets, meaning there are fewer witnesses to deter crime.

In addition to being ineffective, many argue that juvenile curfews violate the constitutional rights of kids and parents and are discriminatory. Constitutional challenges to juvenile curfew laws include First Amendment violations (freedom of speech and freedom to assemble), Fourth and Fifth Amendment violations (unreasonable seizure and prohibition against self-incrimination), and interference with a parent's right to direct their child’s upbringing. Research also suggests curfew laws are disproportionately enforced against youth of color and discriminate against homeless youth.

Those who object to the use of juvenile curfews suggest that better alternatives exist. They argue communities should provide more after-school programs (geared to activities beyond just sports), establish youth centers with social, educational and counseling services, and build more youth shelters.

Do You Need a Lawyer for a Juvenile Curfew Violation?

Generally, the consequences of curfew violations won't rise to the level of needing a lawyer. These are status offenses that can't result in detention. But a lawyer may be beneficial if the child has a record or if a parent gets charged with a misdemeanor or faces accusations of neglect.