Youth curfews
Evidence-rated crime-reduction intervention (EMMIE).
Effect on crime
mixed evidence
Evidence quality
very strong
Cost
low
What the evidence says
Youth curfews are laws intended to restrict the presence of young individuals in certain public areas during specified times. Evidence about their effectiveness is mixed, with some studies indicating curfews could either increase or decrease juvenile crime but no statistically significant overall effect has been established. The reviews highlight that successful implementation may depend on parental involvement, short-term enforcement, and as part of a broader crime control strategy.
How it works
Curfews are believed to reduce crime by limiting the opportunities for youth to commit offenses, acting as a deterrent due to police authority, and increasing parental responsibility for children's whereabouts. None of these mechanisms were rigorously tested in reviews.
Implementation
The implementation of curfews heavily relies on parental involvement, which can be challenging if the home environment is not stable. Previous studies indicated issues in enforcing curfews effectively due to the inability of police to contact parents during violations. Successful implementations are often part of multifaceted crime control efforts.
Source: College of Policing Crime Reduction Toolkit (What Works Centre for Crime Reduction). Summarised 2026-07-15. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the College of Policing.