Evaluating Public
Policy
Here’s are a couple questions
for you…
 What
is the latest time at night
that you have ever ridden a
bike?
 What
is the latest time that you
were out without a parent?
In a city in Florida…
A young man under the
age of 17 was taken into
police custody for riding
his bike at 2 in the
morning.
Why do you think he was
arrested?
City Ordinance
The
city had passed an
ordinance on juvenile curfew
 Who
qualifies as a “juvenile”?
 What is a “curfew”?
A juvenile refers to a
youth; typically defined as
anyone under the age of
18.
A curfew is a restriction
on people’s
movements, restricting
the right to be outdoors
or in public places
during certain times of
day.
What does a juvenile
curfew do?
 Juvenile
curfew laws restrict the
time juveniles can be outdoors or in
public places in a specific
geographic location
 For example:
POSTED
NO JUVENILES
ALLOWED AT THE
MOVIES PAST 9:00 P.M.
What’s the deal?
 Why
do you think cities might have juvenile
curfew ordinances/laws?
Ordinance v. Law
 Ordinances


impact those on a local level.
These result from needs of the specific community
These ordinances only apply to those in the city.
• Laws impact
people on a state
level
• Laws impact
everyone in the
state.
State Law
City
Ordinance
Juvenile Curfew Ordinance
 You
are going to be handed Sections 1426 of a real Juvenile Curfew Ordinance
 In your group, review and analyze your
assigned section of the ordinance.
 In your group, create a visual presentation
(illustrated poster) to teach the class
about your section of the ordinance.
Public Policy
When is the best time to have an impact on
public policy – be it local or state?
BEFORE it becomes policy!
Where do policies come from?
YOU, the constituent!
How do
you impact
public
A constituent
is somebody
living in policy?
an area


City or county
commission
meetings
where they
are represented
by elected
persons.
School Board meetings
What kinds of issues are on the
agenda?
 What
kinds of issues do you think are on
the agenda for your city council?
 Budget
 Funding for homeless shelters,
community centers, and animal
shelters
 Skateboarding in public areas
 Funding for community parks
 Ordinances for pets – leash laws,
vaccinations, dog parks
Your Turn to Testify!
 You
will be divided into 6 groups and
assigned a position on the juvenile curfew
ordinance.
 Your group will be testifying in front of the
“city commission” based on your assigned
position.
 You will be asking for one of 3 things:
1. Adopt the ordinance as it is written
2. Amend the ordinance
3. Dispose of the ordinance entirely
You will be assigned to one of the
In support
of the
ordinance:
following
groups
and
positions on
the topic of Juvenile Curfew:
Police officers
Association
Will present
testimony in support
of the ordinance.
Businesses Against
Crime
Will present testimony in
support of the
ordinance with specific
changes.
Community Watch
Group
Will present
testimony in
support of the
ordinance.
In opposition to the ordinance:
Teens Against
Curfews
Will present
testimony opposing
the ordinance.
Parents Against
Government
Intrusion
Will present
testimony opposing
the ordinance.
American Civil
Liberties Union
Will present testimony
citing constitutional
implications/violations.
Working in your groups, develop
your case for or against the city
ordinance about the juvenile
curfew .
You will be presenting in front of the “city council”, so be
sure to:
• Cite the ordinance
• Make clear arguments for or against the ordinance
• Be clear about whether you want to:
1. Adopt the ordinance as it is written
2. Amend the ordinance
3. Dispose of the ordinance entirely