discussion

Here’s an interesting thought exercise regarding drug testing and curfews as controls of delinquent behavior: Suppose a county decided that all students who attended public school would be drug tested at random. Additionally, the county sheriff’s department puts an 11 p.m. curfew into effect, threatening to arrest anyone under age 18 who is out after that time. Do you think this would reduce crime among juveniles? What are the ethical drawbacks to these types of direct control? Do the benefits of having such controls outweigh the ethical costs? What are the alternatives?