Ruby Reeves may live in the suburb of Webster Groves, but the 17-year-old feels the sting of St. Louis’ juvenile curfew, a policy she says alienates teenagers rather than helps them.
“You create a hard line, people will find a way to get around it. I think that all the curfew is doing is creating a further barrier for teenagers to exist,” she said. “I don’t think it’ll effectively curb dangerous behavior. I think it’ll encourage it.”
For teenagers like Reeves, summer means later nights with friends and fewer responsibilities. For St. Louis officials, however, it brings safety concerns. To address large teen gatherings — or “teen takeovers” — the city enacted a temporary juvenile curfew through Sept. 8…