by John Allen

About the author: John Allen writes for the National Catholic Reporter.

One evening in summer 1996, 16-year-old Asha Sidhu and her boyfriend were saying good night. Feeling awkward in front of Asha’s younger brother and sister, they received permission from Asha’s mom, Amber, to sit in their car a couple of blocks away.

Shortly after, a member of the San Diego Police Department pulled up. In an earlier era, the officer might have shone a flashlight in the car and waved the kids home, but not this time: It was after 10 p.m., and Asha was in violation of San Diego’s new curfew ordinance. The officer arrested her on the spot.

“I didn’t know where my daughter was for hours,” said Amber. “I...