To help keep youth safe downtown, IMPD is launching a new initiative focused on curfew enforcement and family support.
The department has announced a secure downtown site where young people found out past curfew can be brought to reconnect with their families and access support services.
The effort, led by IMPD Chief Chris Bailey, is part of a broader push to improve weekend enforcement of Indiana’s curfew law for anyone under 18.
“This isn’t about punishment; it’s about protection,” Bailey said. “We’re working with our partners from across the community to do everything we can to keep young people safe and prevent further tragedy.”
Indiana law prohibits youth ages 15 to 17 from being in public between 1 and 5 a.m. on weekends, after 11 p.m. on weeknights and before 5 a.m. on weekdays. Children under 15 are barred from being in public after 11 p.m. or before 5 a.m. on any day. Exceptions include being with a parent or guardian or traveling to or from school, work, religious events or other lawful activities.
Before curfew enforcement begins, officers will use loudspeakers to give three warnings starting 30 minutes before curfew, then at the 15-minute mark and again once curfew begins.
Youth found in violation may be taken to the designated site, where they’ll be met by service providers offering mentorship, mental health resources, job readiness support and more. Parents or guardians will be contacted to pick them up. If contact can’t be made, the child may be taken to the Juvenile Detention Center for a curfew violation, which is a status offense, not an arrest.
“This initiative is not just a response to curfew violations; it’s a doorway to opportunity for young people in the city,” said Andrew Merkley, director of the Office of Public Health and Safety. “We’ll be able to connect them and their families with the resources they need to thrive, not just in the moment, but long-term.”
IMPD encourages parents to know where their children are, who they’re with and when they’re expected home.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
