Mayor Joe Hogsett joined IMPD Chief Tanya Terry and OPHS Director Andrew Merkley on March 10 to outline youth safety plans ahead of spring breaks and the arrival of warmer weather, including activation of a Connection Center during peak evenings.
The initiative brings together city agencies and community organizations to create what officials described as “layers of support and accountability” for young people downtown. A Connection Center will be activated during the evenings of March 13 and March 14, providing a safe, secure location where community partners will offer resources, food and support services.
“This time of year is meant to be a fun and exciting time for our city’s youth. As Mayor of this City, I take the safety of our kids very seriously,” Hogsett said. “Parents play a vital role, but so do we as a community, and that means it is on all of us to uplift and support our young people when they need it most.”
IMPD will enforce Indiana’s curfew law for those under 18 when necessary. Under state law, children ages 15 to 17 may not be in a public place between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturdays or Sundays, after 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, or before 5 a.m. Monday through Friday.
Children younger than 15 may not be in a public place after 11 p.m. or before 5 a.m. on any day.
Exceptions include juveniles accompanied by a parent, guardian or custodian, as well as those participating in, going to or returning from work, school-sanctioned activities, religious events or exercising the right of assembly.
“Our goal is always prevention first,” Terry said. “By increasing our presence downtown, reinforcing curfew expectations, and partnering with community partners, we are creating layers of support and accountability for young people.”
Shortly before curfew, officers will make announcements over patrol car public address systems to any large groups of juveniles present. Announcements will occur 30 minutes and 15 minutes before curfew, followed by an additional notice once curfew begins.
If juveniles are found in violation, officers may transport them to the Connection Center, where community partners will provide resources, food and support services. All organizations staffing the center are volunteering their time and resources.
“When a young person is out late at night, we want to make sure they are safe and connected to the support they may need,” Merkley said. “The Connection Center, staffed by our community partners, OPHS, and IMPD, gives us a chance to meet with care, provide snacks and drinks, and surround them with community partners who are ready to help.”
Officers will attempt to notify a parent, guardian or custodian that their child has been detained for violating curfew. Parents will be granted a reasonable amount of time to pick up their child. If contact cannot be established, the juvenile will be transported to the juvenile detention center for a status offense, which officials emphasized is not considered an arrest and does not create a criminal record.
The safety plan includes an increased, visible presence of IMPD officers throughout downtown during peak evening and weekend hours.
IMPD’s Downtown District continues to work closely with business owners to ensure they have support to operate safely. More than 200 downtown businesses have entered into trespass agreements, allowing IMPD officers to remove unwanted persons from private property.
“We want families and youth to know that officers are here to keep them safe, connect them to resources when needed, and help everyone enjoy downtown responsibly during spring break and the warmer months ahead,” Terry said.
Contact Multimedia Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more news, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
