INDIANAPOLIS – Today, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Chief Chris Bailey announced the department will step up enforcement of Indiana’s current curfew law for those under the age of 18.
“Last weekend was unacceptable. Our children with guns left alone Downtown. Our community must find effective ways to reduce the harm that stems from neglect, abuse, and irresponsible gun possession,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett.
“I fully support IMPD’s efforts to dramatically increase the enforcement of State curfew laws. It is critical to understand that curfew enforcement will not come at the expense of longer-term solutions to address root causes – the data-driven, community-based strategy that has brought criminal homicides down at record rates. But today, as virtually every other category of criminal violence declines, we must maintain that progress while strengthening our response to the disturbing outlier: violence among our youth.”
“Our goal with adding curfew enforcement to our violence reduction plan is to send a clear message: if parents refuse to fulfill their responsibility, then the IMPD will do what is necessary to keep our children safe and alive,” said Chief Bailey. “As adults, it's our duty to make decisions that are in their best interest. As law enforcement, we must continually review and adjust our plans to deal with new or ongoing issues, and that's exactly what we're doing,” added Chief.
Current Indiana Law states:
· Children 15 - 17 years of age may not be in a public place:
o between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday
o after 11 p.m. on Sunday - Thursday
o before 5 a.m. on Monday - Friday
· Children younger than fifteen years of age may not be in a public place
o after 11 p.m. or before 5 a.m. on any day
Exceptions to this curfew include:
· A juvenile who is accompanied by a parent, guardian or custodian or adult
· A juvenile who is accompanied by an adult specified by a parent, guardian or custodian
· A juvenile participating in, going to, or returning from work, a school sanctioned activity, a religious event, an emergency involving the protection of a person or property from an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or substantial damage, or an activity involving the exercise of the juveniles engaging in freedom of speech or the right of assembly
· A juvenile participating in an activity conducted by a nonprofit or governmental entity that provides recreation, education, training or other care under the supervision of an adult
· A juvenile participating in an activity with the prior written direction of the juvenile’s parent, guardian or custodian
· A juvenile traveling from outside Indiana to another location outside Indiana.
Prior to the curfew taking effect, the department will issue announcements via patrol car public address systems to any groups of juveniles in the area. Specifically, announcements will occur 30 minutes and 15 minutes before curfew, followed by an announcement at the time the curfew is in effect.
In the event that juveniles are found violating the curfew, officers may take appropriate action. This may involve bringing the juvenile to a designated safe and secure location. Subsequently, officers will attempt to notify a parent, custodian parent, or guardian of the child. Parents and guardians will be granted a reasonable amount of time to pick up their child. If contact with a parent or guardian cannot be established, the juvenile will be transported to the juvenile detention center.
A curfew violation is a status offense. This is a non-criminal act that is considered a violation of the law only because of the juvenile’s status as a minor.
Leading up to the time of the curfew taking effect, residents can expect increased presence of uniformed and non-uniformed officers in multiple areas of our city this weekend and beyond. To enhance IMPD’s public safety efforts, analysts in the Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) will monitor city cameras and utilize other technology to identify individuals engaging in disorderly and criminal.
IMPD’s Downtown District continues to work closely with downtown business owners to ensure they have the support they need to operate safely and effectively. To date, 315 downtown businesses have entered into a trespass agreement, which allows IMPD officers to remove an unwanted person or persons from a private property.
Chief Bailey has been in contact with community groups and members of faith-based organizations and is committed to working with them to find solutions that keep our children safe.
Additionally, the Office of Public Health and Safety will have representatives in areas frequented by juveniles during the evening hours to engage with them.
