Parents and local authorities in Indianapolis respond to curfew

Indianapolis, Indiana – The state’s juvenile curfew was being strictly enforced by Indianapolis metro police beginning Friday night and continuing into Saturday morning.

On Thursday, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department declared that all of this is a part of their attempt to lower the rate of youth criminality in Circle City. To ensure that youngsters are not out past curfew, officers will patrol downtown.

Although the police have stated that they hope to avoid having to detain anyone, they would if necessary. Even if those young offenders might be charged with a “status offense,” parents and local authorities believe that this is a positive move.

“I think it is for the protection of the juveniles,” said Rev. Charles Harrison with the Indy TenPoint Coalition.

Harrison expressed his disgust at finding that the mass shooting that occurred over the weekend injured seven minors. He argued that, in light of the shocking event, enforcing a curfew was the appropriate course of action—possibly the only one.

“If we can get them home in a safe place then we’re less likely to have juveniles who are going to be the victims of violence,” Harrison said.

According to IMPD Chief Chris Bailey, the choice is not just based on what happened on Saturday. Rather, he claimed that it comes after several recent instances involving minors, which included harassment and vandalism. Bailey declared that enough was enough.

“If parents aren’t going to do their job, then we’ll step in and do what we have to do to make sure our city is safe and that our children are safe,” he said.

Parents such as Sierra Scott expressed relief that the police are enforcing curfews and adopting such harsh steps.

“Because I have children of my own, teens of my own, that I’m worried about when they come down here,” Scott said. “But I think they should, you know, enforce it very heavily. Make sure it’s enforced seriously and make sure it’s done so it can end all of the violence.”

Harrison said, “I hope the police enforce the curfew throughout the entire city, not just downtown.”

“If you only focus downtown, the kids are smart, they’re going to pick another location to go to and hang out,” he said.

Parents like Scott have stated that parents like her must also take action since, according to the police, they are aware that this effort alone will not resolve the problem.

“If they’re 13, 14 or 15, they need a chaperone,” she said. “Your kids need to be with you. With everything going on, know where your kids are.”

According to the IMPD, announcements will be made by patrol cars in the hours before the curfew. When children are left beyond curfew, police will take them into custody and attempt to contact their parents. According to Chief Bailey, minors will be charged with a status offense—which is not a criminal offense—if their parents or guardians are not contacted in a “reasonable amount of time.”

Children under the age of fifteen must stay at home seven days a week from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. On weeknights, this also applies to teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17. Some young people may be out till one in the morning on the weekends.

There are some instances where there are exceptions, such as at work, school, religious gatherings, when exercising the right to assemble, and when minors are with a guardian.