Indianapolis Moves to Extend Juvenile Curfew by 2 Hours

City Council committee advances proposal to shift curfew from 1 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends amid rising youth violence

Apr. 16, 2026 at 11:10am

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A dimly lit city street scene with a lone police car parked on the curb, the vehicle and surrounding buildings bathed in warm, cinematic lighting and deep shadows, conveying a sense of urban solitude and the need for public safety measures.The proposed extension of Indianapolis' juvenile curfew aims to keep young people off the streets during late-night hours when incidents of violence have been on the rise.Indianapolis Today

The Indianapolis City-County Council's Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee has advanced a proposal to extend the city's juvenile curfew by two hours, moving the weekend curfew from 1 a.m. to 11 p.m. for 15- to 17-year-olds. The measure, if approved by the full council, would also move the weekday curfew for that age group from 11 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a 9 p.m. curfew every day for children under 15.

Why it matters

The proposed curfew extension is a response to concerning trends in youth violence, with Indianapolis police citing a rise in homicides and non-fatal shootings involving juvenile suspects and victims. The earlier curfew is intended to keep young people out of potentially dangerous situations and provide more opportunities for intervention and support.

The details

The revised curfew would only apply in Marion County and include several exemptions, such as for work commitments, school activities, and religious events. Police Chief Tanya Terry urged the council to approve the measure, noting that in the first quarter of 2026, 11% of homicides and 22.2% of non-fatal shootings involved juvenile victims or suspects.

  • The Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee advanced the proposal, known as Proposal No. 99, during its Wednesday meeting.
  • The full City-County Council is scheduled to vote on the measure at its next meeting on Monday, May 4.
  • If approved, the earlier curfew would be in effect for the next 120 days, and the council could vote to extend it further.

The players

Tanya Terry

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Police Chief, who appeared at the committee meeting to urge councilors to approve the revised curfew.

Proposal No. 99

The measure advanced by the committee that would extend the juvenile curfew in Marion County.

Proposal No. 232

A previous council measure that gave the council the authority to advance curfew hours by up to two hours for public safety reasons.

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What they’re saying

“We're seeing concerning trends in incidents of youth violence. Incidents involving teens are increasing, particularly during late evening and overnight hours.”

— Tanya Terry, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Police Chief

“Our priority is public safety. We owe it to our youth to keep them safe and out of harm's way by using every tool that's available to us to do just that.”

— Tanya Terry, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Police Chief

What’s next

The full City-County Council will vote on Proposal No. 99 at its next meeting on Monday, May 4. If approved, the earlier curfew would be in effect for the next 120 days, and the council could vote to extend it further.

The takeaway

The proposed curfew extension is a proactive measure by Indianapolis city leaders to address rising youth violence, with the goal of keeping young people safe and providing more opportunities for intervention and support. However, the effectiveness of curfews in reducing crime remains a subject of debate, and the council will need to carefully weigh the potential benefits against any civil liberties concerns.