Indianapolis outlines spring break safety for youths INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — City leaders on Tuesday rolled out plans aimed at keeping youths safe as spring break and warmer weather bring more teens to downtown Indianapolis. Indianapolis Public Schools has its spring break scheduled from Mond ay through March 20. Elsewhere in Marion County, spring break will be March 16-27 for Beech Grove, Franklin Township and Perry Township districts; March 20-27 for Decatur Township; March 23-27 for Speedway; March 23-April 3 for Warren Township; March 27-April 3 for Lawrence Township; March 30-April 3 for Washington and Pike districts; and March 30-April 10 for Wayne Township. Indianapolis police say part of the safety plan includes an increased presence downtown, and reinforcing Indiana’s curfew law for anyone younger than 18. Before curfew begins, officers will make curfew announcements over patrol cars’ public-address systems. IndyGo buses will also make announcements. According to WISH-TV’s Youth Alternatives to Violence Crime (YATVAK) initiative, Indiana law says anyone younger than 15 cannot be in public places after 11 p.m. or before 5 a.m. any day of the week without an adult. Ages 15-17 cannot be in public places between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays; after 11 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, Tuesday and Thursdays through 5 a.m. the next day. Chief Tanya Terry of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said during a Tuesday morning news conference at the City-County Building, “For children ages 15, 16, 17, they may not be in a public place between 1 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday or Sunday, after 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, or before 5 a.m. Monday through Friday. In Indianapolis, youths found out after curfew will be taken to what officials call the Connection Center, a confidential location staffed by Indy Peace volunteers, IMPD officers, and community partners. Director Andrew Merkley of the Marion County Office of Public Health and Safety said at the news conference, “Youth will be met with care, provided snacks and drinks, and we can surround them with resources and people who are trained to help youth find alternative recreational opportunities.” Chrystal Hines is the CEO of Inner Beauty Program Inc., an Indianapolis organization that aims to teach self-awareness and empowerment to young girls. She has helped teens by canvasing the downtown area. “We were able to tell them that, ‘Hey, it’s time to go home,’ ‘It’s time to get on the bus,’ ‘Call your Uber or or your parents.'” Hines says teens sometimes come to her program through the Indiana Department of Child Services, juvenile probation or schools. She said it’s important to reach kids by meeting them where they are. “We need to be boots on the ground to let them know that we’re here (and) we’re ready to listen and we’re ready to put you in the proper places so that you have opportunities to do well.” The Connection Center will be open this week on Friday night and Saturday night. Although the goal is to reconnect kids with their families, if contact with a parent or guardian isn’t made by the time the Connection Center closes at 4 a.m., the teen will be taken to a juvenile detention center. IMPD says the transfer to the detention center won’t be considered an arrest and won’t be put on a criminal record, as the goal is to keep kids safe. The police chief said, “It gives officers a tool to intervene early, return young people home safely and prevent situations from escalating into violence and victimization.” IMPD first implemented enhanced, intensive patrols for youths in downtown Indianapolis in 2025 immediately following a mass shooting on July 5. Two teens, a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, died in the shooting near Illinois and Washington streets below the Indianapolis Artsgarden, a dome used for gatherings that sits above the intersection. Five other people — a 16-year-old, a 17-year-old, two 19-year-olds and a 21-year-old — were taken to a hospital with injuries. News 8’s Gregg Montgomery contributed to this story. ...read more read less