FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): Teenagers in Allen County now have a curfew.
Leaders from the Fort Wayne Police Department, Indiana State Police and the Allen County Sheriff’s Department made the announcement during a press conference Wednesday morning.
The law states that children under the ages of 15 cannot be in a public space between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. any day.
Teenagers 15 to 17 years old should be home between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. On Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays teens can’t be out after 11 p.m. Juveniles also shouldn’t be in public before 5 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays.
If an officer sees a juvenile out after the curfew, they will take the youth home. If there isn’t an adult home or if the house isn’t safe, the officer will take them to a juvenile center.
If the same teen is caught multiple times, the teen’s guardians could be arrested on felony charges of child neglect.
Fort Wayne Police Chief Steve Reed and Allen County Prosecutor Karen Richards stressed the importance of parents knowing where their children are.
Fort Wayne officials say the reason for the move is to protect juveniles from becoming victims of violent crimes. This comes after a violent weekend that featured three shootings, three fatalities and the arrest of two juveniles.
The law has been in effect, but the departments are just now utilizing it.
RELATED: Pair of shootings leave two dead, one critical
Here is the curfew law. pic.twitter.com/lY9rhCEoZi
— Saige Driver (@SaigeDriver) August 17, 2016
“Our primary goal is to protect juveniles from becoming victims, and at the same time the curfew law will assist police in reducing crime”
— Saige Driver (@SaigeDriver) August 17, 2016
Do you think police should enforce Indiana’s Curfew Law in Allen County?
— WOWO 1190AM 107.5FM (@WOWOFORTWAYNE) August 17, 2016
