INDIANA CURFEW LAWS
Statewide Indiana Curfew Law
If you are 15, 16,or 17 years old, you cannot be outdoors between the
hours:
1) 1 am and 5 am on Saturdays or Sunday
2) 11pm and 5 am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursday, or
Friday [more]
If you are 15, 16, or 17 years old the curfew law does NOT apply under the following conditions:
1) if with their parents or someone with an adult a parent approves of
2) going to or coming from
An “exception”
to the rule/law
(A) work
(B) a school sanctioned activity;
(C) a religious event
(3) outside to go to an event with written parent permission
(4) travel
A town or city has the power to readjust the curfew law by pushing back the start time of the curfew to no more
than 2 hours. Also, they have to power to readjust the curfew law to push back the start time no more than 4
hours in cemeteries.
INDIANA CURFEW LAW
IC 31-37-3-2 - Children 15 through 17 years of age; requirements for detention or custody
Sec. 2. (a) It is a curfew violation for a child fifteen (15), sixteen (16), or seventeen (17) years of age to be in a
public place:
(1) between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday;
(2) after 11 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday; or
(3) before 5 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.
(b) A law enforcement officer may not detain a child or take a child into custody based on a violation of this
section unless the law enforcement officer, after making a reasonable determination and considering the facts
and surrounding circumstances, reasonably believes that:
(1) the child has violated this section; and
(2) there is no legal defense to the violation. As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.20. Amended by
P.L.87-2004, SEC.1.
IC 31-37-3-3 = Children less than 15 years of age; requirements for detention or custody
Sec. 3. (a) It is a curfew violation for a child less than fifteen (15) years of age to be in a public place after 11
p.m. or before 5 a.m. on any day.
(b) A law enforcement officer may not detain a child or take a child into custody based on a violation of this
section unless the law enforcement officer, after making a reasonable determination and considering the facts
and surrounding circumstances, reasonably believes that:
(1) the child has violated this section; and
(2) there is no legal defense to the violation. As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.20. Amended by
P.L.87-2004, SEC.2.
IC 31-37-3-3.5 = Defenses (reasons one would be excused from punishment)
Sec. 3.5. (a) It is a defense to a violation under this chapter that the child was emancipated (freed):
(1) under IC 31-37-19-27 or IC 31-6-4-15.7 (before its repeal);
(2) by virtue of having married; or
(3) in accordance with the laws of another state or jurisdiction; at the time that the child engaged
in the prohibited conduct.
(b) It is a defense to a violation under this chapter that the child engaged in the prohibited conduct while:
(1) accompanied by the child's parent, guardian, or custodian;
(2) accompanied by an adult specified by the child's parent, guardian, or custodian;
(3) participating in, going to, or returning from:
(A) lawful employment (work)
(B) a school sanctioned activity;
(C) a religious event;
(D) an emergency involving the protection of a person or property from an imminent
threat of serious bodily injury or substantial damage;
(E) an activity involving the exercise of the child's rights protected under the First
Amendment to the United States Constitution or Article 1, Section 31 of the Constitution
of the State of Indiana, or both, such as freedom of speech and the right of assembly; or
(F) an activity conducted by a nonprofit or governmental entity that provides recreation,
education, training, or other care under the supervision of one (1) or more adults;
(4) participating in an activity undertaken at the prior written direction of the child's parent,
guardian, or custodian; or
(5) engaged in interstate or international travel from a location outside Indiana to another
location outside Indiana. As added by P.L.79-2001, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.82-2006, SEC.1.
Name: ______________________________
Date: _____________
Period: ____
Assessment
THIS WRITING ASSIGNMENT WILL HELP IDENTIFY YOUR PRESENT PERSUASIVE /ARGUMENT WRITING ABILITIES AND SKILLS. DO THE
VERY BEST THAT YOU CAN INDEPENDENTLY.
DIRECTIONS:
The following essay topic requires you to persuade the reader of your opinion on a specific topic. You
should compose the essay in the five paragraph essay-writing format and include descriptive writing, real-life examples,
sophisticated vocabulary and make meaningful connections (text to text, text to self, text to world or text to media) in
order to enhance your writing.
WRITING SITUATION:
Since last year, there has been an increase in graffiti and damage done to all major parks and
schools in Indiana. In order to avoid repeated behavior, the Governor of Indiana is thinking
about making the current curfew law more aggressive and strict. What do you think about
introducing a more stringent (strict) curfew policy? Is it fair? Will it help the town overcome
the challenge of keeping a clean and safe community OR, do you believe that the current
curfew should remain as it is?
DIRECTIONS FOR WRITING:
Write a letter to the govenor identifying the three reasons why we should make the Indiana
law more aggressive or strict, OR three reasons why we should keep the law as it is. Be sure
to support your position with reasons or arguments from your personal experience, current
events and knowledge of science, history or literature.
Meaningful Connections (text to text,
text to self, text to media, text to world)
BRAINSTORM BELOW:
SUPPORT
AGAINST
(changing the curfew law)
(keeping the law as it is)
My Top 3 Reasons:
1.
Read sample reasons each
period discussed in class today
below.
Read sample reasons each period
discussed in class today below.
2.
3.
Use any of the following reasons to help you choose your top
3 reasons to write about in your body paragraphs:
PERIOD 1 SAID:
SUPPORT:
1.
2.
3.
4.
It would keep the town and citizens safer.
It would prevent vandalism.
The teenagers/minors need to be taught a lesson.
This would show the Governor is not going to accept such negative behavior in his town.
AGAINST:
1. Why should innocent teenagers suffer the consequences of other teenagers’ foolish behavior.
2. If the Indiana Governor makes the law stricter then it might cause the teenagers to rebel even more
and create more havoc.
3. 3. It is the parents’ responsibility to know where their child is at during off hours, not the governments.
PERIOD 3 SAID:
SUPPORT:
1. More aggressive curfew laws would prevent teenagers from being out late, thus would reduce
vandalism in Indiana.
2. This may allow parents to feel more at ease knowing their child is protected at home.
3. This would show the Governor is not going to accept such negative behavior in his town
AGAINST:
1. The law should be more stringent (strict) because even if teenagers have an excuse for why they are
out after curfew they could be lying.
2. If the law is changed, then there would be less chaos on the streets at night; the town would be a safer
place.
3. If the law becomes more severe, then parents will not have to worry about their younger children
being influenced by teenagers’ negative behaviors.
PERIOD 7 SAID:
SUPPORT:
1. More aggressive curfew laws would prevent teenagers from being out late, thus would reduce
vandalism in Indiana.
2. This may allow parents to feel more at ease knowing their child is protected at home.
3. This would show the Governor is not going to accept such negative behavior in his town
AGAINST:
1. It would be unfair to make the law more stringent (strict) because there are many teenagers who do
not vandalize, spray graffiti or harm school property.
2. If the law is changed, then the teenagers might become angry and resentful towards the Governor and
act out, creating more violence and vandalism to parks and schools.
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