City of St. Louis Announces Actions to Protect Youth and Enhance Public Safety

Police chief: bigger downtown presence, curfew will be enforced.

Mar 19, 2026 9:23 AM Mar 19, 2026 4:36 PM

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ST. LOUIS - The city of St. Louis will impose a short-term, targeted overnight curfew for young people in parts of downtown from Friday through Sunday, March 20-22, 2026, while increasing public safety measures ahead of the opening rounds of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament at Enterprise Center, city officials said.

The curfew applies to individuals 17 and under in the Downtown and Downtown West areas from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and will be in effect the nights of Friday, March 20; Saturday, March 21; and Sunday, March 22, according to the city. Officials described the curfew as a precautionary effort “to ensure that St. Louisans stay safe” and to prevent a recurrence of “dangerous and violent behavior.”

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This past weekend in St. Louis, during 314 Day celebrations, there were police responses to shootings, takeovers, and dangerous juvenile behavior. Mayor Cara Spencer said that the street takeovers and dangerous juvenile behaviors were "unacceptable and put our city at risk and will not be tolerated." Mayor Spencer and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department have worked on a temporary plan to address issues that occurred last weekend.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Tracy said at a Wednesday, March 18, 2026, press conference that there will be “a much greater police presence downtown and in the west neighborhood” to ensure the curfew is enforced and that any reckless disregard for life “will not be tolerated.”

“We have been collaborating with the mayor’s office to address safety issues regarding the curfew,” Tracy said.

The city said Behavioral Health Response providers will be available through the Office of Violence Prevention to complement law enforcement activities engaging juveniles and connect youth with appropriate services.

The city also said its Excise Division and Building Division are working with downtown stakeholders to enforce existing liquor and occupancy laws, citing reported incidents over the weekend and preparations for the coming weekend.

The Streets Department is prepared to deploy traffic calming measures “as may be needed” in areas at risk of dangerous driving incidents, the city said.

The opening rounds of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament are scheduled for March 20-22, 2026, at Enterprise Center. The city said it is working with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to ensure the safety of those attending.

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During curfew hours, the city said young people may still be out in the Downtown or Downtown West areas if they are with a parent or guardian, with an adult 21 or older approved by a parent, going directly home from work, school events, or religious or community activities within one hour of the activity ending, or outside their own home or a next-door neighbor’s home “as long as there are no concerns raised.”

City officials said they will continue to monitor conditions and work closely with police and community partners to keep residents and visitors safe.

SUMMARY OF CITY OF ST. LOUIS ACTIONS

Earlier this week, City leaders began conversations about implementing a variety of precautionary measures. With input and guidance from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD), the Board of Alderman, and stakeholders in the business community, the City will be implementing the following measures:

Behavioral Health Response providers will be available to complement law enforcement activities engaging juveniles. These providers are available through the Office of Violence Prevention, and can connect youth with appropriate services.
The Excise Division and Building Division are working with downtown stakeholders to enforce existing liquor and occupancy laws. This is both in relation to reported incidents over the weekend and also in preparation for any incidents that may happen this coming weekend.
The Streets Department is prepared to deploy traffic calming measures as may be needed in areas at risk of dangerous driving incidents.
The City will be implementing a short-term, targeted curfew for young people in parts of downtown to prevent the recurrence of dangerous and violent behavior. This measure is a precautionary effort to ensure that St. Louisans stay safe.
The curfew applies to individuals age 17 and under in the Downtown and Downtown West areas. The start time each night is 10:00 p.m., and the end time is 5:00 a.m. the following morning. The curfew is in effect on the nights of Friday, March 20th; Saturday, March 21st; and Sunday, March 22nd.