Summary: Youth curfew on Gila River Indian Reservation – no minors in public 8 PM to 5 AM daily (with Exceptions) through August 29, 2025
GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY — Governor Stephen Roe Lewis has issued a fourth amended executive order extending the enhanced curfew for minors until 5:00 a.m. on August 29, 2025, as part of ongoing public safety measures to address recent violent crime within the community.
The extended curfew will be in effect from Monday, June 30, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. until Friday, August 29, 2025 at 5:00 a.m., restricting all persons under 18 years of age from being in public places or buildings on the Gila River Indian Reservation between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. each day.
This marks the fourth extension of emergency curfew measures that were first implemented on February 24, 2025, in response to incidents of violent crime affecting community youth. The enhanced curfew initially began at 7:00 p.m. when first activated on February 25, 2025, and is now set at 8:00 p.m. under this current extension.
According to the executive order, conditions ‘noticeably improved’ between February 25 and March 28 when the enhanced curfew was in place, and ‘continued to improve’ between March 28 and May 1, 2025, and between May 1, 2025 and June 30, 2025, but concerns over crime and threats to public safety remain, with calls of shots fired in neighborhoods still occurring. The governor noted that “because much of the violence has taken place at night,” the temporary enhanced curfew must continue.
The curfew does not apply to minors who are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Additionally, exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for emergencies, employment, or going to or from school. The executive order also references travel directly to and from these permitted activities, with additional exceptions for specific activities mentioned but not fully detailed in the available portion of the order.
Governor Lewis issued the order under authority granted by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Gila River Indian Community and Section 1.101.A.4 of Title 1 of the Gila River Indian Community Code. He urged parents and guardians to ensure minors are home by curfew time and to work together with the community to prevent further incidents of violence. Law enforcement will monitor compliance, and violators may face civil or criminal penalties.
