Ind. Code ch. 31-36-1

Ind. Code ch. 31-36-1
in effect

Ind. Code § 31-36-1-1 Contents of reports

Sec. 1. A law enforcement agency in which a notification about a missing child has been made shall prepare a report on the missing child. That report must include the following: (1) Information that the law enforcement agency determines is relevant that is obtained in the course of the notification about the missing child, including the following: (A) A physical description of the child. (B) The date and place of the child's birth. (C) The name and address of the last school attended by the child, if any. (2) Information or evidence gathered by a preliminary investigation, if one was made. (3) A statement by the law enforcement officer in charge setting forth that officer's assessment of the case based upon the evidence and information received. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-13-2.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.19.

Ind. Code § 31-36-1-2 Time for preparing report

Sec. 2. The law enforcement agency shall prepare the report required by section 1 of this chapter as soon as practicable, but not later than five (5) hours after the law enforcement agency received the notification about a missing child. However, a law enforcement agency is not required to prepare the report required by section 1 of this chapter earlier than twenty-four (24) hours after the law enforcement agency received the notification about a missing child if: (1) the law enforcement agency received a previous, unrelated notification that the child was missing; and (2) the law enforcement agency has reason to believe that the child is missing because the child has committed a delinquent act under IC 31-37-2-2. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-13-3(a).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.19.

Ind. Code § 31-36-1-3 Agencies that are to receive report

Sec. 3. Upon completion of the report required by section 1 of this chapter, the law enforcement agency shall immediately forward the contents of the report to: (1) all law enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction of the location in which the missing child lives and all law enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction of the location in which the missing child was last seen; (2) all law enforcement agencies to which the person who provided notification requests the report be sent, if the law enforcement agency determines that the request is reasonable in light of the information contained in the report; (3) all law enforcement agencies that request a copy of the report; (4) the Indiana clearinghouse for information on missing children, missing veterans at risk, and missing endangered adults established by IC 10-13-5; (5) the Indiana data and communication system (IDACS); (6) the National Crime Information Center's Missing Person File; and (7) the department. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-13-4(a).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.19. Amended by P.L.2-2003, SEC.77; P.L.43-2009, SEC.21; P.L.183-2017, SEC.54; P.L.40-2024, SEC.29.

Ind. Code § 31-36-1-3.5 Information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Sec. 3.5. (a) If the department receives a report concerning a missing child who is described in 42 U.S.C. 671(a)(9)(C)(i)(I), the department shall provide the following information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: (1) Within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt, a copy of the report received by the department. (2) Any other information or documentation in the possession of the department concerning the missing child that the department determines may be relevant to the location and return of the missing child. (b) If the department receives a report concerning a missing child who is not described in 42 U.S.C. 671(a)(9)(C)(i)(I), the department may provide a copy of any report received by the department that is relevant to the location of the child to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. (c) If the department provides information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as provided in subsection (a) or (b), the department shall also provide the following to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: (1) A copy of any updated report provided to the department under IC 31-36-2-2. (2) A copy of an assessment report completed by the department under IC 31-33-8. (3) Any notification received by the department that the missing child has been located. As added by P.L.183-2017, SEC.55. Amended by P.L.86-2018, SEC.223.

Ind. Code § 31-36-1-4 Child care centers or homes and schools that are to receive report

Sec. 4. Not later than fifteen (15) days after completion of the report required by section 1 of this chapter, the law enforcement agency shall forward the contents of the report to the last: (1) child care center or child care home in which the child was enrolled; or (2) school the child attended in Indiana, if any; if the child is less than thirteen (13) years of age. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-13-4(b).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.19.

Ind. Code § 31-36-1-5 School record attachments of missing children; procedure upon request for records

Sec. 5. (a) Upon receiving a report under section 4 of this chapter, a school shall attach a notice to the child's school records stating that the child has been reported missing. The school shall remove the notice when the school is notified under IC 31-36-2-6 that the child has been found. (b) If a request for the school records of a missing child is received, the school shall: (1) obtain: (A) the name, address, and telephone number of the person making the request; and (B) the reason that the person is requesting the school records; and (2) immediately notify the Indiana clearinghouse for information on missing children, missing veterans at risk, and missing endangered adults. (c) The school may not issue a copy of school records without authorization from the Indiana clearinghouse for information on missing children, missing veterans at risk, and missing endangered adults and may not inform the person making the request that a notice that the child has been reported missing has been attached to the child's records. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-13-6.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.19. Amended by P.L.43-2009, SEC.22; P.L.40-2024, SEC.30.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/31Fetched: 10/17/2026

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