Ind. Code § 31-34-1-0.1 Repealed
As added by P.L.220-2011, SEC.512. Repealed by P.L.63-2012, SEC.35.
Ind. Code ch. 31-34-1
Ind. Code ch. 31-34-1
in effectInd. Code § 31-34-1-1 Inability, refusal, or neglect of parent, guardian, or custodian to supply child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, or supervision
Sec. 1. A child is a child in need of services if before the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age:
(1) the child's physical or mental condition is seriously impaired or seriously endangered as a result of the inability, refusal, or neglect of the child's parent, guardian, or custodian to supply the child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, or supervision:
(A) when the parent, guardian, or custodian is financially able to do so; or
(B) due to the failure, refusal, or inability of the parent, guardian, or custodian to seek financial or other reasonable means to do so; and
(2) the child needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
(A) the child is not receiving; and
(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court.
However, a child is not a child in need of services under this section solely because the child engages in an independent activity unless the parent, guardian, or custodian is so reckless as to endanger the health or safety of the child by allowing the child to engage in the independent activity, given the child's maturity, condition, and ability.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-3(a) part.]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.2-2005, SEC.76; P.L.198-2019, SEC.8; P.L.20-2026, SEC.2.
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-2 Act or omission of parent, guardian, or custodian seriously endangering child's physical or mental health; victim of specified offense
Sec. 2. (a) A child is a child in need of services if before the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age:
(1) the child's physical or mental health is seriously endangered due to injury by the act or omission of the child's parent, guardian, or custodian, including failure of the child's parent, guardian, or custodian to protect the child from exposure to the use, possession, sale, or manufacture of illegal drugs; and
(2) the child needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
(A) the child is not receiving; and
(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court.
(b) A child is a child in need of services if, before the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age:
(1) the child is a victim of:
(A) an offense under IC 35-42-1-2.5;
(B) an offense under IC 35-42-2-1;
(C) an offense under IC 35-42-2-1.3;
(D) an offense under IC 35-42-2-1.5;
(E) an offense under IC 35-42-2-9;
(F) an offense under IC 35-42-2-10; or
(G) an offense under IC 35-46-1-4;
(2) the offense described in subdivision (1) was committed by the parent, guardian, or custodian of the child; and
(3) the child needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
(A) the child is not receiving; and
(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court.
(c) A child is a child in need of services if, before the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age, the child:
(1) lives in the same household as an adult who:
(A) committed:
(i) an offense described in subsection (b)(1); or
(ii) an offense under IC 35-42-1-1, IC 35-42-1-2, IC 35-42-1-3, IC 35-42-1-4, or IC 35-42-1-5;
against another child who lives in the household and the offense resulted in a conviction or a judgment under IC 31-34-11-2; or
(B) has been charged with committing an offense described in clause (A) against another child who lives in the household and is awaiting trial; and
(2) needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
(A) the child is not receiving; and
(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-3(a) part.]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.17-2001, SEC.8; P.L.2-2005, SEC.77; P.L.71-2018, SEC.1; P.L.142-2020, SEC.40; P.L.51-2021, SEC.3; P.L.172-2022, SEC.7; P.L.179-2025, SEC.11.
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-3 Victim of specified offense; living in household with a child victim of a specified offense or an adult who committed or is charged with a specified offense
Sec. 3. (a) A child is a child in need of services if, before the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age:
(1) the child is the victim of an offense under:
(A) IC 35-42-4-1;
(B) IC 35-42-4-2 (before its repeal);
(C) IC 35-42-4-3;
(D) IC 35-42-4-4;
(E) IC 35-42-4-5;
(F) IC 35-42-4-6;
(G) IC 35-42-4-7;
(H) IC 35-42-4-8;
(I) IC 35-42-4-9;
(J) IC 35-45-4-1;
(K) IC 35-45-4-2;
(L) IC 35-45-4-3;
(M) IC 35-45-4-4; or
(N) IC 35-46-1-3; and
(2) the child needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
(A) the child is not receiving; and
(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court.
(b) A child is a child in need of services if, before the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age, the child:
(1) lives in the same household as an adult who:
(A) committed an offense described in subsection (a)(1) against a child and the offense resulted in a conviction or a judgment under IC 31-34-11-2; or
(B) has been charged with an offense described in subsection (a)(1) against a child and is awaiting trial; and
(2) needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
(A) the child is not receiving; and
(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court.
(c) A child is a child in need of services if, before the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age:
(1) the child lives in the same household as another child who is the victim of an offense described in subsection (a)(1);
(2) the child needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
(A) the child is not receiving; and
(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court; and
(3) a caseworker assigned to provide services to the child:
(A) places the child in a program of informal adjustment or other family or rehabilitative services based on the existence of the circumstances described in subdivisions (1) and (2), and the caseworker subsequently determines further intervention is necessary; or
(B) determines that a program of informal adjustment or other family or rehabilitative services is inappropriate.
(d) A child is a child in need of services if, before the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age:
(1) the child lives in the same household as an adult who:
(A) committed a human or sexual trafficking offense under IC 35-42-3.5-1 through IC 35-42-3.5-1.4 or the law of another jurisdiction, including federal law, that resulted in a conviction or a judgment under IC 31-34-11-2; or
(B) has been charged with a human or sexual trafficking offense under IC 35-42-3.5-1 through IC 35-42-3.5-1.4 or the law of another jurisdiction, including federal law, and is awaiting trial; and
(2) the child needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
(A) the child is not receiving; and
(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-3(a) part.]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.18-2004, SEC.1; P.L.158-2013, SEC.319; P.L.214-2013, SEC.26; P.L.168-2014, SEC.43; P.L.16-2016, SEC.1; P.L.46-2016, SEC.7; P.L.183-2017, SEC.39; P.L.144-2018, SEC.6; P.L.142-2020, SEC.41.
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-3.5 Victim of human or sexual trafficking
Sec. 3.5. (a) A child is a child in need of services if, before the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age:
(1) the child is the victim of human or sexual trafficking (as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-254); and
(2) the child needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
(A) the child is not receiving; and
(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court.
(b) A child is considered a victim of human or sexual trafficking regardless of whether the child consented to the conduct described in subsection (a)(1).
As added by P.L.46-2016, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.142-2020, SEC.42; P.L.145-2026, SEC.202.
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-4 Parent, guardian, or custodian allowing child's participation in obscene performance
Sec. 4. A child is a child in need of services if before the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age:
(1) the child's parent, guardian, or custodian allows the child to participate in an obscene performance (as defined by IC 35-49-2-2 or IC 35-49-3-2); and
(2) the child needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
(A) the child is not receiving; and
(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-3(a) part.]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.2-2005, SEC.78.
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-5 Parent, guardian, or custodian allowing child to commit sex offense
Sec. 5. A child is a child in need of services if before the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age:
(1) the child's parent, guardian, or custodian allows the child to commit a sex offense prohibited by IC 35-45-4; and
(2) the child needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
(A) the child is not receiving; and
(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-3(a) part.]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.2-2005, SEC.79.
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-6 Child substantially endangering own or another's health
Sec. 6. A child is a child in need of services if before the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age:
(1) the child substantially endangers the child's own health or the health of another individual; and
(2) the child needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
(A) the child is not receiving; and
(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-3(a) part.]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.2-2005, SEC.80.
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-7 Parent, guardian, or custodian failing to participate in school disciplinary proceeding
Sec. 7. A child is a child in need of services if before the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age:
(1) the child's parent, guardian, or custodian fails to participate in a disciplinary proceeding in connection with the student's improper behavior, as provided for by IC 20-33-8-26, if the behavior of the student has been repeatedly disruptive in the school; and
(2) the child needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
(A) the child is not receiving; and
(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-3(a) part.]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.1-2005, SEC.203.
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-8 Missing child
Sec. 8. A child is a child in need of services if before the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age:
(1) the child is a missing child (as defined in IC 10-13-5-4); and
(2) the child needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
(A) the child is not receiving; and
(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-3(a) part.]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.2-2003, SEC.73.
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-9 Disabled child deprived of necessary nutrition or medical or surgical intervention
Sec. 9. A child in need of services under section 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 of this chapter includes a child with a disability who:
(1) is deprived of nutrition that is necessary to sustain life; or
(2) is deprived of medical or surgical intervention that is necessary to remedy or ameliorate a life threatening medical condition;
if the nutrition or medical or surgical intervention is generally provided to similarly situated children with or without disabilities.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-3(f).]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.131-2009, SEC.58.
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-10 Child born with fetal alcohol syndrome, neonatal abstinence syndrome, or drugs in the child's body
Sec. 10. Except as provided in sections 12 and 13 of this chapter, a child is a child in need of services if:
(1) the child is born with:
(A) fetal alcohol syndrome;
(B) neonatal abstinence syndrome; or
(C) any amount, including a trace amount, of a controlled substance, a legend drug, or a metabolite of a controlled substance or legend drug in the child's body, including the child's blood, urine, umbilical cord tissue, or meconium; and
(2) the child needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
(A) the child is not receiving; or
(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-3.1(a) part.]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.183-2017, SEC.40; P.L.249-2017, SEC.1; P.L.243-2017, SEC.9.
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-11 Risks or injuries arising from use of alcohol, controlled substance, or legend drug by child's mother during pregnancy
Sec. 11. Except as provided in sections 12 and 13 of this chapter, a child is a child in need of services if:
(1) the child:
(A) has an injury;
(B) has abnormal physical or psychological development;
(C) has symptoms of neonatal intoxication or withdrawal; or
(D) is at a substantial risk of a life threatening condition;
that arises or is substantially aggravated because the child's mother used alcohol, a controlled substance, or a legend drug during pregnancy; and
(2) the child needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
(A) the child is not receiving; or
(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-3.1(a) part.]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.2-2005, SEC.81; P.L.243-2017, SEC.10.
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-12 Exception for mother's good faith use of legend drug according to prescription
Sec. 12. A child is not a child in need of services under section 10 or 11 of this chapter if:
(1) a drug detected in the body of the child under section 10(1) of this chapter or the condition described in section 11(1) of this chapter was caused by a legend drug; and
(2) during pregnancy the child's mother:
(A) possessed a valid prescription for the legend drug;
(B) was not in violation of IC 16-42-19 (the Indiana legend drug act); and
(C) made a good faith attempt to use the legend drug according to the prescription instructions.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-3.1(b).]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17.
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-13 Exception for mother's good faith use of controlled substance according to prescription
Sec. 13. A child is not a child in need of services under section 10 or 11 of this chapter if:
(1) a drug detected in the body of the child under section 10(1) of this chapter or the condition described in section 11(1) of this chapter was caused by a controlled substance; and
(2) during pregnancy the child's mother:
(A) possessed a valid prescription for the controlled substance; and
(B) made a good faith attempt to use the controlled substance according to the prescription instructions.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-3.1(c).]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17.
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-14 Exception for failure of parent, guardian, or custodian to provide medical treatment because of religious beliefs; rebuttable presumption; effect of presumption
Sec. 14. If a parent, guardian, or custodian fails to provide specific medical treatment for a child because of the legitimate and genuine practice of the religious beliefs of the parent, guardian, or custodian, a rebuttable presumption arises that the child is not a child in need of services because of the failure. However, this presumption does not do any of the following:
(1) Prevent a juvenile court from ordering, when the health of a child requires, medical services from a physician licensed to practice medicine in Indiana.
(2) Apply to situations in which the life or health of a child is in serious danger.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-3(d).]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17.
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-15 Effect of chapter on use of corporal punishment or religious practices
Sec. 15. This chapter does not do any of the following:
(1) Limit the right of a parent, guardian, or custodian of a child to use reasonable corporal punishment when disciplining the child.
(2) Limit the lawful practice or teaching of religious beliefs.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-3(e).]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17.
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-16 Termination of parental rights or transfer of custody may not be required; voluntary placement agreements
Sec. 16. (a) The department may not:
(1) initiate a court proceeding to:
(A) terminate the parental rights concerning; or
(B) transfer legal custody of; or
(2) require a parent, guardian, or custodian to consent to:
(A) the termination of parental rights; or
(B) transfer of legal custody of;
a child with an emotional, a behavioral, or a mental disorder or a developmental or physical disability who is voluntarily placed out of the home for the purpose of obtaining special treatment or care, solely because the parent, guardian, or custodian is unable to provide the treatment or care. Relinquishment of custody of a child described in this subsection may not be made a condition for receipt of services or care delivered or funded by the department or the local office.
(b) When a child described in subsection (a) is voluntarily placed out of the home to receive special treatment or care, the department and the parent, guardian, or custodian of the child may execute a voluntary placement agreement that includes the following:
(1) A statement that, by entering into a voluntary placement agreement, the parent, guardian, or custodian of the child is not transferring legal custody of the child to the department.
(2) A statement specifying the legal status of the child.
(3) A statement specifying the rights and obligations of the parent, guardian, or custodian.
As added by P.L.282-2001, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.145-2006, SEC.289; P.L.128-2012, SEC.157.
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-17 Exception for referring to the child consistent with the child's biological sex
Sec. 17. A child is not a child in need of services under any section of this chapter due to the child's parent, guardian, or custodian referring to and raising the child consistent with the child's biological sex.
As added by P.L.168-2025, SEC.9.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/31Fetched: 10/17/2026