Ind. Code ch. 31-33-1

in effect

Ind. Code § 31-33-1-1 Purpose of article

Sec. 1. The purpose of this article is to: (1) encourage effective reporting of suspected or known incidents of child abuse or neglect; (2) provide effective child services to quickly investigate reports of child abuse or neglect; (3) provide protection for an abused or a neglected child from further abuse or neglect; (4) provide rehabilitative services for an abused or a neglected child and the child's parent, guardian, or custodian; and (5) establish a centralized statewide child abuse registry and an automated child protection system. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-11-1.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.16. Amended by P.L.234-2005, SEC.94.

Ind. Code § 31-33-1-2 Judge may directly contact local DCS office

Sec. 2. When confronted with a potential case of child abuse or neglect, a judge who wishes to contact the department shall first use the child abuse hotline to report the suspected child abuse or neglect to the department. If the: (1) judge does not obtain a response from the child abuse hotline; or (2) response the judge obtains from the hotline will not, in the opinion of the judge, serve the best interests of the child; the judge may contact a local office of the department directly to report the suspected child abuse or neglect. As added by P.L.158-2013, SEC.317.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/31Fetched: 10/17/2026