Indiana § 31-34-20-1.5 - Placement in household with certain individuals prohibited; criminal history checks; exceptions; considerations

§ 31-34-20-1.5. Placement in household with certain individuals prohibited; criminal history checks; exceptions; considerations

Note: This version of section amended by P.L.145-2026, SEC.207. See also following version of this section amended by P.L.158-2026, SEC.28.

Sec. 1.5. (a) Except as provided in subsection (d), the juvenile court may not enter a dispositional decree approving or ordering placement of a child in another home under section 1(a)(3) of this chapter or awarding wardship to the department that will place the child in another home under section 1(a)(4) of this chapter if a person who is currently residing in the home in which the child would be placed under section 1(a)(3) or 1(a)(4) of this chapter has committed an act resulting in a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect, has a juvenile adjudication for an act that would be a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-168 if committed by an adult, or has a conviction for a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-168.

(b) The department or caseworker who prepared the predispositional report shall conduct a criminal history check (as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-58) to determine if a person described in subsection (a) has committed an act resulting in a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect, has a juvenile adjudication for an act that would be a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-168 if committed by an adult, or has a conviction for a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-168. However, the department or caseworker is not required to conduct a criminal history check under this section if criminal history information under IC 31-34-4-2 or IC 31-34-18-6.1 establishes whether a person described in subsection (a) has committed an act resulting in a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect, has a juvenile adjudication for an act that would be a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-168 if committed by an adult, or has a conviction for a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-168.

(c) The department or caseworker is not required to conduct a criminal history check under this section if:

(1) the department or caseworker is considering only an out-of-home placement to an entity or a facility that:

(A) is not a residence (as defined in IC 3-5-2.1-90); or

(B) is licensed by the state; or

(2) placement under this section is undetermined at the time the predispositional report is prepared.

(d) A juvenile court may enter a dispositional decree that approves placement of a child in another home or award wardship to the department that will place the child in a home with a person described in subsection (a) if:

(1) the person described in subsection (a) has:

(A) committed an act resulting in a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect;

(B) been convicted of:

(i) battery (IC 35-42-2-1);

(ii) criminal recklessness (IC 35-42-2-2) as a felony;

(iii) criminal confinement (IC 35-42-3-3) as a felony;

(iv) arson (IC 35-43-1-1) as a felony;

(v) nonsupport of a dependent child (IC 35-46-1-5);

(vi) operating a motorboat while intoxicated (IC 35-46-9-6) as a felony;

(vii) a felony involving a weapon under IC 35-47;

(viii) a felony relating to controlled substances under IC 35-48-4; or

(ix) a felony under IC 9-30-5;

if the conviction did not occur within the past five (5) years; or

(C) had a juvenile adjudication for a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-168 that, if committed by an adult, would be a felony; and

(2) the person's commission of the offense, delinquent act, or act of abuse or neglect described in subdivision (1) is not relevant to the person's present ability to care for a child, and placing a child in another home or awarding wardship to the department is in the best interest of the child.

However, a court may not enter a dispositional decree that approves placement of a child in another home or awards wardship to the department if the person has been convicted of a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-168 that is not specifically excluded under subdivision (1)(B).

(e) In considering the placement under subsection (d), the court shall consider the following:

(1) The length of time since the person committed the offense, delinquent act, or act that resulted in the substantiated report of abuse or neglect.

(2) The severity of the offense, delinquent act, or abuse or neglect.

(3) Evidence of the person's rehabilitation, including the person's cooperation with a treatment plan, if applicable.

As added by P.L.70-2004, SEC.22. Amended by P.L.234-2005, SEC.183; P.L.145-2006, SEC.312; P.L.1-2007, SEC.207; P.L.146-2008, SEC.603; P.L.162-2011, SEC.50; P.L.128-2012, SEC.165; P.L.158-2013, SEC.322; P.L.65-2016, SEC.15; P.L.183-2017, SEC.49; P.L.243-2019, SEC.17; P.L.142-2020, SEC.44; P.L.186-2025, SEC.161; P.L.145-2026, SEC.207.

IC 31-34-20-1.5Placement in household with certain individuals prohibited; criminal history checks; exceptions; considerations Note: This version of section amended by P.L.158-2026, SEC.28. See also preceding version of this section amended by P.L.145-2026, SEC.207.

Sec. 1.5. (a) Except as provided in subsection (d), the juvenile court may not enter a dispositional decree approving or ordering placement of a child in another home under section 1(a)(3) of this chapter or awarding wardship to the department that will place the child in another home under section 1(a)(4) of this chapter if a person who is currently residing in the home in which the child would be placed under section 1(a)(3) or 1(a)(4) of this chapter has committed an act resulting in a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect, has a juvenile adjudication for an act that would be a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8 if committed by an adult, or has a conviction for a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8.

(b) The department or caseworker who prepared the predispositional report shall conduct a criminal history check (as defined in IC 31-9-2-22.5) to determine if a person described in subsection (a) has committed an act resulting in a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect, has a juvenile adjudication for an act that would be a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8 if committed by an adult, or has a conviction for a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8. However, the department or caseworker is not required to conduct a criminal history check under this section if criminal history information under IC 31-34-4-2 or IC 31-34-18-6.1 establishes whether a person described in subsection (a) has committed an act resulting in a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect, has a juvenile adjudication for an act that would be a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8 if committed by an adult, or has a conviction for a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8.

(c) The department or caseworker is not required to conduct a criminal history check under this section if:

(1) the department or caseworker is considering only an out-of-home placement to an entity or a facility that:

(A) is not a residence (as defined in IC 3-5-2.1-90); or

(B) is licensed by the state; or

(2) placement under this section is undetermined at the time the predispositional report is prepared.

(d) A juvenile court may enter a dispositional decree that approves placement of a child in another home or award wardship to the department that will place the child in a home with a person described in subsection (a) if:

(1) the person described in subsection (a) has:

(A) committed an act resulting in a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect;

(B) been convicted of:

(i) battery (IC 35-42-2-1);

(ii) criminal recklessness (IC 35-42-2-2) as a felony;

(iii) criminal confinement (IC 35-42-3-3) as a felony;

(iv) arson (IC 35-43-1-1) as a felony;

(v) nonsupport of a dependent child (IC 35-46-1-5);

(vi) operating a motorboat while intoxicated (IC 35-46-9-6) (before its repeal) as a felony;

(vii) a felony involving a weapon under IC 35-47;

(viii) a felony relating to controlled substances under IC 35-48-4; or

(ix) a felony under IC 9-30-5;

if the conviction did not occur within the past five (5) years; or

(C) had a juvenile adjudication for a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8 that, if committed by an adult, would be a felony; and

(2) the person's commission of the offense, delinquent act, or act of abuse or neglect described in subdivision (1) is not relevant to the person's present ability to care for a child, and placing a child in another home or awarding wardship to the department is in the best interest of the child.

However, a court may not enter a dispositional decree that approves placement of a child in another home or awards wardship to the department if the person has been convicted of a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8 that is not specifically excluded under subdivision (1)(B).

(e) In considering the placement under subsection (d), the court shall consider the following:

(1) The length of time since the person committed the offense, delinquent act, or act that resulted in the substantiated report of abuse or neglect.

(2) The severity of the offense, delinquent act, or abuse or neglect.

(3) Evidence of the person's rehabilitation, including the person's cooperation with a treatment plan, if applicable.

As added by P.L.70-2004, SEC.22. Amended by P.L.234-2005, SEC.183; P.L.145-2006, SEC.312; P.L.1-2007, SEC.207; P.L.146-2008, SEC.603; P.L.162-2011, SEC.50; P.L.128-2012, SEC.165; P.L.158-2013, SEC.322; P.L.65-2016, SEC.15; P.L.183-2017, SEC.49; P.L.243-2019, SEC.17; P.L.142-2020, SEC.44; P.L.186-2025, SEC.161; P.L.158-2026, SEC.28.