Indiana § 31-34-4-2 - Placement of child with relative caretaker or de facto custodian; evaluation; criminal history check required; exceptions; out-of-home placement; considerations

§ 31-34-4-2. Placement of child with relative caretaker or de facto custodian; evaluation; criminal history check required; exceptions; out-of-home placement; considerations

Note: This version of section effective until 7-1-2026. See also following version of this section, effective 7-1-2026.

Sec. 2. (a) If a child alleged to be a child in need of services is taken into custody under an order of the court under this chapter and the court orders out-of-home placement, the department is responsible for that placement and care and must consider placing the child with a:

(1) suitable and willing relative; or

(2) de facto custodian;

before considering any other out-of-home placement.

(b) The department shall consider placing a child described in subsection (a) with a relative related by blood, marriage, or adoption before considering any other placement of the child.

(c) Before the department places a child in need of services with a relative or a de facto custodian, the department shall complete an evaluation based on a home visit of the relative's home.

(d) Except as provided in subsection (f), before placing a child in need of services in an out-of-home placement, the department shall conduct a criminal history check of each person who is currently residing in the location designated as the out-of-home placement.

(e) Except as provided in subsection (g), the department may not make an out-of-home placement if a person described in subsection (d) has:

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

(2) been convicted of a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8 or had 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.

(f) The department is not required to conduct a criminal history check under subsection (d) if the department makes an out-of-home placement to an entity or a facility that is not a residence (as defined in IC 3-5-2.1-90) or that is licensed by the state.

(g) A court may order or the department may approve an out-of-home placement if:

(1) a person described in subsection (d) 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 31-9-2-84.8 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 the placement is in the best interest of the child.

However, a court or the department shall not make an out-of-home placement 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).

(h) In considering the placement under subsection (g), the court or the department shall consider the following:

(1) The length of time since the person committed the offense, delinquent act, or 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.

(i) In considering any out-of-home placement, the department shall consider the following to determine whether a particular out-of-home placement is in the child's best interest:

(1) The caregiver is interested in providing permanence for the child if reunification efforts ultimately fail.

(2) The expressed wishes of the child's birth parent and the child, if applicable, unless the wishes are contrary to law, child safety, or stability.

(3) The relationship of the caregiver with the child and the child's family.

(4) The proximity of the placement home to the birth parents' home and the child's current school or school district.

(5) The strengths and parenting style of the caregiver in relation to the child's behavior and needs.

(6) The caregiver's willingness to interact with the birth family, unless the caregiver has safety concerns.

(7) The caregiver's ability and willingness to accept placement of the child and any of the child's siblings.

(8) If any sibling will be placed separately, the caregiver's ability and willingness to provide or assist in maintaining frequent visitation or other ongoing contact between the child and the child's siblings.

(9) The child's fit with the family with regard to age, gender, and sibling relationships.

(10) If the child has chronic behavioral health needs:

(A) whether the child's behavior will place other children in the home at risk; and

(B) the caregiver's ability to provide the necessary level of supervision to prevent harm to the child or others by the child.

(11) Whether placement in the home would comply with the placement preferences prescribed by federal law.

[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-6(b).]

As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.70-2004, SEC.18; P.L.234-2005, SEC.176; P.L.145-2006, SEC.290; P.L.1-2007, SEC.206; P.L.52-2007, SEC.9; P.L.146-2008, SEC.578; P.L.162-2011, SEC.49; P.L.128-2012, SEC.159; P.L.158-2013, SEC.321; P.L.123-2014, SEC.21; P.L.65-2016, SEC.14; P.L.183-2017, SEC.42; P.L.243-2019, SEC.16; P.L.142-2020, SEC.43; P.L.46-2024, SEC.18; P.L.186-2025, SEC.159; P.L.116-2026, SEC.6.

IC 31-34-4-2Placement of child with relative caretaker or de facto custodian; evaluation; criminal history check required; exceptions; out-of-home placement; considerations Note: This version of section effective 7-1-2026. See also preceding version of this section, effective until 7-1-2026.

Sec. 2. (a) If a child alleged to be a child in need of services is taken into custody under an order of the court under this chapter and the court orders out-of-home placement, the department is responsible for that placement and care and must consider placing the child with a:

(1) suitable and willing relative; or

(2) de facto custodian;

before considering any other out-of-home placement.

(b) The department shall consider placing a child described in subsection (a) with a relative related by blood, marriage, or adoption before considering any other placement of the child.

(c) Before the department places a child in need of services with a relative or a de facto custodian, the department shall complete an evaluation based on a home visit of the relative's home.

(d) Except as provided in subsection (f), before placing a child in need of services in an out-of-home placement, the department shall conduct a criminal history check of each person who is currently residing in the location designated as the out-of-home placement.

(e) Except as provided in subsection (g), the department may not make an out-of-home placement if a person described in subsection (d) has:

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

(2) been convicted of a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-168 or had 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.

(f) The department is not required to conduct a criminal history check under subsection (d) if the department makes an out-of-home placement to an entity or a facility that is not a residence (as defined in IC 3-5-2.1-90) or that is licensed by the state.

(g) A court may order or the department may approve an out-of-home placement if:

(1) a person described in subsection (d) 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 31-9-2.1-168 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 the placement is in the best interest of the child.

However, a court or the department shall not make an out-of-home placement 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).

(h) In considering the placement under subsection (g), the court or the department shall consider the following:

(1) The length of time since the person committed the offense, delinquent act, or 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.

(i) In considering any out-of-home placement, the department shall consider the following to determine whether a particular out-of-home placement is in the child's best interest:

(1) The caregiver is interested in providing permanence for the child if reunification efforts ultimately fail.

(2) The expressed wishes of the child's birth parent and the child, if applicable, unless the wishes are contrary to law, child safety, or stability.

(3) The relationship of the caregiver with the child and the child's family.

(4) The proximity of the placement home to the birth parents' home and the child's current school or school district.

(5) The strengths and parenting style of the caregiver in relation to the child's behavior and needs.

(6) The caregiver's willingness to interact with the birth family, unless the caregiver has safety concerns.

(7) The caregiver's ability and willingness to accept placement of the child and any of the child's siblings.

(8) If any sibling will be placed separately, the caregiver's ability and willingness to provide or assist in maintaining frequent visitation or other ongoing contact between the child and the child's siblings.

(9) The child's fit with the family with regard to age, gender, and sibling relationships.

(10) If the child has chronic behavioral health needs:

(A) whether the child's behavior will place other children in the home at risk; and

(B) the caregiver's ability to provide the necessary level of supervision to prevent harm to the child or others by the child.

(11) Whether placement in the home would comply with the placement preferences prescribed by federal law.

[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-6(b).]

As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.70-2004, SEC.18; P.L.234-2005, SEC.176; P.L.145-2006, SEC.290; P.L.1-2007, SEC.206; P.L.52-2007, SEC.9; P.L.146-2008, SEC.578; P.L.162-2011, SEC.49; P.L.128-2012, SEC.159; P.L.158-2013, SEC.321; P.L.123-2014, SEC.21; P.L.65-2016, SEC.14; P.L.183-2017, SEC.42; P.L.243-2019, SEC.16; P.L.142-2020, SEC.43; P.L.46-2024, SEC.18; P.L.186-2025, SEC.159; P.L.116-2026, SEC.6; P.L.145-2026, SEC.204; P.L.158-2026, SEC.27.