Indiana § 35-42-2-1 - Battery

§ 35-42-2-1. Battery

Note: This version of section amended by P.L.145-2026, SEC.235. See also following version of this section amended by P.L.158-2026, SEC.43.

Sec. 1. (a) As used in this section, "public safety official" means:

(1) a law enforcement officer, including an alcoholic beverage enforcement officer;

(2) an employee of a penal facility or a juvenile detention facility (as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-144);

(3) an employee of the department of correction;

(4) a probation officer;

(5) a parole officer;

(6) a community corrections worker;

(7) a home detention officer;

(8) a department of child services employee;

(9) a firefighter;

(10) an emergency medical services provider;

(11) a judicial officer;

(12) a bailiff of any court; or

(13) a special deputy (as described in IC 36-8-10-10.6).

(b) As used in this section, "relative" means an individual related by blood, half-blood, adoption, marriage, or remarriage, including:

(1) a spouse;

(2) a parent or stepparent;

(3) a child or stepchild;

(4) a grandchild or stepgrandchild;

(5) a grandparent or stepgrandparent;

(6) a brother, sister, stepbrother, or stepsister;

(7) a niece or nephew;

(8) an aunt or uncle;

(9) a daughter-in-law or son-in-law;

(10) a mother-in-law or father-in-law; or

(11) a first cousin.

(c) Except as provided in subsections (d) through (k), a person who knowingly or intentionally:

(1) touches another person in a rude, insolent, or angry manner; or

(2) in a rude, insolent, or angry manner places any bodily fluid or waste on another person;

commits battery, a Class B misdemeanor.

(d) The offense described in subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2) is a Class A misdemeanor if it:

(1) results in bodily injury to any other person; or

(2) is committed against a member of a foster family home (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-139.3) by a person who is not a resident of the foster family home if the person who committed the offense is a relative of a person who lived in the foster family home at the time of the offense.

(e) The offense described in subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2) is a Level 6 felony if one (1) or more of the following apply:

(1) The offense results in moderate bodily injury to any other person.

(2) The offense is committed against a public safety official while the official is engaged in the official's official duty, unless the offense is committed by a person detained or committed under IC 12-26.

(3) The offense is committed against a person less than fourteen (14) years of age and is committed by a person at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(4) The offense is committed against a person of any age who has a mental or physical disability and is committed by a person having the care of the person with the mental or physical disability, whether the care is assumed voluntarily or because of a legal obligation.

(5) The offense is committed against an endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2).

(6) The offense:

(A) is committed against a member of a foster family home (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-139.3) by a person who is not a resident of the foster family home if the person who committed the offense is a relative of a person who lived in the foster family home at the time of the offense; and

(B) results in bodily injury to the member of the foster family.

(f) The offense described in subsection (c)(2) is a Level 6 felony if the person knew or recklessly failed to know that the bodily fluid or waste placed on another person was infected with hepatitis, tuberculosis, or human immunodeficiency virus.

(g) The offense described in subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2) is a Level 5 felony if one (1) or more of the following apply:

(1) The offense results in serious bodily injury to another person.

(2) The offense is committed with a deadly weapon.

(3) The offense results in bodily injury to a pregnant woman if the person knew of the pregnancy.

(4) The person has a previous conviction for a battery or strangulation offense included in this chapter against the same victim.

(5) The offense results in bodily injury to one (1) or more of the following:

(A) A public safety official while the official is engaged in the official's official duties, unless the offense is committed by a person detained or committed under IC 12-26.

(B) A person less than fourteen (14) years of age if the offense is committed by a person at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(C) A person who has a mental or physical disability if the offense is committed by an individual having care of the person with the disability, regardless of whether the care is assumed voluntarily or because of a legal obligation.

(D) An endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2).

(h) The offense described in subsection (c)(2) is a Level 5 felony if:

(1) the person knew or recklessly failed to know that the bodily fluid or waste placed on another person was infected with hepatitis, tuberculosis, or human immunodeficiency virus; and

(2) the person placed the bodily fluid or waste on a public safety official, unless the offense is committed by a person detained or committed under IC 12-26.

(i) The offense described in subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2) is a Level 4 felony if it results in serious bodily injury to an endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2).

(j) The offense described in subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2) is a Level 3 felony if it results in serious bodily injury to a person less than fourteen (14) years of age if the offense is committed by a person at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(k) The offense described in subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2) is a Level 2 felony if it results in the death of one (1) or more of the following:

(1) A person less than fourteen (14) years of age if the offense is committed by a person at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(2) An endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2).

As added by Acts 1976, P.L.148, SEC.2. Amended by Acts 1977, P.L.340, SEC.30; Acts 1979, P.L.298, SEC.1; Acts 1979, P.L.83, SEC.10; Acts 1981, P.L.299, SEC.1; P.L.185-1984, SEC.1; P.L.205-1986, SEC.1; P.L.322-1987, SEC.1; P.L.164-1993, SEC.10; P.L.59-1995, SEC.2; P.L.31-1996, SEC.20; P.L.32-1996, SEC.20; P.L.255-1996, SEC.25; P.L.212-1997, SEC.1; P.L.37-1997, SEC.2; P.L.56-1999, SEC.1; P.L.188-1999, SEC.5; P.L.43-2000, SEC.1; P.L.222-2001, SEC.4; P.L.175-2003, SEC.2; P.L.281-2003, SEC.3; P.L.2-2005, SEC.125; P.L.99-2007, SEC.209; P.L.164-2007, SEC.1; P.L.120-2008, SEC.93; P.L.131-2009, SEC.73; P.L.114-2012, SEC.137; P.L.158-2013, SEC.420; P.L.147-2014, SEC.2; P.L.65-2016, SEC.33; P.L.80-2018, SEC.3; P.L.142-2020, SEC.63; P.L.209-2023, SEC.2; P.L.148-2024, SEC.24; P.L.145-2026, SEC.235.

IC 35-42-2-1Battery Note: This version of section amended by P.L.158-2026, SEC.43. See also preceding version of this section amended by P.L.145-2026, SEC.235.

Sec. 1. (a) The following definitions apply throughout this section:

(1) "Health care employee" means an individual whose responsibilities involve contact or interaction with a patient, and who is employed by, in a contractual relationship with, or providing services on behalf of:

(A) an individual;

(B) a partnership;

(C) a professional corporation;

(D) a facility;

(E) an institution;

(F) a hospital; or

(G) any entity;

that is licensed, certified, or authorized to administer health care in the ordinary course of business or practice of the profession.

(2) "Public safety official" means:

(A) a law enforcement officer, including an alcoholic beverage enforcement officer;

(B) an employee of a penal facility or a juvenile detention facility (as defined in IC 31-9-2-71);

(C) an employee of the department of correction;

(D) a probation officer;

(E) a parole officer;

(F) a community corrections worker;

(G) a home detention officer;

(H) a department of child services employee whose responsibilities include:

(i) personally supervising a child or parent;

(ii) personally providing services to a child or parent; or

(iii) personally interviewing a child or parent as part of an investigation;

(I) a firefighter;

(J) an emergency medical services provider;

(K) a judicial officer;

(L) a bailiff of any court; or

(M) a special deputy (as described in IC 36-8-10-10.6).

(3) "Relative" means an individual related by blood, half-blood, adoption, marriage, or remarriage, including:

(A) a spouse;

(B) a parent or stepparent;

(C) a child or stepchild;

(D) a grandchild or stepgrandchild;

(E) a grandparent or stepgrandparent;

(F) a brother, sister, stepbrother, or stepsister;

(G) a niece or nephew;

(H) an aunt or uncle;

(I) a daughter-in-law or son-in-law;

(J) a mother-in-law or father-in-law; or

(K) a first cousin.

(4) "School" means a public school, charter school, or nonpublic school with at least one (1) employee.

(5) "School employee" means a person who:

(A) is employed by a school or is in a contractual relationship with a school; and

(B) has direct and ongoing contact with a student.

(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) through (l), a person who knowingly or intentionally:

(1) touches another person in a rude, insolent, or angry manner; or

(2) in a rude, insolent, or angry manner places any bodily fluid or waste on another person;

commits battery, a Class B misdemeanor.

(c) The offense described in subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2) is a Class A misdemeanor if it:

(1) results in bodily injury to any other person; or

(2) is committed against a member of a foster family home (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-139.3) by a person who is not a resident of the foster family home if the person who committed the offense is a relative of a person who lived in the foster family home at the time of the offense.

(d) The offense described in subsection (b)(1) is a Class A misdemeanor if it is committed against a health care employee or school employee:

(1) while the health care employee or school employee is acting within the scope of the health care employee's or school employee's employment;

(2) while the health care employee or school employee is commuting to or from the health care employee's or school employee's place of employment; or

(3) in retaliation for an act taken by the health care employee or school employee within the scope of the health care employee's or school employee's employment;

unless the offense is committed by a person detained or committed under IC 12-26.

(e) The offense described in subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2) is a Level 6 felony if one (1) or more of the following apply:

(1) The offense results in moderate bodily injury to any other person.

(2) The offense is committed against a public safety official while the official is engaged in the official's official duty, unless the offense is committed by a person detained or committed under IC 12-26.

(3) The offense is committed against a person less than fourteen (14) years of age and is committed by a person at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(4) The offense is committed against a person of any age who has a mental or physical disability and is committed by a person having the care of the person with the mental or physical disability, whether the care is assumed voluntarily or because of a legal obligation.

(5) The offense is committed against an endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2).

(6) The offense:

(A) is committed against a member of a foster family home (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-139.3) by a person who is not a resident of the foster family home if the person who committed the offense is a relative of a person who lived in the foster family home at the time of the offense; and

(B) results in bodily injury to the member of the foster family.

(f) The offense described in subsection (b)(2) is a Level 6 felony if the person knew or recklessly failed to know that the bodily fluid or waste placed on another person was infected with hepatitis, tuberculosis, or human immunodeficiency virus.

(g) The offense described in subsection (b)(1) is a Level 6 felony if it results in bodily injury to a health care employee or school employee and is committed against the health care employee or school employee:

(1) while the health care employee or school employee is acting within the scope of the health care employee's or school employee's employment;

(2) while the health care employee or school employee is commuting to or from the health care employee's or school employee's place of employment; or

(3) in retaliation for an act taken by the health care employee or school employee within the scope of the health care employee's or school employee's employment;

unless the offense is committed by a person detained or committed under IC 12-26.

(h) The offense described in subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2) is a Level 5 felony if one (1) or more of the following apply:

(1) The offense results in serious bodily injury to another person.

(2) The offense is committed with a deadly weapon.

(3) The offense results in bodily injury to a pregnant woman if the person knew of the pregnancy.

(4) The person has a previous conviction for a battery or strangulation offense included in this chapter against the same victim.

(5) The offense results in bodily injury to one (1) or more of the following:

(A) A public safety official while the official is engaged in the official's official duties, unless the offense is committed by a person detained or committed under IC 12-26.

(B) A person less than fourteen (14) years of age if the offense is committed by a person at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(C) A person who has a mental or physical disability if the offense is committed by an individual having care of the person with the disability, regardless of whether the care is assumed voluntarily or because of a legal obligation.

(D) An endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2).

(i) The offense described in subsection (b)(2) is a Level 5 felony if:

(1) the person knew or recklessly failed to know that the bodily fluid or waste placed on another person was infected with hepatitis, tuberculosis, or human immunodeficiency virus; and

(2) the person placed the bodily fluid or waste on a public safety official, unless the offense is committed by a person detained or committed under IC 12-26.

(j) The offense described in subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2) is a Level 4 felony if it results in serious bodily injury to an endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2).

(k) The offense described in subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2) is a Level 3 felony if it results in serious bodily injury to a person less than fourteen (14) years of age if the offense is committed by a person at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(l) The offense described in subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2) is a Level 2 felony if it results in the death of one (1) or more of the following:

(1) A person less than fourteen (14) years of age if the offense is committed by a person at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(2) An endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2).

As added by Acts 1976, P.L.148, SEC.2. Amended by Acts 1977, P.L.340, SEC.30; Acts 1979, P.L.298, SEC.1; Acts 1979, P.L.83, SEC.10; Acts 1981, P.L.299, SEC.1; P.L.185-1984, SEC.1; P.L.205-1986, SEC.1; P.L.322-1987, SEC.1; P.L.164-1993, SEC.10; P.L.59-1995, SEC.2; P.L.31-1996, SEC.20; P.L.32-1996, SEC.20; P.L.255-1996, SEC.25; P.L.212-1997, SEC.1; P.L.37-1997, SEC.2; P.L.56-1999, SEC.1; P.L.188-1999, SEC.5; P.L.43-2000, SEC.1; P.L.222-2001, SEC.4; P.L.175-2003, SEC.2; P.L.281-2003, SEC.3; P.L.2-2005, SEC.125; P.L.99-2007, SEC.209; P.L.164-2007, SEC.1; P.L.120-2008, SEC.93; P.L.131-2009, SEC.73; P.L.114-2012, SEC.137; P.L.158-2013, SEC.420; P.L.147-2014, SEC.2; P.L.65-2016, SEC.33; P.L.80-2018, SEC.3; P.L.142-2020, SEC.63; P.L.209-2023, SEC.2; P.L.148-2024, SEC.24; P.L.158-2026, SEC.43.