Indiana § 35-46-1-8 - Contributing to the delinquency of a minor

§ 35-46-1-8. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor

Sec. 8. (a) A person at least eighteen (18) years of age who knowingly or intentionally encourages, aids, induces, or causes a child to commit an act of delinquency (as defined by IC 31-37-1 or IC 31-37-2) commits contributing to delinquency, a Class A misdemeanor, except as provided in subsections (b) through (e).

(b) If the delinquent act described in subsection (a) would be a felony if committed by an adult, the offense described in subsection (a) is a felony of the same level as the delinquent act would be if committed by an adult.

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

(1) the person committing the offense is at least twenty-one (21) years of age and knowingly or intentionally furnishes:

(A) an alcoholic beverage to a child in violation of IC 7.1-5-7-8 when the person committing the offense knew or reasonably should have known that the person furnished the alcoholic beverage was a child; or

(B) a controlled substance (as defined in IC 35-48-1.1-7) or a drug (as defined in IC 9-13-2-49.1) in violation of Indiana law; and

(2) the consumption, ingestion, or use of the alcoholic beverage, controlled substance, or drug is the proximate cause of the death of any person.

(d) Except as provided in subsection (c), the offense described in subsection (a) is a Level 6 felony if:

(1) the person committing the offense is at least twenty-one (21) years of age;

(2) the child who commits the delinquent act is less than sixteen (16) years of age; and

(3) the act would be a misdemeanor if committed by an adult.

(e) If the person who commits the offense described in subsection (a) is at least twenty-one (21) years of age, and the child who commits the delinquent act is less than sixteen (16) years of age, the offense is:

(1) a Level 5 felony if the delinquent act would be a Level 6 felony if committed by an adult;

(2) a Level 4 felony if the delinquent act would be a Level 5 felony if committed by an adult;

(3) a Level 3 felony if the delinquent act would be a Level 4 felony if committed by an adult;

(4) a Level 2 felony if the delinquent act would be a Level 3 felony if committed by an adult;

(5) a Level 1 felony if the delinquent act would be a Level 1 or 2 felony if committed by an adult; or

(6) punishable under IC 35-50-2-3(a) (penalty for murder) if the delinquent act would be murder if committed by an adult.

As added by Acts 1976, P.L.148, SEC.6. Amended by Acts 1977, P.L.340, SEC.91; Acts 1978, P.L.144, SEC.12; Acts 1979, P.L.276, SEC.58; P.L.216-1996, SEC.24; P.L.1-1997, SEC.152; P.L.46-2004, SEC.2; P.L.2-2005, SEC.126; P.L.1-2006, SEC.533; P.L.151-2006, SEC.18; P.L.158-2013, SEC.554; P.L.252-2017, SEC.18; P.L.186-2025, SEC.242.