Sec. 6.5. (a) Except as provided in subsection (d), the juvenile court may not enter a dispositional decree approving placement of a child in another home under section 1(a)(3) or 6(b)(2)(D) of this chapter or awarding wardship to a person or facility that results in a placement with a person under section 1(a)(4) or 6(b)(2)(E) 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), 1(a)(4), 6(b)(2)(D), or 6(b)(2)(E) 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 juvenile probation officer 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 probation officer is not required to conduct a criminal history check under this section if criminal history information obtained under IC 31-37-17-6.1 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.

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Terms Used In Indiana Code 31-37-19-6.5

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • juvenile: as used in this article means any person who is a minor under the law of the state of residence of the parent, guardian, person or agency entitled to the legal custody of such minor. See Indiana Code 31-37-23-1
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
     (c) The juvenile probation officer is not required to conduct a criminal history check under this section if:

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

(A) is not a residence (as defined in IC 3-5-2-42.5); or

(B) is licensed by the state; or

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

     (d) The juvenile court may enter a dispositional decree approving placement of a child in another home under section 1(a)(3) or 6(b)(2)(D) of this chapter or awarding wardship to a person or facility that results in a placement with a person under section 1(a)(4) or 6(b)(2)(E) of this chapter if:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 the child in another home is in the best interest of the child.

However, a court may not enter a dispositional decree placing a child in another home under section 1(a)(3) or 6(b)(2)(D) of this chapter or awarding wardship to a person or facility under this subsection if a person with whom the child is or will be placed 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.27. Amended by P.L.234-2005, SEC.187; P.L.145-2006, SEC.347; P.L.1-2007, SEC.209; P.L.146-2008, SEC.652; P.L.162-2011, SEC.55; P.L.158-2013, SEC.329; P.L.65-2016, SEC.19; P.L.183-2017, SEC.57; P.L.243-2019, SEC.20; P.L.142-2020, SEC.47.

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