Sec. 3.5. (a) As used in this chapter, “victim advocate” means an individual employed or appointed by or who volunteers for:

(1) a victim services provider; or

Terms Used In Indiana Code 35-37-6-3.5

  • Attorney: includes a counselor or other person authorized to appear and represent a party in an action or special proceeding. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • student advocate office: means a student services office, victim assistance office, or other victim counselor as designated by a state educational institution or an approved postsecondary educational institution. See Indiana Code 35-37-6-2.7
  • victim: means :

    Indiana Code 35-37-6-3

(2) the student advocate office of a state educational institution or an approved postsecondary educational institution, if the individual provides services to a victim.

     (b) The term does not include:

(1) a law enforcement officer;

(2) an employee or agent of a law enforcement officer;

(3) a prosecuting attorney; or

(4) an employee or agent of a prosecuting attorney’s office.

     (c) The term includes an employee, an appointee, or a volunteer of a:

(1) victim services provider;

(2) domestic violence program;

(3) sexual assault program;

(4) rape crisis center;

(5) battered women’s shelter;

(6) transitional housing program for victims of domestic violence; or

(7) program that has as one (1) of its primary purposes to provide services to an individual:

(A) against whom an act of:

(i) domestic or family violence;

(ii) dating violence;

(iii) sexual assault (as defined in IC 5-26.5-1-8);

(iv) human and sexual trafficking (IC 35-42-3.5); or

(v) stalking (IC 35-45-10-5);

is committed; or

(B) who:

(i) is not accused of committing an act of domestic or family violence, dating violence, sexual assault (as defined in IC 5-26.5-1-8), human and sexual trafficking (IC 35-42-3.5), or stalking (IC 35-45-10-5); and

(ii) is a member of the family of an individual described in clause (A) other than a family member who is accused of committing an act of domestic or family violence, dating violence, sexual assault (as defined in IC 5-26.5-1-8), human and sexual trafficking (IC 35-42-3.5), or stalking (IC 35-45-10-5).

As added by P.L.104-2008, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.70-2016, SEC.3.