Reporting Child Abuse
IC 31-33-5-1 — everyone with reason to believe a child is abused or neglected reports it
An individual who has reason to believe a child is a victim of abuse or neglect makes a report. The duty is not limited to professionals; it falls on any individual.
Who handles this in Indiana: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Indiana directory.
The report is made immediately, orally or in writing, to the department of child services or the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Knowingly failing to make a required report is a Class B misdemeanor.
Sources for this section (3)
- IC 31-33-5-1 — Duty to make report
- IC 31-33-5-4 — Immediate oral or written report to department of child services or law enforcement agency
- IC 31-33-22-1 — Failure to make report
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Indiana attorney.