Indiana criminal charge
Contributing to the delinquency of a minor in Indiana
Contributing to the delinquency of a minor is a criminal offense under Indiana law, defined by Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8. Its classification is not fixed: Indiana assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8.
What is the penalty for contributing to the delinquency of a minor in Indiana?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 1 year (Base contributing to delinquency — A person at least 18 knowingly or intentionally encourages, aids, induces, or causes a child to commit an act of delinquency, unless subsections (b) through (e) apply.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Base contributing to delinquency — A person at least 18 knowingly or intentionally encourages, aids, induces, or causes a child to commit an act of delinquency, unless subsections (b) through (e) apply.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 6 years (Furnishing alcohol/drug causing death — Person is at least 21 and knowingly/intentionally furnishes alcohol to a child or a controlled substance/drug, and this is the proximate cause of a death.; fixed term; advisory sentence 3 years) | presumptive | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-6 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Furnishing alcohol/drug causing death — Person is at least 21 and knowingly/intentionally furnishes alcohol to a child or a controlled substance/drug, and this is the proximate cause of a death.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-6 |
| Jail / prison | 6 months to 30 months (Adult furnishing to child under 16 for misdemeanor-equivalent act — Person is at least 21, the child is less than 16, and the delinquent act would be a misdemeanor if committed by an adult (unless subsection (c) applies).; fixed term; advisory sentence 1 year; court may enter judgment of conviction as a Class A misdemeanor in limited circumstances (IC 35-50-2-7(c))) | presumptive | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Adult furnishing to child under 16 for misdemeanor-equivalent act — Person is at least 21, the child is less than 16, and the delinquent act would be a misdemeanor if committed by an adult (unless subsection (c) applies).) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 6 years (Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 6 felony if adult — Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be a Level 6 felony if committed by an adult.; fixed term; advisory sentence 3 years) | presumptive | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-6 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 6 felony if adult — Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be a Level 6 felony if committed by an adult.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-6 |
| Jail / prison | 2 years to 12 years (Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 5 felony if adult — Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be a Level 5 felony if committed by an adult.; fixed term; advisory sentence 6 years) | presumptive | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-5.5 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 5 felony if adult — Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be a Level 5 felony if committed by an adult.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-5.5 |
| Jail / prison | 3 years to 16 years (Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 4 felony if adult — Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be a Level 4 felony if committed by an adult.; fixed term; advisory sentence 9 years) | presumptive | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-5 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 4 felony if adult — Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be a Level 4 felony if committed by an adult.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-5 |
| Jail / prison | 10 years to 30 years (Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 3 felony if adult — Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be a Level 3 felony if committed by an adult.; fixed term; advisory sentence 17 1/2 years) | presumptive | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-4.5 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 3 felony if adult — Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be a Level 3 felony if committed by an adult.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-4.5 |
| Jail / prison | 20 years to 40 years (Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 1 or 2 felony if adult — Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be a Level 1 or Level 2 felony if committed by an adult.; fixed term; advisory sentence 30 years; certain Level 1 felony child molesting offenses carry 20–50 years (IC 35-50-2-4(c))) | presumptive | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-4 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 1 or 2 felony if adult — Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be a Level 1 or Level 2 felony if committed by an adult.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-4 |
| Jail / prison | 45 years to 65 years (Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be murder if adult — Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be murder if committed by an adult, punishable under IC 35-50-2-3(a).; fixed term; advisory sentence 55 years; death or life without parole may be sought under the IC 35-50-2-9 criteria) | presumptive | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-3 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be murder if adult — Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be murder if committed by an adult, punishable under IC 35-50-2-3(a).) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-3 |
Applies to current.
How is contributing to the delinquency of a minor classified in Indiana?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base contributing to delinquency | Class A Misdemeanor | A person at least 18 knowingly or intentionally encourages, aids, induces, or causes a child to commit an act of delinquency, unless subsections (b) through (e) apply. | Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(a) |
| Furnishing alcohol/drug causing death | Level 5 Felony | Person is at least 21 and knowingly/intentionally furnishes alcohol to a child or a controlled substance/drug, and this is the proximate cause of a death. | Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(c) |
| Adult furnishing to child under 16 for misdemeanor-equivalent act | Level 6 Felony | Person is at least 21, the child is less than 16, and the delinquent act would be a misdemeanor if committed by an adult (unless subsection (c) applies). | Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(d) |
| Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 6 felony if adult | Level 5 Felony | Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be a Level 6 felony if committed by an adult. | Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(e) |
| Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 5 felony if adult | Level 4 Felony | Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be a Level 5 felony if committed by an adult. | Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(e) |
| Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 4 felony if adult | Level 3 Felony | Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be a Level 4 felony if committed by an adult. | Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(e) |
| Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 3 felony if adult | Level 2 Felony | Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be a Level 3 felony if committed by an adult. | Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(e) |
| Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 1 or 2 felony if adult | Level 1 Felony | Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be a Level 1 or Level 2 felony if committed by an adult. | Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(e) |
| Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be murder if adult | Murder | Offender is at least 21, child is under 16, and the delinquent act would be murder if committed by an adult, punishable under IC 35-50-2-3(a). | Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(e) |
Common questions about contributing to the delinquency of a minor in Indiana
Is contributing to the delinquency of a minor a felony or a misdemeanor in Indiana?
It depends on the circumstances: contributing to the delinquency of a minor ranges from a Class A Misdemeanor to a Murder in Indiana under Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8.
Base contributing to delinquency: Class A Misdemeanor (Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(a)) · Furnishing alcohol/drug causing death: Level 5 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(c)) · Adult furnishing to child under 16 for misdemeanor-equivalent act: Level 6 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(d)) · Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 6 felony if adult: Level 5 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(e)) · Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 5 felony if adult: Level 4 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(e)) · Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 4 felony if adult: Level 3 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(e)) · Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 3 felony if adult: Level 2 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(e)) · Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be Level 1 or 2 felony if adult: Level 1 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(e)) · Adult offender, child under 16, delinquent act would be murder if adult: Murder (Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8(e))
What are the penalties for contributing to the delinquency of a minor in Indiana?
Penalties for contributing to the delinquency of a minor in Indiana depend on how it is classified — from a Class A Misdemeanor up to a Murder — with the ranges set by Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2, Ind. Code § 35-50-2-6, Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7, Ind. Code § 35-50-2-5.5, Ind. Code § 35-50-2-5, Ind. Code § 35-50-2-4.5, Ind. Code § 35-50-2-4 and Ind. Code § 35-50-2-3; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Indiana statute covers contributing to the delinquency of a minor?
Contributing to the delinquency of a minor is governed by Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8 (Contributing to the delinquency of a minor).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.