Indiana criminal charge
Cruelty to a law enforcement animal in Indiana
Cruelty to a law enforcement animal is a criminal offense under Indiana law, defined by Ind. Code § 35-46-3-11. 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 § 35-46-3-11.
What is the penalty for cruelty to a law enforcement animal in Indiana?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 1 year (Cruelty to a law enforcement animal - base offense — A person knowingly or intentionally strikes, torments, injures, or otherwise mistreats a law enforcement animal, or interferes with a law enforcement animal assisting an officer in the performance of duties.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Cruelty to a law enforcement animal - base offense — A person knowingly or intentionally strikes, torments, injures, or otherwise mistreats a law enforcement animal, or interferes with a law enforcement animal assisting an officer in the performance of duties.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2 |
| Jail / prison | 6 months to 30 months (Cruelty to a law enforcement animal - serious injury — The mistreatment under subsection (a)(1) results in serious permanent disfigurement, unconsciousness, or permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ of the law enforcement animal.; 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 (Cruelty to a law enforcement animal - serious injury — The mistreatment under subsection (a)(1) results in serious permanent disfigurement, unconsciousness, or permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ of the law enforcement animal.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 6 years (Cruelty to a law enforcement animal - death — The mistreatment under subsection (a)(1) results in the death of the law enforcement animal.; fixed term; advisory sentence 3 years) | presumptive | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-6 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Cruelty to a law enforcement animal - death — The mistreatment under subsection (a)(1) results in the death of the law enforcement animal.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-6 |
Applies to current.
How is cruelty to a law enforcement animal classified in Indiana?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruelty to a law enforcement animal - base offense | Class A Misdemeanor | A person knowingly or intentionally strikes, torments, injures, or otherwise mistreats a law enforcement animal, or interferes with a law enforcement animal assisting an officer in the performance of duties. | Ind. Code § 35-46-3-11(a) |
| Cruelty to a law enforcement animal - serious injury | Level 6 Felony | The mistreatment under subsection (a)(1) results in serious permanent disfigurement, unconsciousness, or permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ of the law enforcement animal. | Ind. Code § 35-46-3-11(b) |
| Cruelty to a law enforcement animal - death | Level 5 Felony | The mistreatment under subsection (a)(1) results in the death of the law enforcement animal. | Ind. Code § 35-46-3-11(c) |
Common questions about cruelty to a law enforcement animal in Indiana
Is cruelty to a law enforcement animal a felony or a misdemeanor in Indiana?
It depends on the circumstances: cruelty to a law enforcement animal ranges from a Class A Misdemeanor to a Level 5 Felony in Indiana under Ind. Code § 35-46-3-11.
Cruelty to a law enforcement animal - base offense: Class A Misdemeanor (Ind. Code § 35-46-3-11(a)) · Cruelty to a law enforcement animal - serious injury: Level 6 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-46-3-11(b)) · Cruelty to a law enforcement animal - death: Level 5 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-46-3-11(c))
What are the penalties for cruelty to a law enforcement animal in Indiana?
Penalties for cruelty to a law enforcement animal in Indiana depend on how it is classified — from a Class A Misdemeanor up to a Level 5 Felony — with the ranges set by Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2, Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7 and Ind. Code § 35-50-2-6; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Indiana statute covers cruelty to a law enforcement animal?
Cruelty to a law enforcement animal is governed by Ind. Code § 35-46-3-11 (Cruelty to a law enforcement animal).
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.