Indiana statute

Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8 — Contributing to the delinquency of a minor

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Chapter 1: Offenses Against the Family, Indiana Code.

Criminal charges under this statute

Contributing to the delinquency of a minor

Full text of Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8

Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Indiana.

Ind. Code § 35-46-1-8Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session

Sec. 8. (a) A person at least eighteen (18) years of age who knowingly or intentionally encourages, aids, induces, or causes a child to commit an act of delinquency (as defined by IC 31-37-1 or IC 31-37-2 ) commits contributing to delinquency, a Class A misdemeanor, except as provided in subsections (b) through (e). (b) If the delinquent act described in subsection (a) would be a felony if committed by an adult, the offense described in subsection (a) is a felony of the same level as the delinquent act would be if committed by an adult. (c) The offense described in subsection (a) is a Level 5 felony if: (1) the person committing the offense is at least twenty-one (21) years of age and knowingly or intentionally furnishes: (A) an alcoholic beverage to a child in violation of IC 7.1-5-7-8 when the person committing the offense knew or reasonably should have known that the person furnished the alcoholic beverage was a child; or (B) a controlled substance (as defined in IC 35-48-1.1-7 ) or a drug (as defined in IC 9-13-2-49.1 ) in violation of Indiana law; and (2) the consumption, ingestion, or use of the alcoholic beverage, controlled substance, or drug is the proximate cause of the death of any person. (d) Except as provided in subsection (c), the offense described in subsection (a) is a Level 6 felony if: (1) the person committing the offense is at least twenty-one (21) years of age; (2) the child who commits the delinquent act is less than sixteen (16) years of age; and (3) the act would be a misdemeanor if committed by an adult. (e) If the person who commits the offense described in subsection (a) is at least twenty-one (21) years of age, and the child who commits the delinquent act is less than sixteen (16) years of age, the offense is: (1) a Level 5 felony if the delinquent act would be a Level 6 felony if committed by an adult; (2) a Level 4 felony if the delinquent act would be a Level 5 felony if committed by an adult; (3) a Level 3 felony if the delinquent act would be a Level 4 felony if committed by an adult; (4) a Level 2 felony if the delinquent act would be a Level 3 felony if committed by an adult; (5) a Level 1 felony if the delinquent act would be a Level 1 or 2 felony if committed by an adult; or (6) punishable under IC 35-50-2-3 (a) (penalty for murder) if the delinquent act would be murder if committed by an adult.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

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))

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).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.