Indiana statute
Ind. Code § 35-49-3-3 — Dissemination of matter or conducting performance harmful to minors
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Chapter 3: Crimes, Indiana Code.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Ind. Code § 35-49-3-3
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.
Sec. 3. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and section 4 of this chapter, a person who knowingly or intentionally: (1) disseminates matter to minors that is harmful to minors (as described in IC 35-49-2 ); (2) displays matter that is harmful to minors in an area to which minors have visual, auditory, or physical access, unless each minor is accompanied by the minor's parent or guardian; (3) sells, rents, or displays for sale or rent to any person matter that is harmful to minors within five hundred (500) feet of the nearest property line of a school or church; (4) engages in or conducts a performance before minors that is harmful to minors; (5) engages in or conducts a performance that is harmful to minors in an area to which minors have visual, auditory, or physical access, unless each minor is accompanied by the minor's parent or guardian; (6) misrepresents the minor's age for the purpose of obtaining admission to an area from which minors are restricted because of the display of matter or a performance that is harmful to minors; or (7) misrepresents that the person is a parent or guardian of a minor for the purpose of obtaining admission of the minor to an area where minors are being restricted because of display of matter or performance that is harmful to minors; commits a Level 6 felony. (b) This section does not apply if a person disseminates, displays, or makes available the matter described in subsection (a) through the Internet, computer electronic transfer, or a computer network unless: (1) the matter is obscene under IC 35-49-2-1 ; (2) the matter is child sex abuse material under IC 35-42-4-4.5 ; or (3) the person distributes the matter to a child less than eighteen (18) years of age believing or intending that the recipient is a child less than eighteen (18) years of age.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is dissemination of matter or conducting performance harmful to minors a felony or a misdemeanor in Indiana?
Dissemination of matter or conducting performance harmful to minors is a Level 6 Felony in Indiana under Ind. Code § 35-49-3-3.
Which Indiana statute covers dissemination of matter or conducting performance harmful to minors?
Dissemination of matter or conducting performance harmful to minors is governed by Ind. Code § 35-49-3-3 (Dissemination of matter or conducting performance harmful to minors).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.