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Indiana Code Title 31. Family Law and Juvenile Law § 31-37-19-3

Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

Sec. 3. (a) A juvenile court may not place a child who is a delinquent child under IC 31-37-2 in a shelter care facility that is located outside the child's county of residence unless:

(1) placement of the child in a shelter care facility with adequate services located in the child's county of residence is unavailable;  or

(2) the child's county of residence does not have an appropriate shelter care facility with adequate services.

(b) A juvenile court may not place a child in a home or facility that is not a secure detention facility and that is located outside Indiana unless:

(1) the placement is recommended or approved by the director of the department or the director's designee;  or

(2) the court makes written findings based on clear and convincing evidence that:

(A) the out-of-state placement is appropriate because there is not an equivalent facility with adequate services located in Indiana;

(B) institutional care in the other jurisdiction is in the best interest of the child and will not produce undue hardship;  or

(C) the location of the home or facility is within a distance not more than fifty (50) miles from the county of residence of the child.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Indiana Code Title 31. Family Law and Juvenile Law § 31-37-19-3 - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/in/title-31-family-law-and-juvenile-law/in-code-sect-31-37-19-3/

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