COA: Parents’ actions do not support CHINS findings
The Indiana Court of Appeals Thursday reversed the findings that four sisters are children in need of services, noting none of their parents’ actions or inactions endangered the children.
Juvenile Case
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Court rules detention of youth who reported drug justified
A probation officer who arrested and detained a middle school student for violating court policy has quasi-judicial immunity against charges of negligence and constitutional violations.
Most Indiana youths convicted of murder get adult sentence
Indiana Department of Correction data shows the vast majority of youths found guilty of murder in the state are sentenced as adults.
COA: Court cannot order juvenile to pay restitution as a civil judgment
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled a trial court may not order a juvenile to pay restitution as a civil judgment after a minor was ordered to pay restitution in two cases where he violated his probation.
COA: Mother’s rights not violated by reasonable efforts order
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled an order that reasonable efforts to reunify a mother and her daughter were not necessary did not violate her rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Rehabilitation Act and affirmed judgment of the trial court.
E-filing extends to confidential cases
Indiana courts announced that parties may now file electronically in confidential case types including adoption, child in need of services, termination of parental rights, and juvenile cases. The change took effect Monday.
Southwestern Indiana county’s tactic targets youth gun cases
Juvenile court officials in one southwestern Indiana county are overhauling their probation services to address a rapidly growing number of gun-related crimes among youths.
Report: Indiana saw sharp increase in homicides under age 20
Indiana saw a sharp increase in homicides among children and teenagers in 2013, and homicide was the leading cause of death for blacks ages 15 to 24, according to a report released Monday by a group that tracks such statistics.
Court OKs bulk confidential juvenile data transfer to ICJI
Confidential data in criminal and juvenile delinquency cases around the state will be provided in bulk to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute under an order issued Thursday by the Indiana Supreme Court.
Circuit court without jurisdiction to grant father’s child support relief
Madison Circuit Court 5 did not have jurisdiction to rule on a man’s motion for relief from a child support decision entered by Madison Circuit Court 2, the Indiana Court of Appeals concluded Thursday.
COA affirms termination of parental rights
A mother and father of 8- and 9-year old children failed to convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that their parental rights were improperly terminated.
Plans outline charter schools at juvenile detention centers
An Indianapolis organization has proposed creating a charter school at juvenile detention centers statewide.
Teen’s arrest did not violate 4th Amendment
The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a teen’s adjudication for carrying a handgun handed down after police arrested the occupants of the car he was riding in after smelling burnt marijuana during a traffic stop. The judges unanimously held the officers had probable cause to arrest the car’s occupants, including the teen.
Teen’s adjudications overturned based on unlawful search
An Indianapolis teenager suspected in two burglaries was subject to an unlawful pat down and search by an officer, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled. As such, the gun found on him should not have been admissible at his delinquency hearing.
Appeals court upholds teen’s 55-year sentence for murder
In a case of first impression, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the 55-year sentence imposed on a juvenile waived into adult court for the murder of a friend. The teen claimed he should have been sentenced under the alternative sentencing scheme available for juveniles.
Justices order adoption petitions moved to juvenile division based on local rule
The Indiana Supreme Court noted Thursday that the parties and both of the previous courts involved in an adoption matter were partly correct in their analyses as to where the petitions needed to be filed. But the Lake Superior Court, Civil Division should have transferred the petitions from its court to the juvenile division, where a local rule requires adoption petitions to be filed.
School police justified in searching student’s backpack, COA holds
The search by school police of a student’s backpack was justified based on a teacher’s suspicion that the backpack may have contained drugs or weapons, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Thursday. The officer’s search turned up a gun.
Judges reverse teen’s adjudication for resisting law enforcement
Citing lack of evidence, the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed an Indianapolis teen’s adjudication as a juvenile delinquent for committing what would be Class A misdemeanor resisting law enforcement if committed by an adult. None of his actions suggested any criminal activity was afoot.
Expungement fair aimed at helping individuals with a juvenile record
The Children’s Policy & Law Initiative of Indiana is partnering with Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and Marion County Public Defender Agency to help individuals who have a juvenile record start the expungement process.
Felony murder convictions upheld in Elkhart home invasion, but sentences amended
The appeals of three teens involved in a daytime home invasion that turned fatal gave the Court of Appeals a chance to examine the felony murder statute and its application for juveniles.