Ind. Code ch. 12-26-8

in effect

Ind. Code § 12-26-8-1 Appointment of advocate or guardian; persons authorized to be appointed as advocate; representation and protection of child's best interests

Sec. 1. (a) A juvenile court that conducts a proceeding under this article shall appoint a court appointed special advocate, a guardian ad litem, or both for the child before the court begins a proceeding under this article. (b) An advocate is not required to be an attorney. (c) An attorney representing the child may be appointed as the child's advocate. (d) The court may not appoint any of the following to be a child's advocate: (1) A party to the proceeding. (2) An employee of a party to the proceeding. (3) A representative of a party to the proceeding. (e) An advocate shall represent and protect the best interests of the child. [Pre-1992 Revision Citations: subsection (a) formerly 16-14-9.1-5.5(a) part; subsection (b) formerly 16-14-9.1-5.5(a) part; subsection (c) formerly 16-14-9.1-5.5(a) part; subsection (d) formerly 16-14-9.1-5.5(g); subsection (e) formerly 16-14-9.1-5.5(b) part.] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.20.

Ind. Code § 12-26-8-2 Advocate; officer of juvenile court

Sec. 2. A child's advocate is an officer of the juvenile court for the purpose of representing the child's interests. [Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 16-14-9.1-5.5(e).] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.20.

Ind. Code § 12-26-8-3 Representation of advocate by counsel; appointment of counsel

Sec. 3. (a) A child's advocate may be represented by an attorney. (b) If necessary to protect the child's interests, the juvenile court may appoint an attorney to represent an advocate of a child. The court may appoint only one (1) attorney under this subsection. [Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 16-14-9.1-5.5(d).] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.20.

Ind. Code § 12-26-8-4 Commitment of child; review by advocate; assistance provided by facility warden

Sec. 4. (a) Within thirty (30) days after a child is first committed to a facility by a juvenile court, the child's advocate shall do all of the following: (1) Visit the facility. (2) Evaluate the services delivered to the child. (3) Evaluate whether the commitment continues to be appropriate for the child. (b) The child's advocate shall conduct a review similar to that required under subsection (a): (1) sixty (60) days after the child is first committed; (2) six (6) months after the child is first committed; and (3) every six (6) months after the review required by subdivision (2). (c) The warden of the facility shall provide necessary assistance to carry out the reviews required by this section. [Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 16-14-9.1-5.5(b) part.] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.20. Amended by P.L.67-2017, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 12-26-8-5 Advocate reviews; report; recipients of report

Sec. 5. The child's advocate shall submit a report of each review required by section 4 of this chapter to all of the following: (1) The committing juvenile court. (2) The warden of the facility. (3) A county office that has wardship of the child. (4) Each party to the commitment proceeding. [Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 16-14-9.1-5.5(b) part.] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.20. Amended by P.L.4-1993, SEC.204; P.L.5-1993, SEC.217; P.L.67-2017, SEC.12.

Ind. Code § 12-26-8-6 Advocate; access to reports relevant to child; confidential reports

Sec. 6. (a) A child's advocate shall be given access to all reports relevant to the child. (b) IC 31-39-2 applies to the release of reports that are confidential under IC 31-39-1. [Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 16-14-9.1-5.5(h).] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.20. Amended by P.L.1-1997, SEC.87.

Ind. Code § 12-26-8-7 Payment of fees to be made under IC 31-40

Sec. 7. Payment of any fees shall be made under IC 31-40. [Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 16-14-9.1-5.5(c).] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.20. Amended by P.L.1-1997, SEC.88.

Ind. Code § 12-26-8-8 Obligations of county offices to children under custody or supervision committed to state institutions

Sec. 8. If a child under the custody or supervision of a county office is committed to a state institution, the court may not release the county office from the county office's obligations to the child unless the court appoints a guardian for the child under IC 12-26-16. [Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 16-14-9.1-11.5.] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.20. Amended by P.L.4-1993, SEC.205; P.L.5-1993, SEC.218.

Ind. Code § 12-26-8-9 Repealed

[Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 16-14-9.1-10(i).] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.20. Amended by P.L.4-1993, SEC.206; P.L.5-1993, SEC.219; P.L.1-1997, SEC.89; P.L.146-2008, SEC.417. Repealed by P.L.128-2012, SEC.18.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/12Fetched: 10/17/2026