Indiana

Indiana leaders launched an IOYouth initiative in September 2020 to help the state identify policies and practices to protect public safety, reduce racial and ethnic disparities, and improve outcomes for youth in contact with the juvenile justice system.

In August 2021, the Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana, along with leaders from Indiana’s legislative, executive and judicial branches, launched a comprehensive, data-driven review of Indiana’s juvenile justice system. The bipartisan Juvenile Justice Reform Task Force analyzed the state’s youth justice system landscape and identified policy changes.

On March 11, 2022, the governor signed a major set of juvenile justice policy reforms—HB 1359, “Juvenile Law Matters”—that will enhance public safety, improve youth outcomes, and use state resources more efficiently. Some of the key provisions include expanding precourt diversion opportunities, limiting the use of detention for youth under 12 years old, and requiring the development of a statewide plan to collect and track key juvenile justice data.