Indiana criminal charge
Penalties; death or catastrophic injury; death of a law enforcement animal in Indiana
Penalties; death or catastrophic injury; death of a law enforcement animal is a criminal offense under Indiana law, defined by Ind. Code § 9-30-5-5. Its classification is not fixed: Indiana assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Ind. Code § 9-30-5-5.
What is the penalty for penalties; death or catastrophic injury; death of a law enforcement animal in Indiana?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | 2 years to 12 years (Causing death or catastrophic injury of another person while operating a vehicle intoxicated — A person causes the death or catastrophic injury of another person while operating a vehicle with a BAC of at least 0.08, with a schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in the blood, or while intoxicated.; fixed term; advisory sentence 6 years) | presumptive | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-5.5 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Causing death or catastrophic injury of another person while operating a vehicle intoxicated — A person causes the death or catastrophic injury of another person while operating a vehicle with a BAC of at least 0.08, with a schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in the blood, or while intoxicated.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-5.5 |
| Jail / prison | 6 months to 30 months (Causing death of a law enforcement animal while operating a vehicle intoxicated — A person causes the death of a law enforcement animal while operating a vehicle with a BAC of at least 0.08 or with a schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in the blood.; fixed term; advisory sentence 1 year; court may enter judgment of conviction as a Class A misdemeanor in limited circumstances (IC 35-50-2-7(c))) | presumptive | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Causing death of a law enforcement animal while operating a vehicle intoxicated — A person causes the death of a law enforcement animal while operating a vehicle with a BAC of at least 0.08 or with a schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in the blood.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7 |
Applies to offenses committed after June 30, 2014 (P.L.158-2013).
How is penalties; death or catastrophic injury; death of a law enforcement animal classified in Indiana?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Causing death or catastrophic injury of another person while operating a vehicle intoxicated | Level 4 Felony | A person causes the death or catastrophic injury of another person while operating a vehicle with a BAC of at least 0.08, with a schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in the blood, or while intoxicated. | Ind. Code § 9-30-5-5(a) |
| Causing death of a law enforcement animal while operating a vehicle intoxicated | Level 6 Felony | A person causes the death of a law enforcement animal while operating a vehicle with a BAC of at least 0.08 or with a schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in the blood. | Ind. Code § 9-30-5-5(b) |
Common questions about penalties; death or catastrophic injury; death of a law enforcement animal in Indiana
Is penalties; death or catastrophic injury; death of a law enforcement animal a felony or a misdemeanor in Indiana?
It depends on the circumstances: penalties; death or catastrophic injury; death of a law enforcement animal ranges from a Level 6 Felony to a Level 4 Felony in Indiana under Ind. Code § 9-30-5-5.
Causing death or catastrophic injury of another person while operating a vehicle intoxicated: Level 4 Felony (Ind. Code § 9-30-5-5(a)) · Causing death of a law enforcement animal while operating a vehicle intoxicated: Level 6 Felony (Ind. Code § 9-30-5-5(b))
What are the penalties for penalties; death or catastrophic injury; death of a law enforcement animal in Indiana?
Penalties for penalties; death or catastrophic injury; death of a law enforcement animal in Indiana depend on how it is classified — from a Level 6 Felony up to a Level 4 Felony — with the ranges set by Ind. Code § 35-50-2-5.5 and Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Indiana statute covers penalties; death or catastrophic injury; death of a law enforcement animal?
Penalties; death or catastrophic injury; death of a law enforcement animal is governed by Ind. Code § 9-30-5-5 (Penalties; death or catastrophic injury; death of a law enforcement animal).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.