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Indiana criminal charge

Reckless supervision in Indiana

Current through 2026 Indiana legislative session

Reckless supervision is a criminal offense under Indiana law, defined by Ind. Code § 35-46-1-4.1. 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 § 35-46-1-4.1.

What is the penalty for reckless supervision in Indiana?

Penalties for Reckless supervision
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prisonup to 180 days (Reckless supervision (base offense) — A child care provider recklessly supervises a child.)discretionaryInd. Code § 35-50-3-3
Fineup to $1,000 (Reckless supervision (base offense) — A child care provider recklessly supervises a child.)discretionaryInd. Code § 35-50-3-3
Jail / prisonup to 1 year (Reckless supervision resulting in serious bodily injury — The reckless supervision offense results in serious bodily injury to a child.)discretionaryInd. Code § 35-50-3-2
Fineup to $5,000 (Reckless supervision resulting in serious bodily injury — The reckless supervision offense results in serious bodily injury to a child.)discretionaryInd. Code § 35-50-3-2
Jail / prison6 months to 30 months (Reckless supervision resulting in death — The reckless supervision offense results in the death of a child.; 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)))presumptiveInd. Code § 35-50-2-7
Fineup to $10,000 (Reckless supervision resulting in death — The reckless supervision offense results in the death of a child.)discretionaryInd. Code § 35-50-2-7

Applies to current.

How is reckless supervision classified in Indiana?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for Reckless supervision
VariantClassificationWhen it appliesStatute
Reckless supervision (base offense)Class B MisdemeanorA child care provider recklessly supervises a child.Ind. Code § 35-46-1-4.1(b)
Reckless supervision resulting in serious bodily injuryClass A MisdemeanorThe reckless supervision offense results in serious bodily injury to a child.Ind. Code § 35-46-1-4.1(b)
Reckless supervision resulting in deathLevel 6 FelonyThe reckless supervision offense results in the death of a child.Ind. Code § 35-46-1-4.1(b)

Common questions about reckless supervision in Indiana

Is reckless supervision a felony or a misdemeanor in Indiana?

It depends on the circumstances: reckless supervision ranges from a Class B Misdemeanor to a Level 6 Felony in Indiana under Ind. Code § 35-46-1-4.1.

Reckless supervision (base offense): Class B Misdemeanor (Ind. Code § 35-46-1-4.1(b)) · Reckless supervision resulting in serious bodily injury: Class A Misdemeanor (Ind. Code § 35-46-1-4.1(b)) · Reckless supervision resulting in death: Level 6 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-46-1-4.1(b))

What are the penalties for reckless supervision in Indiana?

Penalties for reckless supervision in Indiana depend on how it is classified — from a Class B Misdemeanor up to a Level 6 Felony — with the ranges set by Ind. Code § 35-50-3-3, Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2 and Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.

Which Indiana statute covers reckless supervision?

Reckless supervision is governed by Ind. Code § 35-46-1-4.1 (Reckless supervision).

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.