Trial court abused its discretion by admitting a juvenile’s statements into evidence without a valid waiver of right. An adverse interest may arise if the evidence shows an adult waives the juvenile’s rights but stands to personally benefit from the waiver to the child’s detriment.
Juvenile
In re W.H., No. 24A-JC-2241, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., March 7, 2025).
Because the court was required to order preparation of a predispositional report in a CHINS case, and the report had to be provided to the parties prior to the dispositional hearing, the report did not need to be admitted into evidence to be part of the record that the juvenile court could consider.
M.S. v. State, 24A-JV-715, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Dec. 5, 2024).
The exception to the dangerous possession of a firearm statute, parental permission to possess, is an affirmative defense and not an element of the offense.
In re K.W., No. 23A-JV-2040, __N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Nov. 20, 2024).
A juvenile problem-solving court cannot order jail time or house arrest for the parent of a juvenile delinquent without providing written notice of the allegations or the assistance of counsel.
In re J.M., No. 24A-JC-202, __N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Oct. 15, 2024).
Trial court’s decision to modify child custody instead of adjudicating children as CHINS did not deprive parent of a meaningful opportunity to engage in CHINS-related services.