Indiana Domestic Violence Law
Indiana Domestic Violence Defense
What you're facing under Ind. Code § 35-42-2-1.3, how the penalties scale, and the questions your attorney needs to answer, specific to Indiana (IN) domestic violence law.
Offense Class
Class A Misdemeanor; Level 6 Felony (prior or in presence of child under 16); Level 5 Felony (serious injury or deadly weapon)
Maximum Penalty
1 year (Class A); 2.5 years (Level 6); 6 years (Level 5)
Maximum Fine
$5,000 (Class A); $10,000 (Level 6+)
Federal Firearms Prohibition (Lautenberg Amendment)
A conviction for misdemeanor domestic violence in Indiana carries a federalfirearms-possession ban under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9). This consequence is collateral to Indiana state penalties and applies regardless of the state sentence imposed.
Penalty Range in Indiana
Charge Enhancements
These factors can elevate the charge or penalty in Indiana:
- Prior domestic battery conviction (Level 6 Felony)
- Committed in the presence of a child under 16 (Level 6 Felony)
- Resulting in serious bodily injury (Level 5 Felony)
- Committed with a deadly weapon (Level 5 Felony)
Indiana-Specific Detail
Indiana has a specific domestic battery statute separate from general battery. 'Family or household member' includes spouses, former spouses, co-parents, and cohabitants. Mandatory arrest policy for officers responding to domestic calls.
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Important: This page provides legal INFORMATION about Indiana domestic violence law as of the date of publication. Laws change frequently. This is not legal advice. The analysis draws on methods developed by defense attorneys, applied to public data. Your attorney remains the final authority on defense direction.