CHAPTER 2. GENERAL POLICY PROVISIONS

IC 31-10-2
    Chapter 2. General Policy Provisions

IC 31-10-2-1
Policy and purpose
    Sec. 1. It is the policy of this state and the purpose of this title to:
        (1) recognize the importance of family and children in oursociety;
        (2) recognize the responsibility of the state to enhance theviability of children and family in our society;
        (3) acknowledge the responsibility each person owes to theother;
        (4) strengthen family life by assisting parents to fulfill theirparental obligations;
        (5) ensure that children within the juvenile justice system aretreated as persons in need of care, protection, treatment, andrehabilitation;
        (6) remove children from families only when it is in the child'sbest interest or in the best interest of public safety;
        (7) provide for adoption as a viable permanency plan forchildren who are adjudicated children in need of services;
        (8) provide a juvenile justice system that protects the public byenforcing the legal obligations that children have to society andsociety has to children;
        (9) use diversionary programs when appropriate;
        (10) provide a judicial procedure that:
            (A) ensures fair hearings;
            (B) recognizes and enforces the legal rights of children andtheir parents; and
            (C) recognizes and enforces the accountability of childrenand parents;
        (11) promote public safety and individual accountability by theimposition of appropriate sanctions; and
        (12) provide a continuum of services developed in a cooperativeeffort by local governments and the state.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.35-1998, SEC.3.