Child abuse covers a wide variety of issues. At a basic level, child abuse is an action or lack of action by the parent, guardian or custodian seriously endangering child's physical or mental health. Sexual abuse, physical abuse, illegal manufacturing of a drug or controlled substance occurring where a child lives, or allowing a child to commit a sex offense are all examples of child abuse or neglect.
Child neglect results from the inability, refusal, or neglect of parent, guardian, or custodian to supply a child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education or supervision.
IC31-34: http://www.ai.org/legislative/ic/code/title31/ar34/ch1.html
IC31-9-2-14: Connection of Child Abuse or Neglect to "a child in need of service"
"Child abuse or neglect"
Sec. 14. (a) "Child abuse or neglect", for purposes of IC 31-32-11-1, IC 31-33, IC 31-34-7-4, and IC 31-39-8-4, refers to a child who is alleged to be a child in need of services as described in IC 31-34-1-1 through IC 31-34-1-5.
(b) For purposes of subsection (a), the term under subsection (a) does not refer to a child who is alleged to be a child in need of services if the child is alleged to be a victim of a sexual offense under IC 35-42-4-3 unless the alleged offense under IC 35-42-4-3 involves the fondling or touching of the buttocks, genitals, or female breasts.
(c) "Child abuse or neglect", for purposes of IC 31-34-2.3, refers to acts or omissions by a person against a child as described in IC 31-34-1-1 through IC 31-34-1-9.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.1-2006, SEC.496; P.L.52-2007, SEC.6.