Indiana Code 20-26-16-6. School corporation police officers; oath; powers and duties; jurisdiction
(1) is a law enforcement officer (as defined in IC 5-2-1-2(1));
Terms Used In Indiana Code 20-26-16-6
- Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
- Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Property: includes personal and real property. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
- Sheriff: means the sheriff of the county or another person authorized to perform sheriff's duties. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
(3) serves at the governing body’s (or the equivalent for a charter school) pleasure; and
(4) performs the duties that the governing body or the equivalent for a charter school assigns.
(b) School corporation or charter school police officers appointed under this chapter have general police powers, including the power to arrest, without process, all persons who within their view commit any offense. They have the same common law and statutory powers, privileges, and immunities as sheriffs and constables, except that they are empowered to serve civil process only to the extent authorized by the employing governing body or the equivalent for a charter school; however, any powers may be expressly forbidden them by the governing body (or the equivalent for a charter school) employing them. In addition to any other powers or duties, such police officers shall enforce and assist the educators and administrators of their school corporation or charter school in the enforcement of the rules and regulations of the school corporation or charter school and assist and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies and officers.
(c) Such police officers may exercise the powers granted under this section only upon any property owned, leased, or occupied by the school corporation or charter school, including the streets passing through and adjacent to the property. Additional jurisdiction may be established by agreement with the chief of police of the municipality or sheriff of the county or the appropriate law enforcement agency where the property is located, dependent upon the jurisdiction involved.
As added by P.L.132-2007, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.270-2019, SEC.19; P.L.156-2020, SEC.76.