In 1985, the Indiana General Assembly passed a law establishing Adult Protective Service (APS) Units to protect endangered adults in Indiana and to provide protective services to these individuals. (Indiana Code 12-10-3)
An endangered adult is an individual who is eighteen (18) years of age or older who:
The investigator will utilize available legal, medical, psychiatric, residential and social services that are necessary to protect the health and safety of an endangered adult. These may include the area on aging, hospitals, mental health centers, agencies serving individuals with mental retardation and developmental disabilities and residential facilities in the three county areas.
An individual who believes or has reason to believe that another individual is an endangered adult and is the victim of battery, abuse, or exploitation is required by law to make a report to law enforcement, Adult Protective Services or through the APS Hotline 1-800-992-6978. Failure to report may result in a fine of up to $10,000.
File a report online at APS Online Reporting
A person who in good faith makes a report of an endangered adult, or testifies at administrative or judicial proceedings on matters arising from the report, is immune from both civil and criminal liability for doing so and an employer may not reduce benefits or otherwise retaliate against them.