The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 94, Sen. Crider’s bill on the statute of limitations for rape. Sen. Crider explained that the bill would allow the state to bring rape charges otherwise time-barred if the charges are filed within five years of the time that (1) the state first discovers DNA evidence sufficient to charge the offender or, (2) a person confesses to the rape. The bill also contained a provision stopping the running of the five year period until the rape was reported to a law enforcement officer. This latter provision was removed, in an amendment by consent, when Committee members agreed that it could permit an extensive delay after a confession was known to have been obtained due to unwillingness of the one with knowledge of the confession to come forward. The bill passed as amended 10-0.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills/senate/94.