The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard HB 1531, Rep. Davisson’s bill on video conferencing by confined persons. The bill provides (1) court hearings by video conference for inmates in DOC facilities with video conferencing capacity, and (2) mental health evaluations of inmates in county jails ordered to be conducted via video conference with the mental health services provider. Rep. Davisson said the bill aims to reduce the expenses of transporting prisoners for hearings. Representatives from the DOC and the Association of Community Mental Centers testified in support of the bill, which passed 11-0.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills/house/1531.