The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 227 authored by Sen. Grooms, on robbery of a pharmacy. The bill enhances robbery from a Level 5 to Level 4 felony if the robbery involves theft of a controlled substance from a person on the premises of a pharmacy; enhances such robberies committed while armed or resulting in bodily injury to a Level 3 felony (or Level 2 if resulting in serious bodily injury); and waives juvenile court jurisdiction when the offense is a Level 2 or 3 felony if the juvenile is 16 or older. Sen. Grooms explained that such robberies are on the rise, and gangs recruit juveniles to commit such robberies because of light juvenile penalties.
The Indiana Public Defenders Council testified in opposition to the bill. The bill failed for lack of motion.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2016/bills/senate/227