The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 141, sponsored by Rep. Kirchhofer and Rep. Delaney, on criminal gang organization. Author Sen. R. Michael Young introduced the bill that changes the term “criminal gang” to “criminal organization.” It also provides that a criminal organization is a group organized to commit a felony or the crime of battery and increases the penalty for assisting a criminal to a Level 6 felony if the person who commits the offense or the person assisted is a member of a criminal organization. The bill also makes criminal organization activity a Level 6 felony, and increases the penalty to a Level 5 felony if the person commits an offense involving the unlawful use of a firearm. Additionally, the bill specifies certain additional evidence that the trier-of-fact may consider in determining whether a person has committed specified offenses involving criminal organizations.
The Marion County Prosecutor testified in favor of the bill. The bill passed 11-0.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2016/bills/senate/141