The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. Young’s SB 229 on catastrophic injury. The bill defines “catastrophic injury”, and permits a court to impose an additional fixed term of 5-10 years if a person commits certain offenses that cause the victim to suffer catastrophic injury. The bill prohibits imposing an additional fixed term if the same facts necessary to establish the catastrophic injury are used to prove an element of the offense.
The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council testified in favor of the bill. The Indiana Public Defender Council testified in favor of the bill’s concept, explaining that the bill’s intent would be better achieved as a revision to the statute. The bill was held for further review.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2017/bills/senate/229