The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. M. Young’s SB 228 on bail. The bill codifies bail guidelines recommending that arrestees, with some exclusions, who do not present a substantial risk of flight or danger be released without bail, subject to restrictions determined by the court. The bill also repeals a provision relating to the impeachment of witnesses.
An amendment was adopted by consent to codify the substantive aspects of bail (use of evidence-based risk assessment tools to determine bail based on offense and failure to appear) while leaving procedural rules on bail to the Supreme Court. The Office of Judicial Administration, American Bail Coalition, Indiana Prosecuting Attorney’s Council and Indiana Public Defender Council testified on the bill and amendment. The bill passed as amended 8-1.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2017/bills/senate/228.