The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 120, sponsored by Rep. Steuerwald, on plea agreements and sentencing. The bill repeals Ind. Code § 35-35-3-3(b)’s provision that a felony plea agreement, the presentence investigation for it, and the hearing are not part of “’the official record of the case” unless the court approves the agreement.
It also repeals Ind. Code § 35-38-1-1(b)’s requirement that at sentencing the judge advise the defendant he/she is sentenced “for not less than the earliest release date and not more than the maximum possible release date.”
Judge Peter Foley of Morgan Superior 1 testified in support of the bill on behalf of the Judicial Conference. A representative of the Hoosier State Press Association testified in support of the repeal of the plea agreement language. The bill passed 10-0.
Read the bill at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2017/bills/senate/120