The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 368 sponsored by Rep. McNamara and Rep. Pierce regarding juvenile justice. The author, Sen. Tallian, introduced the bill which provides for the automatic expungement of certain juvenile offenses when a child reaches nineteen (19) years of age, or one (1) year after the date on which the juvenile court discharges the child. The bill prohibits a juvenile arrestee who meets certain requirements from being housed with adult inmates prior to trial, with certain exceptions. The bill also establishes a procedure for determining juvenile competency.
The bill was amended by consent to direct that after a juvenile court has determined that a child is a dual status child, the juvenile court may refer the child to be assessed by a dual status assessment team instead of requiring the referral. The bill was also amended by consent to clarify that the date the petition is considered to be filed is the date when the child is found to be competent.
The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, Indiana Public Defender Council, Marion County Commission on Youth, Stand for Children, American Academy of Pediatrics, Marion Public Defender Agency, the State Public Defender, and a number of community members testified in support of the bill. The amended bill passed 11-0.
Read the bill at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2021/bills/senate/368