The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard HB 1250 on notice of release and victim notification authored by Rep. O’Brien. The bill requires the department of correction to electronically notify, at least seven days in advance, the: (1) county sheriff; (2) prosecuting attorney; and (3) chief of police; of the county or municipality into which the department will release a serious violent felon, and of the county or municipality where the serious violent felon committed the offense. The bill also requires: (1) a court; and (2) the prosecuting attorney or the prosecuting attorney’s victim assistance program; to notify a victim of the automated victim assistance notification program.
The Committee amended the bill by consent to:
- Provide that a victim has the right to be informed, upon request, about the progress of the criminal case involving the victim.
- Provide that, before hiring a person as a law enforcement officer, a law enforcement hiring department or agency shall request from prior law enforcement employers all documents relating to disciplinary action or internal investigations that involve the person.
- Require notification for juveniles released if they were adjudicated delinquent for an offense that would be a serious violent felony.
The Indiana Association of Realtors, former Mayor of Evansville, and Raindrops Rising Foundation, Inc. testified in support of the bill. The amended bill passed 13-0.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/house/1250/