The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard Rep. Washburne’s HB 1091 on accessing child pornography. Rep. Washburne explained that the bill would criminalize viewing child pornography without requiring that it also be possessed. A representative of the Prosecuting Attorneys Council, speaking in support, explained that Indiana law presently only criminalizes downloading ch … [Read more...] about Accessing child pornography
Criminal
Bail and bail agent license renewal
The House Insurance Committee heard Rep. Frizzell’s HB 1137 on bail and bail agent license renewal. This bill decreases the bail agent renewal fee from $600 to $300. The bill also requires a court to declare a bail bond obtained by a defendant by deposit of cash or securities forfeited not later than (rather than not earlier than) 120 days after failure of the defendant to appear. R … [Read more...] about Bail and bail agent license renewal
Rehabilitation progress and recidivism reporting
The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard Rep. Steuerwald’s HB 1349 on rehabilitation progress and recidivism reporting. Indiana Office of Court Services Executive Director Jane Seigel, who serves as chair of the Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council (JRAC), explained that the bill specifies the types of data to be given by criminal justice entities to the DOC for co … [Read more...] about Rehabilitation progress and recidivism reporting
Manufacturing methamphetamine
The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard Rep. Washburne’s HB 1406 on manufacturing methamphetamine. Rep. Washburne explained that the bill establishes manufacturing methamphetamine as an offense separate from delivering methamphetamine and increases the felony Level for manufacturing from Level 5 to Level 4. The bill makes related technical changes in the statutes on re … [Read more...] about Manufacturing methamphetamine
Plea agreements and sentencing [Updated with clarification]
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard Sen. Koch’s SB 120 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. Clarification: This bill does not affect Ind. Code 35-38-1-13; pr … [Read more...] about Plea agreements and sentencing [Updated with clarification]