The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. Young’s SB 424 on various crimes. The bill provides the following: amends crime of strangulation to include application of pressure to a victim's torso, and increases the penalty to a Level 5 felony if it is knowingly committed against a pregnant woman creates an enhancement to obstruction of justice if a person i … [Read more...] about Various crimes
Criminal
Substance abuse pilot program
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard Sen. Merritt’s SB 510 on a substance abuse pilot program. The bill allows the Allen superior court to establish a substance abuse pilot program to assist persons in the criminal justice system who require addiction treatment and assistance with developing a long term plan for sober living. The bill also makes an appropriation. Judge Wendy Davis o … [Read more...] about Substance abuse pilot program
Commitment to DOC for a Level 6 felony
The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard Rep. Steuerwald’s HB 1010 on commitment to DOC for a Level 6 felony. Rep. Steuerwald explained that the bill, endorsed by the Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council (JRAC), would clarify when certain Level 6 felons could be committed to the Department of Corrections (DOC). The Indiana Public Defender Council’s Larry Landis, chair … [Read more...] about Commitment to DOC for a Level 6 felony
Monetary awards for exonerated prisoners
The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard Rep. Steuerwald’s HB 1062 on monetary awards for exonerated prisoners. The author explained that the bill establishes a DNA exoneration fund, with an initial $200,000 appropriation, to pay convicted persons exonerated by DNA evidence $25,000 for each year of wrongful incarceration in the Department of Corrections. Rep. Porter and … [Read more...] about Monetary awards for exonerated prisoners
Accessing child pornography
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