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
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
Access to identifying information
The House Judiciary Committee heard HB 1274 on access to identifying information authored and presented by Rep. Summers. The bill requires the state registrar to search a database of death certificates if an eligible individual submits a request for release of information of a birth parent or adoptee and provides that the consent for release of information of the birth parent or … [Read more...] about Access to identifying information
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