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
Adoption criminal history check
The House Judiciary Committee heard HB 1048 on adoption criminal history check authored and presented by Rep. Aylesworth. The bill removes the requirement that a criminal history check include information from a national registry of substantiated child abuse and neglect reports in an adoption or guardianship proceeding. Testimony was received from representatives from the Baptist … [Read more...] about Adoption criminal history check
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
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