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
sentencing
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]
Catastrophic injury
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. Young’s SB 229 on catastrophic injury. The bill defines "catastrophic injury", and permits a court to impose an additional fixed term of 5-10 years if a person commits certain offenses that cause the victim to suffer catastrophic injury. The bill prohibits imposing an additional fixed term if the same facts necessary to e … [Read more...] about Catastrophic injury
Annual report on criminal code reform
The House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee heard Rep. Steuerwald’s HB 1065 requiring the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute to prepare its annual report on criminal code reform for the governor and the legislative council before December 1 of each year instead of July 1 of each year. The Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Institute testified in support of the bill. … [Read more...] about Annual report on criminal code reform