The House Courts & Criminal Code Committee heard HB 1064 authored by Rep. Steuerwald and co-authored by Rep. Pierce on habitual offender requirements. The bill is meant to clarify legislative intent behind the amendments to I.C. § 35-50-2-8(c) that took effect in 2014 and provides that persons convicted of a new level 5 felony offense will qualify for sentencing as a habitual off … [Read more...] about Habitual offender requirements
sentencing
Crimes involving adoption
The House Courts & Criminal Code Committee heard Rep. Olthoff’s HB 1513 on crimes involving adoption. The bill amends the definition of “advertisement” concerning unauthorized adoption advertising to include communications by any medium; increases, from $3,000 to $4,000, the allowable payment for certain costs and expenses with respect to an adoption. The bill also makes adoption … [Read more...] about Crimes involving adoption
Lifetime parole
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. Zakas’ SB 38 on lifetime parole. The bill requires a sexually violent predator released on lifetime parole to be placed on 24 hour GPS monitoring even if funds have not been specifically appropriated to the Department of Correction for this purpose and requires the parole board to inform the superintendent of the D … [Read more...] about Lifetime parole
Various crimes
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
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