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
sentencing
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
Plea agreements and sentencing
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. It would also repeal Ind. Code § 35-38-1-1(b)’s requirement that … [Read more...] about Plea agreements and sentencing
Various criminal law matters
S.E.A. 14, P.L. 13 Effective: §§1, 3-20 effective July 1, 2016; §2 effective March 21, 2016 Makes the offense of child exploitation a Level 4 felony instead of a Level 5 felony if the offense involves, depicts, or describes a child less than 18 years of age who: (1) engages in bestiality; (2) is mentally disabled or deficient; (3) participates in the sexual conduct, matter, pe … [Read more...] about Various criminal law matters
Operating while intoxicated
S.E.A. 142, P.L. 26 Effective: July 1, 2016 Provides that a person who commits the offense of causing the death of another person when operating a vehicle: (1) with an alcohol concentration equivalent to at least 0.08 gram of alcohol per 100 milliliters of the person's blood or 210 liters of the person's breath; (2) with a controlled substance listed in schedule I or II or its … [Read more...] about Operating while intoxicated