The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 285 sponsored by Rep. Dermondy and Rep. McMillin on inmate correspondence. Author Sen. Tomes explained that the bill gives offenders within the Department of Correction the option of sending correspondence via electronic mail or through the US Postal Service. Sen. Tomes stated that DOC currently provides offenders with stationery … [Read more...] about Inmate correspondence
sentencing
Murder sentencing; aggravating circumstance
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 385 pertaining to murder sentencing; aggravating circumstance. Author Sen. Hershman introduced the bill explaining that this proposal is a response to the Purdue University shooting last year. The bill creates an aggravating factor to murder if the murder is committed on property owned or rented by an educational … [Read more...] about Murder sentencing; aggravating circumstance
Child exploitation
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 396 on child exploitation. Author Sen. Houchin stated that the decreases in the penalty provisions for child exploitation as a result of the criminal code revision were an oversight. An amendment was adopted removing the second level penalty increases in the bill. The amended bill raises the penalty for possession of child … [Read more...] about Child exploitation
Criminal justice funding
The House Judiciary Committee heard Rep. Steuerwald’s HB 1006 on criminal justice funding. The bill creates the Justice Reinvestment Community Grants Program and provides that the Judicial Center shall develop and administer the program. The bill also provides that the Judicial Center shall award grants to assist with the establishment and maintenance of community corrections p … [Read more...] about Criminal justice funding
Inmate correspondence
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. Tomes’ SB 285 on inmate correspondence. This bill provides that the DOC shall provide, without charge, an inmate with a reasonable method and opportunity for correspondence, and shall permit an inmate to purchase additional opportunities for correspondence, such as email. Sen. Tomes testified that more correspondence with f … [Read more...] about Inmate correspondence