Lawmakers prepare to hear slew of criminal justice bills Tuesday

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Lawmakers are set to consider numerous criminal justice bills on Tuesday, including measures on bail funding, self-defense, HIV-related enhancements, victim compensation and more.

Members of the Senate Corrections and Criminal Law committee will kick off Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. EST by hearing a slew of bills concerning a variety of criminal justice matters.

Among them are a collection authored by five Republican state senators representing parts of Marion County who have targeted bail and electronic monitoring policies, as well as greater inter-agency cooperation and extra funding.

Senate Bill 6, authored by Sen. Mike Young of Indianapolis, would limit bail for “violent” arrestees.

Senate Bill 7, penned by Sen. Jack Sandlin of Indianapolis, would push public safety agencies operating specifically in downtown Indianapolis to cooperate more easily through a pilot “crime reduction board.”

Senate Bill 8, brought by Indianapolis Sen. Aaron Freeman, would prohibit charitable bail organizations from bailing out individuals charged with a felony.

Additionally, Senate Bill 9, authored by Sen. Kyle Walker, R-Lawrence, would crack down on electronic monitoring, while Sen. Michael Crider’s Senate Bill 10 would launch a pilot program to give “high-crime” areas extra funds for overtime and other services.

Other bills that could be heard in the Senate committee hearing include Senate Bill 143, dealing with self defense and reasonable force; SB 155, concerning human trafficking; SB 209 dealing with drug schedules; and SB 308, concerning reimbursement for public defender services.

The House Court and Criminal Code committee will meet later in the day upon adjournment of the Indiana House of Representative’s session, which is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m.

There, lawmakers have five bills on the docket to be heard, starting with House Bill 1032. The measure, authored by Rep. Sean Eberhart, R-Shelbyville, would remove sentencing enhancements for battery and malicious mischief that relate to HIV.

Legislation brought by Rep. Sharon Negele, R-Attica, House Bill 1292 concerning compensation for victims of violent crimes, is also scheduled to be heard.

Additional bills on the docket before the House committee include House Bill 1294, dealing with restraint if pregnant inmates; HB 1217, concerning coerced abortions; and HB 1369, dealing with sentencing matters.

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