Gov. Mike Braun praises new public safety laws
One measure increases the penalties for crimes involving fentanyl and says a court must consider requiring a person charged with domestic violence to wear a monitoring device as a condition of bail.
Domestic Violence
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Domestic violence victim tries to start new life after murder conviction is overturned
Sabrina Dunn said she will always firmly believe she acted in self-defense and used reasonable force when she shot and killed her ex-husband, William “Bill” Dunn.
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Innovation Initiative’s Family Law Taskforce submits recommendations to Supreme Court
With an ultimate goal of improving access to justice in family law cases, the Family Law Taskforce of the Indiana Supreme Court’s Innovation Initiative nailed down more than a dozen recommendations, with five being considered “essential for reform.” Now, that final report is headed to the Indiana justices.
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Down to business: Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence legal team helps survivor untangle from financial mess
A pro bono team of lawyers helped a grateful domestic violence survivor get untangled from a business her ex-husband had set up in her name that left her facing substantial financial obligations.
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Web Exclusive: Domestic violence shelters see fewer calls, more severe cases in pandemic
The silence was deafening. Little to no calls were coming in to the Middle Way House’s domestic violence help and crisis line in the months after Indiana’s stay at home orders, leaving Debra Morrow in a panic. “It got deathly quiet, and to us, that was horrifying. We were worried about those who couldn’t reach out.”
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Articles
Feds crack down on domestic abusers who illegally have guns
The LEATH initiative, which focuses law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who possess firearms illegally, was named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officer Breann Leath, who died in April 2020 while responding to a domestic violence call.
The Supreme Court upholds a gun control law intended to protect domestic violence victims
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a federal gun control law that is intended to protect victims of domestic violence.
Armed abuser sentenced to over two years in federal prison for crimes against girlfriend
A man was sentenced to two years and four months in federal prison after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.
COA rejects jury instruction, double jeopardy challenges to domestic battery, strangulation convictions
Neither a claim of fundamental error nor a claim of double jeopardy undermined a man’s domestic battery and strangulation convictions, the Court of Appeals of Indiana ruled Wednesday.
Supreme Court seems likely to preserve gun law that protects domestic violence victims
The U.S. Supreme Court seemed likely Tuesday to preserve a federal law that prohibits people under domestic violence restraining orders from having guns.
Why one survivor of domestic violence wants the Supreme Court to uphold a gun control law
The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments Tuesday in a challenge to a 1994 law prohibiting people facing domestic violence restraining orders from having guns.
AG’s office gets commitment from landlord to pay $12,000 to domestic abuse survivor
A landlord company has agreed to pay $12,000 to a survivor of domestic abuse and improve its policies addressing domestic violence among tenants, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita’s office announced Thursday.
COA: Trial court committed reversible error in not setting case for jury trial
A trial court committed reversible error when it proceeded to a bench trial rather than setting the case for a jury trial after the defendant was discharged from a pretrial agreement, the Court of Appeals of Indiana has ruled.
DOJ awards more than $58M to domestic, sexual violence legal services
The Justice Department is allocating nearly $60 million to legal services and improved court responses to domestic and sexual violence.
IN justices reinstate 2-year protective order against father in domestic violence case
The Indiana Supreme Court affirmed a two-year protective order Monday for a mother and her child, upholding a trial court’s ruling that the child’s father “represents a credible threat to the safety” of the mother or child.
IN Southern District Court sponsors CLE on representation of domestic violence victims
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is sponsoring a continuing legal education opportunity for attorneys on modest means and pro bono representation of victims of domestic violence in Indiana.
New family domestic violence court launched in Allen County
The Allen Superior Court has launched a new family domestic violence problem-solving court. The Family Domestic Violence Court is meant to provide support, recovery and services to survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence and their families.
COA finds no error, constitutional violation in affirming domestic violence convictions
The Court of Appeals of Indiana has affirmed a man’s multiple convictions stemming from a domestic violence incident, determining there was no error or constitutional violation.
Federal appeals court strikes down domestic violence gun law
A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that the government can’t stop people who have domestic violence restraining orders against them from owning guns.
COA: History of domestic violence in home supports CHINS adjudication
A mother who has been both a “victim and perpetrator” of domestic violence has failed to convince the Court of Appeals of Indiana that her children aren’t CHINS.
COA holds video evidence of little use to defendant
Video from a domestic violence incident at a liquor store would likely not have helped a South Bend man avoid a felony conviction and revocation of his probation, the Court of Appeals of Indiana has ruled.
Split COA reverses protective order against father in ‘close case’
An Indiana woman who secured a protective order against her ex-husband stemming from an incident with their daughter was unable to convince the Court of Appeals of Indiana that the order was necessary.
Ex-judge Bell enters pretrial diversion agreement following felony domestic battery charge
A felony domestic battery charge against former Crawford Circuit Judge Sabrina R. Bell could be dismissed by next summer if she complies with the terms of a pretrial diversion agreement, which includes completing a domestic abuse intervention program.
Interstate custody battle creates UCCJEA precedent: Photos and recordings kept by woman convinced Indiana court to decline jurisdiction
In March of 2021, Aubrey Shoemaker grabbed her child and fled from Indiana to the safety of her family in Alabama. The next day, she walked into an Alabama courthouse and filed a petition for an order of protection against her husband, Austin Shoemaker. Three days later, Austin filed for divorce and emergency custody of his child in Henry Circuit Court. Thus started a fight that initially involved two trial courts in different states issuing conflicting orders.