Funding ‘critical’ to continue criminal code reform initiatives
As lawmakers hammer out another biennial budget, officials backing Indiana’s criminal justice reform say money is the key to keeping the effort moving forward.
Drugs
Articles
COA: Exigent circumstances justified warrantless search
An Indiana State Police detective did not violate a man’s constitutional rights when he searched a bag in the man’s vehicle without a warrant because there were exigent circumstances that made the warrantless search reasonable, the Indiana Court of Appeals held Thursday.
Delaware County prosecutor changing how drug cases handled
The top prosecutor in Delaware County says he's changing the way his office handles drug prosecutions.
Southern Indiana courts see rise in heroin, meth sentences
Recently released court statistics show a growing percentage of prisoners sentenced for federal drug crimes in southern Indiana are heroin offenders.
Link between addiction, criminal justice discussed with legislators
In Indianapolis, a person is more likely to die from a drug-related incident than a car crash. This and other drug-related facts where shared with the members of the Indiana House Courts and Criminal Code Committee at a meeting Wednesday. Representatives from the state’s judicial branch were invited to share progress and their concerns regarding Indiana criminal code reform with lawmakers.
COA reverses drug convictions for unreasonable ‘military-style assault’
A “military-style assault” on an Evansville home was unreasonable, a divided Indiana Court of Appeals held Friday, reversing a man’s various felony and misdemeanor drug convictions.
Charges dropped against 2 doctors in painkiller probe
The Wayne County prosecutor has dropped charges against two doctors in an investigation of how drugs were prescribed at an addiction clinic.
Search of man’s mouth ruled unconstitutional
The Indiana Court of Appeals has overturned a man’s conviction, ruling the drugs found in his mouth should be excluded under the “fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine.”
Indiana man among Obama’s granted clemencies nationwide
President Barack Obama has shortened the sentence of an Indiana man convicted of a federal drug crime.
AG-elect says drug offenders need to be held accountable
Since the Legislature revised the state’s criminal code to provide drug treatment and recovery services to low-level drug offenders, Indiana has been brutalized by an opioid epidemic that has led to a resurgence of HIV along with needle exchange programs in eight counties and counting.
Northwest Indiana man gets clemency after 18 years in prison
A northwest Indiana man who served 18 years in prison on drug convictions is enjoying life as a free man after being among the 214 people granted clemency by President Barack Obama this summer.
Drug dealer’s convictions upheld after ‘exceptionally weak’ arguments
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals denied Monday a convicted drug dealer’s appeal of his drug conspiracy and firearm convictions and related sentence, calling his numerous arguments for reversal “exceptionally weak.”
Allen becomes latest Indiana county to offer needle exchange
The Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health said Wednesday the Allen County Syringe Services Program opened in early November and has seen a few visitors. The department says it didn't advertise the opening of the program because it believed a soft opening was the best way to get the word out to those affected.
Mom pleads guilty in connection with Bluffton boy’s death
The mother of a northeastern Indiana boy whose body was found burned in a wooded area has entered into a plea agreement in connection with his death.
Justices: warrantless search OK because of ‘objectively reasonable’ concerns
The Indiana Supreme Court affirmed a man’s drug conviction Tuesday, reiterating that if an officer encounters an emergency situation, then he or she may investigate further without a warrant.
Justices consider transfer of 2 cases related to traffic stops, strip searches
The justices of the Indiana Supreme Court are deciding whether to grant transfer in two cases related to the permissibility of certain police officer actions after hearing arguments on petitions to transfer Tuesday.
Trump Justice Dept. could shift drug prosecution policies
An Obama administration Justice Department that emphasized the need to be "smart on crime" is being replaced with a Trump presidency that campaigned on being "tough on crime."
Judiciary addressing rising number of CHINS cases around state
A sharp increase in the number of case filings involving children in need of services comes as the number of juvenile delinquencies across Indiana is decreasing, which Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush attributes to the state court system’s focus on increasing resources to juvenile courts and assigning appropriate punishments to juvenile offenders.
Rejecting challenge of search, COA affirms cocaine conviction
Deciding that the “community caretaker role” exception to the Fourth Amendment can be extended beyond questions regarding seizures of a vehicle, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a man’s cocaine conviction Monday after finding that evidence of the cocaine was not admitted in violation of his constitutional rights.
New Albany placing moratorium on opioid treatment facilities
A southern Indiana community has decided to place a six-month moratorium on methadone or suboxone clinics.