Police seek man who fled Greenfield jail while taking out trash
Police were searching Monday for an Indianapolis man who escaped from a central Indiana county’s jail as he was taking trash to dumpsters behind the jail building.
Jails
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Web Exclusive: Incarcerated vets pay it forward with challenge coins
A group of incarcerated veterans dedicated to encouraging their fellow servicemen participating in a veteran’s treatment court program have, for the past several years, made an impact by taking up their pencils and paintbrushes.
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Web Exclusive: Artwork created by inmates highlights recovery, healing from substance abuse
The biblical words “love is patient, love is kind,” have significant meaning to close friends Lonisha Johnson and Kristy Johnson, both of whom are incarcerated at the Clark County Jail.
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Home again: Elkhart man released after 15 years in prison, but case likely isn’t over
Andrew Royer has been granted a new trial after a special judge determined his 2005 trial was tainted by false evidence and coercive investigative techniques that exploited his mental disability. But the possibility of a retrial remains.
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New law gives moms, dads behind bars hope in TPR cases
Christina Kovats and Kristina Byers previously served time at the Indiana Women’s Prison, and this year they became advocates who worked to draft Indiana legislation aimed at dismantling the black-and-white mentality regarding termination of parental rights for incarcerated mothers. A new law now gives judges discretion in TPR cases involving parents behind bars.
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Articles
Justices urged to clear Putnam Co. prosecutor over undisclosed testimony deal
The elected Putnam County prosecutor should not be disciplined for accusations that he failed to disclose a deal for testimony from a witness who claimed he was wrongly identified, placing him in danger behind bars as a “snitch.” The hearing officer in Timothy Bookwalter’s attorney discipline case said the prosecutor violated no rules, should not be punished and urged the Indiana Supreme Court to re-examine the ethical duties of prosecutors.
Community Justice Campus nears completion
Marion County’s ambitious plan to put the various pieces of the local justice system onto a single campus is on schedule to be completed at the end of 2021. The Indianapolis-Marion County Community Justice Center, located just southeast of downtown in the Twin Aire neighborhood, will be home to the county jail, the sheriff’s office and the county courthouse. Earlier this year, the Assessment and Intervention Center opened and is treating individuals with mental health and addiction issues.
ACLU, advocacy groups call for equitable COVID-19 vaccination plan
The ACLU of Indiana, joined by several community organizations, is calling on Gov. Eric Holcomb to prioritize the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine for Hoosiers who have been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus, including those who are incarcerated and are minorities.
Murder suspect fled through van window at Gary McDonald’s
A man charged with murder escaped by jumping through an open window in a transport van while it was stopped at a McDonald’s, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said.
Ex-Charlestown zoo owner released from jail as nonprofit is dissolved
The controversial owner of a now-defunct Charlestown zoo is vowing to “prepare for war” after his roadside attraction was formally dissolved.
Supreme Court arguments set in child neglect case after defendant released from jail
Indiana Supreme Court justices are set to hear oral argument in a neglect and battery case next week, where a man accused of battering a toddler was ordered released from jail earlier this year by the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Indiana AG candidate calls for Indiana to legalize pot
The Democratic candidate for Indiana attorney general is calling on the state to legalize marijuana, saying that doing so would reduce the state’s prison and jail populations and generate millions of dollars for public education.
COA affirms reincarceration of man erroneously released years early
A man who was erroneously released from prison more than two years early must return to the Department of Correction after the Indiana Court of Appeals declined to adopt a doctrine that would award him credit for the time he was free.
Escaped Kentucky inmate captured in southern Indiana
An inmate who escaped from a Kentucky jail last month by climbing through a hole in a jail window has been captured in southern Indiana, authorities said.
Police: 3 charged in neglect of Indiana woman in their care
A southeastern Indiana woman has been charged with neglect of a dependent and criminal confinement after a straitjacket allegedly was put on a 22-year-old woman in her care.
Marion County inmate dies after alleged assault by inmate
A 38-year-old inmate at the Marion County Jail has died after alleged assault by another inmate, authorities said Sunday.
COA affirms denial of accused killer’s release in drug deal case
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed the denial of a St. Joseph County man’s motion for release on bail after he was arrested and charged with murder stemming from a fatal drug deal.
ISBA section calls for nonviolent sentencing reforms
More than six years after sweeping criminal code reforms were enacted in Indiana, a section of the Indiana State Bar Association is calling for additional sentencing reforms to establish parity with those who received longer sentences before the reforms were enacted.
Jeffersonville library showcases jail inmates’ ‘Art of Recovery’
For Angela Jackson, a woman incarcerated in the Clark County Jail on drug charges, creating art is a form of meditation that stills her mind. She’s one of about 15 people from the jail with art on display at the Jeffersonville Township Public Library through the end of the month in a series titled “Unchained: Art of Recovery from the Clark County Jail.”
State police probe jail death of woman held in isolation
State police are investigating the death of a mother of four who was found unresponsive last weekend in a cell at a northeastern Indiana jail where she was being held in isolation. She died after spending several days in jail after she was arrested on a warrant on a misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge, online court records show.
Man charged with killing wife whose head found in cellar
A Crawfordsville man has been charged with killing his wife whose severed head was found buried in his cellar, authorities said.
Prosecutors: Envelope DNA linked man to cold case rapes, assaults
A man is being held in Shelbyville on a $20 million bond after he was linked to a series of sexual assaults in a central Indiana county more than 30 years ago by his DNA on an envelope for a utility bill payment, authorities said.
Studies show initial success in state pretrial release assessments
With the implementation of Criminal Rule 26 in January, courts across Indiana have been required to begin using evidence-based practices to make pretrial release decisions. But do those practices actually improve the criminal justice system?
Suspended trials create backlog in Vanderburgh County courts
Jury trials suspended since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic has created a backlog of cases, including in southwestern Indiana. Hundreds of people are jailed in Evansville awaiting trial.