Juvenile incarceration, crime falling nationwide
Advocates say alternatives to detention are benefiting kids, and Indiana is in line with statistics showing that across the country, youth incarceration and juvenile crime are declining.
Juvenile justice
Articles
Teen convicted of murder wins resentencing due to ineffective counsel
A man who as a 16-year-old received a 181-year sentence for murder in entitled to a new sentencing hearing. The Indiana Court of Appeals concluded the Lake County teen was denied effective trial counsel during his sentencing hearing.
Introduced, debated but not passed in the General Assembly
Not every bill introduced gains the traction needed to get to the governor’s desk. Many times, a proposed new law fails to get a committee hearing, or it stalls once it reaches the floor. Other times, as a measure progresses through the Statehouse, it ignites disagreements that are ultimately too much to overcome.
Witness against Gary teen in mom’s slaying gets time served
A young man who was a key witness in the case against a Gary teenager accused of stabbing her mother more than 60 times has been sentenced to time served.
Legislative Council approves 2019 interim committees
Study committees for the 2019 interim period have been approved by Indiana’s Legislative Council and will address dozens of issues for review in the coming months, including several legal-focused topics.
Justices consider whether Skype appearance violated juveniles’ rights
Indiana Supreme Court justices heard arguments in two consolidated and procedurally identical cases Thursday, questioning whether two juveniles who appeared at disposition modification hearings via Skype were denied their rights to be present.
Bill to try 12-year-olds as adults for attempted murder fails
An effort to change Indiana law so that children as young as 12 could face attempted murder charges in adult court has failed in the state Legislature.
COA upholds trial court’s denial of motion to waive juvenile murder delinquent to adult court
The Indiana Court of Appeals declined to reverse a trial court’s decision not to waive a juvenile murder case to adult court after it concluded there was sufficient evidence to support the decision.
Juvenile waiver bill stirs controversy at Statehouse
A proposal that would send children as young as 12 to adult court on attempted murder charges sailed through one house of the Indiana General Assembly before meeting resistance — including from a bill sponsor.
Bill in response to Noblesville school shooting stalls amid concerns
A bill that would lower to 12 the age a juvenile charged with attempted murder could be tried as an adult has stalled in a House committee and does not have strong support from the chair, who is also a sponsor of the measure.
Aggravators can’t include nonadjudicated juvenile actions, COA says
In granting a petition for rehearing Thursday, the Indiana Court of Appeals explicitly came down against using juveniles' nonadjudicated contacts with the criminal justice system as an aggravating factor in future sentencing. However, in light of other evidence of the petitioner’s criminal history, the court reaffirmed its prior decision to uphold a man’s sentence.
Prevention-based pilot program for at-risk juveniles advances
A bill that would allow the Indiana Supreme Court to establish a preventive pilot program targeting at-risk juveniles won the approval of the House Judiciary Committee Monday, advancing to the House floor.
Justices grant transfer in three juvenile, young adult cases
The Indiana Supreme Court chose to grant transfer to three cases during the past week, including commitments to the Indiana Department of Corrections. The court also granted transfer and decided a case granting relief to a deported “Dreamer.”
17-year-old charged with murder in 2 Porter County deaths
A 17-year-old Indiana youth faces murder charges for allegedly killing two other teens in what police say an informant told them was a drug deal gone bad. Porter County prosecutors say Connor R. Kerner of Valparaiso is charged as an adult in the deaths of 18-year-old Thomas Grill and 19-year-old Molley Lanham.
Boy, 11, charged after shooting state-trooper dad
Authorities say an 11-year-old Indiana boy who shot and wounded his state-trooper father has been charged as a juvenile with attempted murder. St. Joseph County prosecutors have filed a petition alleging delinquency for attempted murder, the juvenile equivalent of a criminal charge.
Boy, 17, to face murder charges in case of 2 missing teens
A prosecutor says a teenage boy will be charged with murder in connection with the disappearance of two northwestern Indiana teenagers. Porter County Prosecutor Gary Germann said Sunday the 17-year-old boy is expected to be charged Monday with two counts of murder related to the disappearance of eighteen-year-old Thomas M. Grill, Jr. and 19-year-old Molley R. Lanham.
Senate committee splits over homeless youth bill
A bill that would assist homeless youths in getting access to various documents that could help them find employment passed through a committee Thursday, but not without concerns.
Senate backs study of juvenile justice system
Concerns surrounding the way Indiana adjudicates and rehabilitates its juvenile offenders has resulted in the proposal of a summer interim committee to address how adequately the juvenile justice system is governed.
David, Goff publish dissent after justices let stand parents’ reimbursement order
Two Indiana Supreme Court justices have once again published a dissent from a 3-2 transfer ruling, which this time let stand a monthly reimbursement order for the parents of an adjudicated teen despite their alleged struggle to meet the payment requirements. Justices Steven David and Christopher Goff argued the trial court should have conducted a specific inquiry into the parents’ ability to pay the ordered reimbursement.
State loses appeal to waive teen to adult court in fatal crash case
The state failed to convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that a juvenile court erred in denying a motion to waive to adult court a Vigo County teen accused of causing a fatal car crash.