Judge sets June hearing for woman accused of killing 2 kids
A northern Indiana judge has set a June hearing on whether a woman accused of killing her two children is fit to stand trial.
mental health
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Man who spat in woman’s face loses appeal
The Indiana Court of Appeals has confirmed a battery conviction against a man who spat in a woman’s face after finding that minor discrepancies in the charging information and evidence at trial did not undermine the case.
COA affirms neglect conviction against man with intellectual disability
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the felony neglect conviction of a Wayne County man with a mild intellectual disability, finding that the state presented sufficient evidence to prove that he knowingly neglected his child leading to the boy’s death, and that the testimony of two medical experts was proper.
COA orders new attempted murder trial
The Indiana Court of Appeals has ordered a new trial in a Greene County attempted murder case after finding the trial court incorrectly applied the standard of a “knowing” mens rea, rather than a “specific intent to kill.”
City sues drugmaker for letting OxyContin flood black market
As deaths from painkillers and heroin abuse spiked and street crimes increased, the mayor of Everett, Washington, took major steps to tackle the opioid epidemic devastating this working-class city north of Seattle. He sued the maker of OxyContin.
Western Indiana police get training on handling mentally ill
Police officers in Terre Haute are among those taking a weeklong Crisis Intervention Training Program organized by local and state organizations to build stronger relationships between law enforcement, mental health agencies and the local chapter of National Association of Mental Illness.
Man accused of eating girlfriend to get mental evaluations
A southern Indiana man accused of killing his former girlfriend and eating parts of her body in 2014 will undergo psychiatric evaluations, despite his insistence that he's competent for trial.
Lawyer: Experts say man who beheaded son ready for release
A lawyer in Virginia Beach, Virginia said experts believe her client is ready to be released from a Virginia psychiatric hospital where he was sent after decapitating his 5-year-old son and saying he was trying to save the boy from the Antichrist.
Attorneys of man accused of eating girlfriend say he’s not competent for trial
Attorneys for a southern Indiana man accused of killing his former girlfriend and eating parts of her body in 2014 say he's not competent to stand trial.
Indiana man charged in dad’s killing to use insanity defense
A northeast Indiana man charged with killing his father plans to use an insanity defense when he goes to trial in Auburn.
Justices revise sentence of man with mental illness
The justices of the Indiana Supreme Court have revised the sentence of a Daviess County man with a history of mental illness who was convicted of burglary, drawing on the dissent of Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Paul Mathias, who advocated for treatment for offenders who are mentally ill.
Young attorneys, law students prone to mental health issues
Stresses from school and adapting to one's first legal job can lead to poor health and self-medicating, but confidential assistance is available.
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.
Ex-Supreme Court employee suing high court for discrimination, retaliation
A former Indiana Supreme Court employee is suing the state’s highest court for alleged ongoing disability discrimination and retaliatory actions.
Hogsett pushes ‘bold’ criminal justice reform
The new jail proposal also emphasizes early intervention, treatment and diversion.
COA reaffirms decision imposing sanctions on mental health service provider
The Indiana Court of Appeals has reaffirmed an earlier decision finding that sanctions against a mental health provider were warranted, making clear Friday that it fully understood why the sanctions were imposed.
Errors lead to reversal of veteran’s involuntary commitment
A trial court’s order mandating the involuntary commitment of a veteran has been vacated after the Indiana Court of Appeals found that the Department of Veterans Affairs failed to follow proper legal protocol in serving documents and did not prove that the veteran posed a risk to himself or others.
Mental defect defense sought for woman in Amber Alert deaths
Attorneys for an Indiana woman accused of abducting her two young children and smothering them are seeking a defense of mental disease or defect for her.
Rule amended to exclude mental health cases from public access
Records in some mental health cases may now be kept from the public after the Indiana Supreme Court added an amendment to an existing rule dealing with access to court records.
COA affirms woman’s involuntary commitment despite moot appeal
Although the term of her commitment in an Indiana mental health facility had already expired, the Indiana Court of Appeals chose Thursday to hear a woman’s moot appeal of her commitment and affirm it, writing that the case needed to be heard as a matter of great public importance.