ACLU says prisons not complying with court order
A federal judge has ordered the Indiana Department of Correction to come to her courtroom Wednesday and explain its "precise plans" for improving the treatment of mentally ill prisoners.
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Counties worry about cost of sentencing overhaul
Indiana counties could be forced to pay some of the costs of a change in the state’s criminal code that is designed to keep low-level offenders out of prison while ensuring the worst serve more of their sentences.
Low-level felons could get less prison time under plan
Indiana lawmakers have reached a compromise that would direct more non-violent, low-level felons to work release and other local programs rather than sending them to prison.
Senate passes new criminal sentencing rules
Supporters hope changes to sentencing laws will direct more people convicted of low-level felonies to work release and other local programs. It also would require those convicted of the most-serious crimes to spend more time in prison.
Cost concerns linger for state sentencing overhaul
A plan to overhaul Indiana’s criminal sentencing laws is moving through the Legislature with broad bipartisan support, although some county officials are worried it will shift costs to the local level.
Indiana House panel backs sentencing-laws overhaul
A sweeping plan to overhaul Indiana's criminal sentencing laws cleared its first hurdle in the Legislature on Wednesday with the support of law-enforcement groups that had scuttled similar efforts the past two years.
Council mulls axing applications’ prior-conviction box
City-County Councilor Vop Osili thinks the city could level the job-seeking playing field for ex-offenders by eliminating the question of past convictions on job applications.
State sentencing overhaul to take another year
Legislators stung last year by county prosecutors who opposed a sweeping plan to overhaul Indiana’s criminal sentencing scheme won’t push the issue this year. Sheriffs now are worried that an attempt to reduce crowding in state prisons could aggravate overpopulation in their jails.
Lawmaker: Prison land sale may pose safety threat
Democratic state Rep. Scott Reske said the sale of nine tracts of land surrounding the Pendleton Correctional Facility would cut in half a state-owned buffer zone between Pendleton's Fall Creek Elementary School and the town's two prison facilities.
SHELLA: Indiana Legislature likely to deliver the unexpected
If you want to know what really matters in the upcoming legislative session it’s likely impossible to find out now.
Critics: City’s effort to help ex-offenders ineffective
Three years after Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard launched a city office designed to help ex-offenders avoid a repeat prison visit, some of those original supporters say the city’s Office of Re-Entry Initiatives not only has fallen short of that goal but has accomplished little else.
Budget cuts will limit Indiana inmate education
ndiana lawmakers' decision to cut off grants to state prison inmates attending college could make it harder for prisoners to find employment when they're released, supporters of the program fear.
Prescription drug abuse growing problem in Indiana
Prescription drugs are playing an increasing role in the drug-related crimes that are filling up Indiana's prisons, prison officials and prosecutors said.
Daniels’ plan on sentencing changes appears dead
Daniels had made revamping of the criminal sentencing laws one of his top priorities for this year's legislative session, but lawmakers handling the bill said Tuesday they hadn't been able to reach a compromise and didn't expect more action before the General Assembly's April 29 adjournment deadline.
Prosecutors buck effort to trim state prison costs
Angry prosecutors have derailed a legislative plan to reduce Indiana's corrections costs by shortening some criminal sentences, and now the state seen as a national model for fiscal austerity could be forced to find millions of dollars for new prisons.
Senate committee passes sentencing-reform bill
An Indiana Senate committee has passed a plan that would keep violent felons in prison longer and reduce punishments for many thefts and drug crimes.
New state prisons chief, utility board member named
Gov. Mitch Daniels has appointed a new leader for Indiana's prisons system and selected a new member for the state utility commission to replace a member ousted because of an ethics controversy with Duke Energy.
Indiana chief justice endorses sentencing changes
A report suggests allowing judges to sentence people convicted of lesser felonies to community corrections, which would help free up prison space for the state’s worst offenders and potentially saving more than $1 billion that would otherwise go toward building new prisons.
Indiana prisons chief heading to Florida
Florida Gov.-elect Rick Scott, who takes office on Jan. 4, on Tuesday named Indiana corrections chief Ed Buss to run Florida’s massive prison system.
State lawmakers face tough choices over prison costs
Indiana lawmakers will swim rough political waters next year when deciding whether to spend millions more on overcrowded prisons or reducing prison sentences and being seen as soft on crime.