State funds for felon treatment programs start flowing
The Indiana Department of Correction has begun disbursing $5 million in new state funding meant to help local communities provide treatment and rehabilitation programs for low-risk offenders.
Indiana Department of Correction
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Advisory council approves recommendations for DOC funds
A recommendation to sprinkle $5 million in new state funding across nearly half of Indiana’s counties has been unanimously approved by the Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council, paving the way to expand treatment and rehabilitation programs to help low-level offenders.
Inmate loses request for Xbox, other privileges
The Department of Correction has a rational reason for limiting which inmates qualify to be housed in a “Honor Unit,” in which they have access to video games and weights, the Indiana Court of Appeals held in affirming summary judgment for the DOC on an inmate’s lawsuit.
Court split over actual notice of defendant’s incarceration
Although “not a fan” of discharges pursuant to Criminal Rule 4(C), an Indiana Court of Appeals judge believes a defendant’s case needs re-examined by the trial court to see if he is entitled to discharge.
DOC recommends stretching $5 million to 41 counties
The Indiana Department of Correction, going against previous advice, has proposed spreading newly available state money around to several counties to help provide rehabilitation and treatment for the low-level offenders who will be coming to county jails.
Communities request more funds than DOC has available
In advance of lower-risk offenders staying in local jails instead of going to state prisons, counties across Indiana have requested more than $17 million from the state. However, for the first round of appropriations this fiscal year, the Department of Correction only has $5 million to give.
Man loses appeal over predator designation
A trial court properly denied a man’s motion for a declaratory judgment seeking to overturn a Department of Correction designation that he is a sexually violent predator and offender against children.
Reversal: Ex-DOC worker wins appeal in bid to marry inmate
A former contract worker who quit her job at an Indiana prison after her sexual relationship with an inmate was discovered was wrongly denied permission to marry him, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday.
Judge: Indiana prisoner’s peyote suit must proceed
An Indiana inmate’s federal lawsuit claiming he has a religious right to use peyote and tobacco must proceed, a judge ruled, though she also made clear state officials may seek a motion to dismiss the case.
Indiana sentencing change delays need for more prison space
Indiana lawmakers' decision to start sending more low-level criminals to community corrections and jails has delayed the state's need for new prison space for at least one year, officials say.
Probationer’s admission to smoking marijuana supports revocation
Because a man on probation admitted to participating in unlawful conduct during his probationary period, the trial court correctly revoked his probation, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled.
Double jeopardy requires reversal of 1 of prisoner’s convictions
An inmate in the Miami Correctional Facility scored a partial victory before the Indiana Supreme Court Tuesday. The justices reversed one of his convictions for battering a correctional officer, but declined to reduce his eight-year sentence.
COA orders man resentenced with credit time considered
Although the Indiana Court of Appeals disagreed with a defendant’s argument on appeal, it still found the trial court erred when it ordered him to serve the entirety of his original sentence without any credit time for time spent on home detention.
Judges tweak offender’s amount of credit time awarded
A trial court incorrectly calculated the amount of credit for the time a man had served prior to the revocation of his probation as well as the sentence imposed after the revocation, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled.
Inmate entitled to hearing on damages following public records request
A Marion County court should have considered a Department of Correction inmate’s claims for civil penalties and court costs against the DOC instead of dismissing the case after the DOC produced the public records the inmate sought, the Court of Appeals ruled.
7th Circuit stresses holding Pavey hearing separate from summary judgment hearing
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment for the Indiana Department of Correction and its commissioner on a disabled inmate’s claims of violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. The judges also suggested that courts do not hold a Pavey hearing at the same time as a hearing on a motion for summary judgment.
Pence’s $51M prison expansion proposal met by skepticism
Gov. Mike Pence's proposal for expanding two state prisons is drawing skepticism from some legislative leaders as it comes just months after Indiana's criminal sentencing laws changed in part to reduce the need for more prison space.
Despite jury instruction error, man’s battery conviction upheld
Although the trial court erred in giving one jury instruction on self defense that only applies when deadly force is involved, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed an inmate’s Class A misdemeanor battery conviction because he otherwise couldn’t prove his self-defense claim.
Woman fails to prove discrimination claims after she lost counseling job
A woman who was not hired by the private company the Department of Correction contracted with to provide counseling for inmates could not prove the company’s decision was due to age or sex discrimination.
DOC credit-time policy does not result in disparate treatment
The Indiana Court of Appeals rejected an inmate’s argument in his lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Department of Correction’s policy concerning the restoration of credit time for inmates. Because the policy does not result in disparate treatment, the judges affirmed the lower court ruling in favor of the DOC.