SCOTUS rejects 3 Indiana cases
The Supreme Court of the United States on Monday declined to review a ruling that struck down Indianapolis’ limits on the hours that adult bookstores can operate.
Indiana Department of Correction
Articles
Plainfield facility to house low-risk, first-time offenders
Gov. Mike Pence announced Thursday the conversion of a Plainfield short-term offender program into an individualized program for first-time, lower-risk offenders sentenced to prison.
Court must reconsider man’s request for credit time
A trial court mistakenly believed it could not award educational credit time to a man serving his sentence on home detention, so the Indiana Court of Appeals ordered the court to re-evaluate his petition.
Prison agency gets $1 million to fight injuries
The Indiana Department of Correction has been awarded nearly $1 million to identify offenders with traumatic brain injuries and help them avoid a return to prison.
Justices affirm adoption despite father’s untimely appeal
The Indiana Supreme Court in its decision affirming the adoption of a girl first tackled the issue of appellate jurisdiction to entertain the biological father’s appeal.
Mentally ill inmates straining jail and DOC resources
An interim legislative committee is examining the need for treatment options but is unsure if funding will be available.
County sheriffs tell dire stories of mentally ill held in local jails
From different communities in different parts of Indiana, two county sheriffs told lawmakers very similar stories about the mentally ill individuals who end up in their jails.
Closure of Indiana juvenile boot camp put on hold
State officials are delaying the closure of a paramilitary-style boot camp for juvenile offenders in northwestern Indiana.
COA affirms reduction of incarcerated father’s child support obligation
A trial court did not abuse its discretion by reducing a father’s child support and arrearage to an absolute minimum level after he requested review of his obligation, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed Friday. The man, who is incarcerated, claimed the court did not consider his income or needs when making the reduction.
Court must make findings in denying visitation for imprisoned dad
A man released to probation on a murder conviction but subsequently ordered to serve the remainder of his sentence following probation violations failed to persuade the Indiana Court of Appeals to reverse denial of his request for parenting time.
Fired DOC counselor’s sex-discrimination claim revived by 7th Circuit
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated a former Department of Correction substance abuse counselor’s lawsuit alleging sex-discrimination and hostile work environment, finding she was treated differently as compared to the employee she had an affair with while working at a maximum-security prison.
Inmate’s action for credit time moot after DOC grants request
A Henry Circuit judge correctly dismissed an inmate’s action for educational credit time as moot after the Department of Correction determined he was entitled to the time and awarded him the credit, the Indiana Court of Appeals held Monday.
Split Supreme Court vacates transfer in re-entry case
The Indiana Supreme Court took action on one case last week, vacating the transfer it granted in April in a case challenging the termination from a county re-entry court program.
Judges order good-time credit reinstated
The head inmate law clerk at an Indiana correctional facility is entitled to the 30 days of good-time credit that the prison revoked after finding he used the library’s computers without authorization. But the inmate was just following orders from prison library staff, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals pointed out.
Man kicked out of community corrections for assaulting inmate loses appeal
A community corrections program has the authority to not accept a man after being released from prison because he kicked another inmate in the face while assigned to a community transition program, the Indiana Court of Appeals held Thursday.
Plea bars man from credit for time served on electronic monitoring
Because a man entered into a plea agreement that he was not entitled to credit for the time he was on electronic monitoring as a condition of bond, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed his 14-year sentence.
Defender’s trial strategy trumps inmate’s pro se early-trial request
A prison inmate who asked for a public defender then said at an initial hearing he wanted to “file for fast and speedy trial too” lost his appeal that argued the court erred by not ruling on his request and his trial counsel was ineffective.
Statute requires state to pay attorney fees on inmate’s appeal
Indiana Code 33-37-2-4 requires the state to pay appellate attorney fees and expenses when an inmate commits a crime in a state correctional facility, the Indiana Court of Appeals held Wednesday.
Supreme Court: Father’s consent not needed in adoption
A father who had been incarcerated and failed to keep up with support payments wasn’t denied due process when the children’s mother remarried and her new husband adopted the children.
Justices: Inmate will serve longer term for punching prison worker
A Department of Correction inmate serving a 17-year sentence was improperly given credit time that reduced his sentence for punching a prison worker in the face.