INDIANAPOLIS — A bill that would change the amount of time people arrested for domestic violence must stay in jail is one step closer to the governor’s desk.
Senate Bill 158 would require those arrested for domestic violence to stay in jail for 24 hours before posting bail. Currently, the mandatory holding period is eight hours.
“What we know is that we’re not doing well in this category of folks that are victims of domestic violence,” State Sen. Michael Crider (R-Greenfield) said. “This bill is an attempt to help those victims have more time to get their lives in order and to get separation from the person that intends to cause them harm.”
Those in favor of the bill claim the current eight hour holding period is not long enough.
“A lot of domestic violence arrests take place at night. If you have an injury that doesn’t require you to go to the hospital, but it does need medical care, our victims will wait until the morning to seek medical care,” Courtney Curtis, Assistant Executive Director of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorney’s Council, said. “By the time they get home from the doctor or from even making a statement to the detective, the offender is back in the home.”
The bill will also raise the charge of invasion of privacy to a Level 6 felony if the suspect has a prior unrelated criminal stalking conviction. It is currently a Class A misdemeanor.
The bill passed in the Senate with a 47-2 vote.
The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code voted in favor of the bill on Thursday. The bill will now go to the House floor.
-
IMPD swears in new therapy dog, Officer Grace Luna
IMPD got a new officer! Officer Grace Luna was sworn in as the department's new therapy dog on Monday. The one-year-old Golden Retriever will work in the Victim Assistance Unit.
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator' make gravity-defying theater debuts
With $270 million in worldwide ticket sales, "Wicked" and "Gladiator II" breathed fresh life into a box office that has struggled lately, leading to one of the busiest moviegoing weekends of the year.
Senator wants change following WRTV Investigation into mental health facilities
A state senator is pushing for sweeping change following a WRTV Investigation into a Lawrence mental health facility.
Hoosiers raise awareness about men's health issues for 'Movember'
You may notice many mustachioed men around Central Indiana this November. Some are adorning facial hair to raise awareness of prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide.
