Sentencing Policy Study Committee

The Sentencing Policy Study Committee consists of the following fifteen members:

State Senator David Long, SD 16, Fort Wayne, IN *Chair
State Representative William Crawford, HD 9, Indianapolis, IN
State Senator Glenn Howard, SD 33, Indianapolis, IN
Sheila Hudson, Allen County Community Corrections
Steve Johnson, Indiana Prosecuting Attorney’s Council
Larry Landis, Public Defender Council
Judge David Matsey, Starke Circuit Court
R. Todd McCormack, Hendricks County Superior Courts Probation
State Representative Luke Messer, HD 57, Shelbyville, IN
Judge Tanya Walton Pratt, Marion County Criminal Court 1
Judge Judith S. Profitt, Hamilton Circuit Court
Chief Justice Randall Shepard, Indiana State Supreme Court
Robin Tew (replaced Joe Koenig), Criminal Justice Institute
Commissioner Evelyn Ridley-Turner, Indiana Department of Correction
Judge James R. Williams, Union Circuit Court

The committee was created as a result of two parallel bills introduced in the legislature, one in the House and the other in the Senate. Senator David Long, is the Chair of the Committee. Committee members were either appointed through the requirements of the Bill and/or were appointed by the Governor. The Committee has an appointment term of one and a half (1 _) years with the term expiring December 31, 2004.

The following describes the purpose and mission of the Committee:
A SENATE RESOLUTION urging the Legislative Council to create an interim study committee or to direct an appropriate existing committee to examine issues relating to criminal sentencing.

Whereas, the General Assembly has strengthened Indiana criminal laws to better protect the public;
Whereas, the population of jails and prisons has increased, at least in part, as a result of these stronger criminal laws;

Whereas, the General Assembly has established the Sentencing Policy Study Committee to review various aspects of sentencing including the impact on increasing prison populations; and

Whereas, the General Assembly is examining alternative sentences and policies, in part, in order to determine whether methods can be developed to decrease the costs of incarceration while maintaining safety priorities: Therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate of the

General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
SECTION 1. That the Indiana General Assembly recognizes the importance of reviewing policies related to sentencing.
SECTION 2. That the Legislative Council is urged to direct the Sentencing Policy Study Committee, or an existing committee, or interim study committee to determine whether a program should be developed to decrease prison costs by releasing prisoners in an appropriate manner, such that they would not pose a threat to Hoosiers. Such a program may include advancing age, infirmity, educational improvement, or other meaningful factors which, taken together, could serve as grounds for release, while maintaining public safety as a priority.
SECTION 3. That the study committee, if directed to take such action, shall operate under the direction of the Legislative Council and shall issue a final report when directed to do so by the Council.
The Committee is staffed and assisted by the Criminal Justice Institute and Legislative Services Administration.
To date, the Committee has heard testimony from a number of interested parties including: probation, community corrections, the Department of Corrections, mental health, and law enforcement. Testimony and the following questions are often directed towards policies and procedures that will assist in diverting appropriate offenders from being incarcerated in the Department of Correction. There is an emphasis on the need to reduce costs to taxpayers associated with growing prison populations.
The Committee will resume with the first meeting on May 6, 2004, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., in Room 431 (Senate Finance Committee Room) of the State House. The meetings are open to the public and interested parties are invited to attend.
In the near future, Judges, Chief Probation Officers, Prosecutors, and Public Defenders will be receiving a survey from the Committee, requesting information about what works and what doesn’t work from their perspectives.
You are encouraged to contact any of the Committee members with issues, questions, and concerns.