| I often state that the first responsibility of government is to protect its people and their property. I recently joined the Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law where I have had additional opportunities to put that principle into practice. Today I would like to share three laws I supported as a member of that committee: 1. A constitutional amendment to keep violent criminals out of the community Too many violent and abusive men are arrested for beating their girlfriends or wives and then quickly released. This causes unnecessary fear and danger. The challenge is that the Indiana Constitution, unlike those in a majority of U.S. states, requires judges to permit bail for all individuals unless they are arrested for murder or treason. This is true even if the judge believes the person poses a substantial risk. I support the right to bail, but I believe this overly lenient interpretation endangers Hoosiers unnecessarily. To give judges more discretion, I voted to send a constitutional amendment to a voter referendum this fall. The legislation is known as Senate Joint Resolution 1, and it was accompanied by Senate Enrolled Act 2, which created additional legal protections to ensure those arrested are still treated fairly. SEA 2 guarantees legal protections like the right to an attorney at the bail hearing, the right to present evidence, and the right to have bail set in a timely manner. If approved by voters, these two changes would give judges more discretion to protect the public without sacrificing our constitutional rights. 2. Empowering judges to crack down on intimidation and criminal hate I authored and passed with overwhelming bipartisan support SEA 160, a new law that makes two changes. First, it allows judges to consider harsher penalties for convicted criminals who disguised their faces. Historically, concealing one’s face in public would draw attention. Today, face coverings are more commonplace, making them easier for offenders to use while attempting to avoid identification. This endangers society and consumes more police resources. Thanks to SEA 160, this is now something a judge can consider when crafting an appropriate sentence. The law also updated our littering laws to create the crime of malicious littering. Under the law, this occurs when someone litters with the intent to create fear for physical safety, such as when a hate group dumps thousands of threatening fliers on the property of someone they do not like. 3. Recognizing that animal cruelty is a precursor to human cruelty Studies have long shown that violent offenders will often commit violence against animals first. That’s why I supported a law that makes it easier to intervene before the offender turns to human cruelty. For example, the new law enhances penalties for animal cruelty and animal cruelty in the presence of a minor. It also improves the definitions of animal neglect so that law enforcement can intervene more appropriately. If you have ideas for ways the state can better keep Hoosiers safe, please send them my way. |
