Repeat Offenders Now Held Accountable For Crimes Outside Of IN

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- Officials from Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council say they're applauding Governor Eric Holcomb's Monday signing of a bill that lets courts consider holding a repeat offender fully accountable for their out-of-state convictions for high level felonies during sentencing. Officials say the bill, HB 1033, includes out of state convictions for murder and other major crimes.

According to prosecuting officials, the bill was sponsored in the Indiana House by Reps. Thomas Washburne and Ryan Dvorak, in addition to Senate sponsors Sens. Eric Koch and Joseph Zakas.

“I am grateful that IPAC could work with the General Assembly and Governor Holcomb to enact this change in the law which will help prosecutors around the State of Indiana hold repeat felony offenders accountable," Hancock County Prosecutor Brent Eaton said, in a release sent to Patch. "This change will help prosecutors to keep our communities safe by giving us a tool we can use to seek enhanced sentences when we encounter defendants whose criminal history extends outside of Indiana.”

Officials add that Hendricks County Prosecutor Patricia Baldwin thanked Governor Holcomb for his support, as well as the bill’s House authors and Senate sponsors, saying “This bill makes clear when we can use prior convictions for murder and other violent offenses to appropriately sentence repeat offenders when their prior criminal activity was out of state.”

For more information visit in.gov/ipac/

Indiana prosecuting attorneys from Hancock, Washington and Hendricks County participated in Governor Eric Holcomb's signing of HB 1033 today. The bill holds habitual offenders fully accountable for their out of state criminal history. Front row, from left, are, bill author, Rep. Thomas Washburne, Gov. Holcomb and Senate sponsor, Sen. Eric Koch. Back row, from left, are: Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council Assistant Executive Director Chris Naylor, Hancock County Prosecutor Brent Eaton, Washington County Prosecutor Dustin Houchin and Hendricks County Prosecutor Patricia Baldwin. (Photo courtesy of Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council)