By State Sen. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper)
Understanding what crimes are being committed in Indiana and how best to tackle them will help ensure legislators are doing what's best to keep Hoosiers safe.
This year, the Interim Study Committee on Corrections and Criminal Code was asked to review current trends of criminal behavior, sentencing, incarceration and treatment in order to determine how to best move forward with tackling crime in Indiana.
During a committee meeting in October, the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council gave a presentation on crime trends in recent years.
According to the data provided, the top felony filing in Indiana since 2019 has been possession of methamphetamine. Possession of a syringe was the second-highest felony filing from 2019 through 2022, while domestic battery was second between January and June 2023.
Alarmingly, since 2015, the number of murders in Indiana has increased by 43%.
During the 2023 legislative session, the General Assembly gave initial approval for Senate Joint Resolution 1, which would amend Indiana's Constitution to allow a judge to deny bail to anyone considered a substantial risk to the public.
Because this is an amendment to the state's constitution, the resolution will need to be approved again during either the 2025 or 2026 legislative session before it can be included on the ballot for Hoosiers to vote.
Keeping our families safe from criminals is one of my top priorities, and I will always work to ensure our communities are protected.
As always, feel free to contact my office directly with your questions and concerns by email at Senator.Messmer@iga.in.gov or by phone at 800-382-9467.
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State Sen. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) represents Senate District 48, which
includes Crawford, Dubois, Gibson, Perry, Pike and Spencer counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
