This November, Hoosiers will be asked to vote on an amendment to our state constitution.
In communities across the state, including here in southern Indiana, judges must make difficult decisions about what happens between the arrest of an individual and their trial, especially when it comes to proven dangerous offenders.
Public Question 1 will appear on the ballot this year and allow Hoosiers to approve an amendment to the state's constitution that would allow judges to deny bail to someone if releasing them from jail would put people in danger. Over half the states in our nation allow dangerous suspects to be held without bail, but currently, Indiana's constitution only gives judges the ability to deny bail in murder and treason cases.
For years, we have seen examples of the consequences of allowing bail for historically violent offenders, with individuals being harmed or even killed in entirely preventable circumstances. When someone has clearly shown that the release restrictions placed on them – like GPS monitoring – are not enough to protect the public, we must confront that reality.
We supported legislation that proposed the amendment and put Public Question 1 on the ballot because Hoosiers are tired of seeing the same revolving door of repeat criminals and being afraid in their own communities. This amendment would give Indiana's judges a new tool they can use if they deem it necessary to keep people safe.
Protections for the accused were also put in place with Senate Enrolled Act 2, which guarantees the right of suspects to a speedy bail hearing, an attorney, to a judge putting the reasons for their bail determination in writing and the right to appeal their bail determination.
Both of these efforts passed the legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Our goal as your state senators is to ensure Indiana is a safe place to live, work and raise a family. That's why we supported putting this amendment on the ballot: to keep the most violent offenders off our streets and out of our communities.
Our constitutional rights are fundamental, and so is the safety of our family, friends and neighbors. A fair justice system must protect both.
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