Tell the Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee to Schedule a Hearing on HB 1648

Indiana prisons are suffering from a rapid increase in the number of elderly and terminally ill people behind bars with daunting medical needs and too few pathways to safe, compassionate release.

The Indiana Secure Communities Coalition has endorsed legislation that would help ease this burden on our corrections system and increase safety in our communities. House Bill 1648 has already passed the House by an overwhelming 89-1 majority.

Momentum is on our side, but critical legislative deadlines are approaching --and the Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee has not yet scheduled a hearing on the bill. If that doesn’t happen soon, we will miss this important opportunity for reform.

House Bill 1648 would establish pathways to safe and compassionate release by enabling sick, elderly, and dying individuals behind bars to petition the court to modify their sentence. It would also require timely decisions on these modification petitions to prevent people from tragically dying in prison while awaiting a decision.

Elderly and terminally ill individuals are among the most expensive to house in our prisons and the least likely to commit future crimes in our community.

HB 1648 is evidence-based policy and its benefits would extend deep into our communities by increasing public safety and decreasing wasteful state spending. We need to let Senators know that these reforms are worthwhile.

Please use this form to send an email to Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee members. Tell them you support smart, effective improvements to Indiana’s criminal justice system. Tell them that you need them to schedule a hearing and vote YES on HB 1648!