Legislation We Support:

The Indiana Secure Communities Coalition is proud to endorse House Bill 1648, authored by Rep. Robert Morris, co-authored by Rep. Wendy McNamara, Rep. Beau Baird, and Rep. Justin Moed, and sponsored by Sen. Aaron Freeman and Sen. Greg Taylor.

HB1648 would expand efficient pathways for compassionate release for the elderly and those with serious or life-threatening, costly medical conditions. This improves public safety, benefits Indiana’s taxpayers, eases the burden on the state’s corrections department, and strengthens families across the state.

HB1648 offers 4 evidence-based solutions:

When an incarcerated individual receives a terminal diagnosis, ensuring that their family is notified in a timely manner.
Expanding pathways to compassionate release while preserving public safety.
Requiring timely decisions on petitions for resentencing.
Requiring that the Bureau of Prisons analyze its population and inform anyone who is eligible about these new pathways.

HB1648 applies to 2 categories of people:

People who are considered elderly, meaning those over age 65 who have already served 10+ years – or 50% to 75% – of their sentences.
People who are seriously ill, meaning those with terminal diagnoses or end-of-life trajectories of less than 18 months.

HB1648 is modeled on current federal standards:

These standards for compassionate release are designed to keep recidivism low.
As a point of comparison, individuals who received compassionate release in the federal prison system had a recidivism rate of only 3.5%. That is almost 10 times lower than Indiana’s current recidivism rate.
People who are elderly or terminally ill very rarely pose any danger to public safety as they live out their final days.