Urging the Legislative Council to assign the topic of the effectiveness of awarding time off of sentences for individuals serving sentences at the Indiana DOC participating in the CPCT Program.
Impact
The introduction of SR0037 follows the passage of House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1120 in 2020, which allowed for the awarding of credit time to incarcerated individuals based on their progress in completing their individualized case management plans. This act was aimed at providing incentives that would prompt inmates to participate more actively in programs designed to rehabilitate them, thereby hopefully reducing the likelihood of re-offending after their release.
Summary
Senate Resolution 0037 urges the Indiana Legislative Council to assign the topic of the effectiveness of awarding time off of sentences to an appropriate study committee. Specifically, it relates to individuals serving sentences at the Indiana Department of Corrections (DOC) who participate in the Case Plan Credit Time (CPCT) Program. The resolution reflects the necessity of evaluating the effectiveness of this program, which aims to incentivize incarcerated individuals to engage in rehabilitation efforts to lower recidivism rates.
Contention
While the resolution notes that over 18,000 individuals, or approximately 82% of the DOC's incarcerated population, participated in the CPCT Program, it highlights concerns raised in a DOC report that the full effects of the program have yet to be realized. Consequently, there is an apparent need for further assessment to determine the efficacy of the CPCT Program in achieving its goals. This discussion could generate contention over the allocation of resources for rehabilitation versus punishment in the criminal justice system.
Urging the Indiana Department of Transportation to rename the bridge on State Road 29 over Wildcat Creek in Burlington, Indiana, as the "Donald L. Mills Memorial Bridge".