Alternative sentencing and community corrections

The Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Study Committee traditionally has a heavy interim workload, and this year is no exception. Among the topics assigned for review in 2010, the committee is looking at state’s alternative sentencing programs, community corrections and parole and probation matters.

Despite the first decline in nearly 40 years in state prison populations nationwide, Indiana’s prison population increased by 5.3% – more than any other state – from 2008 to 2009.    – “Prison Count 2010” by the Pew Center on the States

Watch the video update recorded after the meeting by committee member Sen. Lindel Hume of Princeton:

Also from the committee hearing:

• Kellie Bittorf, Lake Co. Community Corrections Director presented the local program’s 2009-2010 Annual Report, including success statistics.
• The Dept. of Corrections also presented information on the state’s Community Corrections Substance Abuse Programs.

The Criminal Code Evaluation Commission, another group that meets during the legislative interim, will also being playing a similar role as part of a comprehensive review of Indiana’s criminal code and sentencing policies. Announced in June 2010 by Gov. Daniels, the review will be conducted through a partnership with the Pew Center on the States and the Council of State Governments’ Justice Center and is aimed at improving public safety by reducing recidivism and managing the growth of Indiana’s prison population. A steering committee will share proposals with the Criminal Code Evaluation Commission, which will provide recommendations to the General Assembly by November 1, 2011.

Read earlier posts on the Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Committee’s work on Sexting>> and The impact of methamphetamine>>

2-1-1 in demand – and in need

Lucinda Nord, Vice President of Indiana Association of United Ways, and Attorney General Greg Zoeller testified before the Regulatory Flexibility Committee on September 28 to explain the need for additional funding for 2-1-1 services in Indiana.

Currently, most IN211 Centers are privately funded though local United Ways, community foundations, or other private donors. A state fund was established for 2-1-1 in 2004 by the General Assembly. But since that time, the demand for 2-1-1 services has doubled, but no state dollars have been deposited into the account.

Nord testified that as the recession and high unemployment rates have increased the need for social service referrals, Indiana’s 211 call centers have not been able to keep pace with demands.

Full implementation of the 2-1-1 program would cost an estimated $1.00-1.50 per capita, or $6.3-6.9 million per year. Currently, 2-1-1 is operating with approximately $3.8 million in private donations.

What is 2-1-1?

2-1-1 is like 9-1-1 for social service referrals. It is a toll-free, 24-7 hotline that people can call to get information about or immediate referrals for emergency shelter, food pantries, soup kitchens, assistance with their utility bills, etc.

Who is served by 2-1-1?

• In 2009, 2-1-1 centers answered over 440,000 calls and addressed 453,000 needs by making 636,000 referrals to 22,000 human service organizations across the state.
• Indiana’s 211 line is only accessible in 79 out of 92 counties.
• Due to technical routing issues, many individuals do not have access to Indiana’s 211 line.
• Click here for a map of areas served by 211 and a pie chart of caller needs.

Recommendations to the committee:

• Allow state agencies to use their discretionary funds to support the referrals that 2-1-1 makes on their behalf.
• Require all communication providers doing business in Indiana to enable access to Indiana’s 2-1-1 phone lines.
• Complete the “public” side of the public-private partnership to maximize federal, state and local resources.

Watch the video below for additional comments from Sen.  Jean Breaux of Indianapolis, a member of the Regulatory Flexibility Committee.

Economic Development Committee update

The Study Committee on Economic Development met for the second time today at the Statehouse. Sen. Sue Errington of Muncie said the testimony during this meeting focused on Indiana’s advantages and disadvantages in promoting job creation. The committee is scheduled to meet again on October 5 at the Purdue Technology Center.

Watch Sen. Errington’s brief update on today’s meeting:

Supporting our Schools: Common sense ideas to help schools bridge the gap

Senate Democrats released a package of proposals today that will provide more local control for school funding decisions and help Hoosiers directly support schools. The proposals provide common sense options to help schools close budget gaps without raising taxes or impacting the state budget.

At the heart of the proposal is an effort to restore local decision making by school corporations that have seen increasing state control since the state took over the school general fund. Before the general fund was transferred to the state, school funding decisions were made locally and supported by local property taxes.

We want to provide flexibility for teachers, administrators and parents to do what’s needed to protect instruction and programs, and to manage class sizes. That control should stay with the local officials, who know the corporation’s needs best. – Senate Democrat Leader Vi Simpson

In response to growing concern over the impact of a $300 million cut from K-12 school funding by Governor Mitch Daniels, the legislators said all creative solutions should be on the table.

The Senate Democrats’ package includes the following proposals:

School funding flexibility: Allows a school corporation to transfer up to 50 percent of the capital projects fund to its general fund with no stipulations.

A law approved in 2010 (HEA 1367) allows school corporations to transfer up to 10 percent of a capital projects fund balance to the general fund only if teachers agree to forgo raises. Allowing transfers without such stipulations empowers teachers, administrators and parents to work together to provide the best for students in a unified effort.

Individual tax refund donations: Allows individuals to donate part or all of their state income tax refunds to a fund benefitting an Indiana public school corporation or public education foundation by a check-off box on their tax return form.

Approximately 30,000 Hoosiers now use this option to donate to the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund each year.

Tax credits for donations to K-12 public education foundations: Expands to Indiana public education foundations eligibility for an existing tax credit program for donations to private school scholarship funds.

In 2009, the Indiana General Assembly approved a tax credit for 50 percent of each dollar contributed to organizations that grant scholarships to children attending private schools. (This provision was included in the budget bill HEA 1001.) By expanding the credit to individuals and corporations that donate to public education foundations, Hoosiers have more options and more students can benefit from private donations. The current cap of $2.5 million in tax credits available each year would remain.

Indiana’s public school education foundations and those who want to support them deserve the same treatment as a private school fund.

There are more than 50 public education foundations in local communities throughout Indiana. Public education foundation membership includes parents, educators and business leaders who collaborate on the local level to provide funds for innovative educational programs that motivate, recognize and appreciate students and teachers. Visit the Indiana Association of Public Education Foundations website for more info>>

Caucus members plan to co-author the package of proposals during the 2011 legislative session. For more information on Senate Democrats’ Education Priorities, visit senatedemocrats.in.gov>>

Unemployment rate remains at 10.2% in August

Despite claims of job growth in the state of Indiana, the unemployment rate for August 2010 remains at 10.2% for the second month in a row.

• County with highest unemployment: Fayette  at 13.5%
• County with lowest unemployment: Daviess at 6.2%

In August, almost half of the counties in the state  had an unemployment rate remaining in the double digits. For a complete list of rankings of Indiana Counties by Unemployment rates, click here.

Indiana’s unemployment rate in August 2010 was 10.3%.

Also available from DWD:

Labor Force Estimates for U.S., Indiana, MSAs, Counties, Cities

Indiana County Map with Unemployment Rates

Jobs Report (CES)

Seasonally-Adjusted Employment Table for Indiana

Non-Seasonally-Adjusted Employment Table for Indiana

Detail Employment Listing – Statewide & MSAs

Aging in Place: Creating Communities for a Lifetime in Indiana

On September 8 the Indiana Health Finance Commission heard testimony on the Hoosier Communities for a Lifetime initiative, a proposal designed to help local communities better address the needs of aging residents. The initiative has been proposed by several leading advocacy groups in the state, including AARP Indiana, IU Center on Aging and Community, and Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

State adoption of a statewide community model could help local communities better address basic needs such as housing and mobility, optimize physical and mental health through accessible services, maximize independence for those with frailty or disability, and promote social and civic engagement.

Lawmakers study the impact of methamphetamine in Indiana

The Interim Study Committee on Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy met Wednesday, Sept. 8 to hear testimony  on the effects of methamphetamine on state, local governments and individuals. Over three hours of testimony was given on the costs of enforcement and clean up related to methamphetamine, the implementation and effectiveness of a pseudopthedrine (PSE) tracking system and whether or not ephedrine and PSE should be classified as controlled substances.

According to the Indiana State Police, the cost of methamphetamine to the state of Indiana as of 2005 was $1.871 billion for drug treatment, health care, crime and criminal justice, child endangerment, and clean-up. This figure represents 8 percent of the total spent nationally. Read more from the  the Indiana State Police 2010 Report on Methamphetamine (PDF)>>

Even more daunting, are the statistics  regarding the impact of methamphetamine on children. The Indiana State Police report that 35 percent of children removed from lab scenes test positive for exposure to the drug.

To gain perspective on how other states are addressing these issues, testimony was  given by Rob Bovett, Oregon District Attorney, on effective PSE control and two alternatives, namely, returning PSE to a prescription drug or using an electronic tracking system for retail PSE sales.  In 2006, Oregon returned PSE to a prescription drug, as it was prior to 1976. Since then, PSE smurfing in Oregon has been eliminated, and meth labs in Oregon nearly eliminated.

[The term "smurfing" is applied to operations where people scour multiple pharmacies and pay individuals to purchase over-the-counter medicines containing PSE as a less traceable means of acquiring ingredients for cooking methamphetamine.]

Read more on how Oregon is addressing methamphetamine use in their state legislature.>>

Other agencies represented during the testimony heard during the committee:

• Drug Enforcement Agency Indianapolis Office
• Drug Endangered Children Training Center
• Indiana Prosecuting Attorney’s Council
• Indiana Chiefs of Police
• Vigo County Sheriffs Department
• The City of Plymouth
• Consumer Healthcare Products Association
• Indiana Sheriff’s Association
• Daviess County Sheriff’s Department, Kentucky
• Louisville Metro Police Department
• Bay County, Florida
• Indiana State Medical Association

Listen to comments during the committee meeting  from State Senator Tim Skinner (D-Terre Haute)>>

For more information on meth suppression laws and enforcement in Indiana, visit the Indiana Methamphetamine Investigation System website.

Educational programs on meth, meth labs and the dangers associated with these environments, are available through the Indiana State Police. Please contact the MSS office at (317) 234-4591 or within Indiana 1-877-MSS-METH (677-6384).  You may also contact the Indiana State Police District where you need the program and request to speak to the Meth Suppression Section Trooper or Public Information Officer assigned to that district.

How do I report suspected meth activity?

You can report suspected meth activity online or by calling the Methamphetamine Tip Line at 1-800-453-4756. All the information submitted will be reviewed, researched and assigned to an officer for follow-up.

Round four: Statewide Smoking Ban returns to legislative discussion

On Sept. 8, the Health Finance Commission heard testimony on the impact of a proposed statewide smoking ban. The commission heard from various health and business organizations.

The Indiana Campaign for Smokefree Air provided multiple speakers, including Illinois State Senator Terry Link.  Sen. Link sponsored the Smoke-Free Illinois Act, one of the most comprehensive smoking bans in the United States, which took effect January 1, 2008. The act requires public places and places of employment to be completely smoke-free inside and within 15 feet from entrances, exits, windows that open and ventilation intakes.

According to the Center for Disease Control Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death, disease, and disability in the US. Each year, around 443,000 people die from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, and another 8.6 million suffer from a serious illness from smoking. Two new CDC reports indicate that, despite the dangers of tobacco use, about 46.6 million adults in the U.S. smoke, and 88 million nonsmokers are exposed to secondhand smoke.

The committee will meet again on October 28 to discuss language for legislation.

For more from the CDC, see their report on tobacco use, smoking and second hand smoke (PDF)>>

No news is… no news. A report from the State Budget Committee meeting

No news on state program cuts

The State Budget Committee met on Wednesday, Sept. 8, at the Statehouse. Despite “Fiscal Year 2010 Close-Out” on the agenda, no new information on state program cuts was presented by the State Budget Agency. Instead, committee members were presented with a series of graphs illustrating the overall status of Indiana’s state finances.

No further details on program cuts were available to legislators or the public. The State Budget Agency rests on information provided by agencies in response to Senate Democrat Leader Vi Simpson’s June 1 request. Read more from the June 1 announcement>>.

Only 10 of 62 responses answered all five of Simpson’s requested items. Some agency letters left all of the questions unanswered, including the primary information sought by legislators and the public -  “A list of your agency’s implemented and proposed cuts and withheld distributions for FY 2010 and 2011 by program.” Read the agency responses>>

The call for transparency in state spending continues. Read more about the Indiana Open Government Initiative>>

Timing just right: Move forward on capital projects, create jobs

Also on the agenda were state projects awaiting final funding approval, including a small number of university capital projects. Democrats on the committee pushed to get more capital projects at state universities underway as soon as possible, saying the projects would create as many as 2,000 jobs and push as much as $100 million in personal earnings into local economies.

The problem of teen “sexting”

On August 25 the Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Study Committee took up the issue of teens and “sexting.” Sexting by teens generally refers to the sending of sexually suggestive or explicit text messages between peers, but the issue also includes the same material shared via emails, social media postings, and other venues for online communication. The committee was assigned with a review of the topic by the 2010 General Assembly under SEA 224, which also allowed school corporations to begin offering classes or instruction regarding the risks and consequences of sexting.