INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — A new law moving forward in the Indiana Senate would allow for 12-year-olds to be tried as adults in more crimes.
Senate Bill 449 would allow a child to be moved to adult court for "certain serious crimes" like attempted murder. Right now that can only happen for a murder charge.
The bill would address situations like the Noblesville West Middle School shooting. Teacher Jason Seaman and student Ella Whistler were wounded, but the 13-year-old suspect was tried as a juvenile because no one died in the shooting. Under the proposed law, the prosecutor would have been able to consider an attempted murder charge. The Hamilton County prosecutor actually referenced current state law that limits the age to 14 for moving a child to adult court for crimes like attempted murder.
The bill would also allow the court to place a child with the department of corrections for six years. Right now, a child can only be committed until they reach the age of 18.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears responded to the proposed bill saying:
"This bill would expose a child to an effective life sentence before they graduate middle school and undermines the duty of the criminal justice system to rehabilitate and reform the most vulnerable offenders." - Ryan Mears, Marion County prosecutor
Mears said the policy of the juvenile justice system is to make sure children are treated as persons in need of care, protection, treatment and rehabilitation.
