Bill > SB0151

This bill modifies Indiana's statute of limitations for prosecuting rape as a Level 3 felony by extending the timeframe for bringing charges when new evidence is discovered. Specifically, the bill changes the existing law to allow prosecution of a rape case up to ten years after the discovery of DNA evidence, instead of the previous five-year limit. The bill applies to rapes committed after June 30, 2014, that would otherwise be time-barred. Under the new provision, prosecutors can initiate a case within ten years of the earliest of three events: first discovering DNA evidence sufficient to charge the offender, becoming aware of a recording that provides sufficient evidence, or receiving a confession from the accused. This change gives law enforcement and prosecutors additional time to pursue cases where new evidence emerges, potentially providing more opportunities for justice in rape cases that might have previously been impossible to prosecute due to time constraints.

Justice

https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/senate/151/details