Bill > HB1294

This bill eliminates citizen's arrests in Indiana by amending existing state law to explicitly prohibit any person who is not a law enforcement officer from arresting another person. The bill removes previous provisions that allowed citizens to make arrests under specific circumstances, such as when a felony was committed in their presence or when they had probable cause to believe a felony had occurred. These changes effectively end the practice of citizen's arrests, which previously permitted individuals to detain someone they believed had committed a crime. The bill also makes conforming amendments to other sections of Indiana law related to use of force and arrest procedures, updating language and removing references to citizen's arrests. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2025, giving state agencies and law enforcement time to adjust to the new legal framework. By removing citizen's arrest provisions, the bill aims to prevent potential misuse of such powers and ensure that only trained law enforcement officers have the authority to make arrests.

Justice

https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/house/1294/details