Bill > SB0009

This bill, effective July 1, 2026, amends Indiana law to ensure defendants are present in the courtroom when victims make statements about the crime and the sentence, unless the defendant poses a safety risk or causes a significant disruption. This right to be heard applies during sentencing, postconviction release decisions, and pre-conviction release decisions under forensic diversion programs. The bill also establishes a procedure where if a defendant fails to appear at sentencing and is later apprehended, the court must hold a hearing allowing the victim to make a statement in the defendant's presence, again with exceptions for safety risks or disruptions. Importantly, these provisions do not grant defendants additional rights that could be used for postconviction relief, nor do they prevent a court from sentencing a defendant who is absent from the courtroom.

Justice

https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/senate/9/details