Steuerwald’s bill reducing recidivism headed to governor

STATEHOUSE (Feb. 25, 2016) — State Rep. Greg Steuerwald’s (R-Avon) proposal reducing recidivism by addressing mental health and addiction issues has been sent to Gov. Mike Pence where it could be signed into law.

“The goal of this legislation is to encourage cooperation and collaboration among local criminal justice agencies in order to reduce recidivism,” Steuerwald said. “With more than 75 percent of repeat offenders facing some sort of addiction or mental health issue, it is imperative that we find ways to get those individuals the help that they need. By pooling our resources together, we can begin getting to the root of the problem causing people to continually break the law.”

House Bill (HB) 1102 is designed to increase collaboration between the Division of Mental Health and Addiction, probation departments, community correction agencies and all local criminal justice agencies that receive any funding from the Department of Correction (DOC) for community supervision of adult offenders. HB 1102 would allow the DOC, with approval by the Indiana Budget Agency, to provide additional grants to county jails to implement evidence-based mental health and addiction forensic treatment services. Counties would also establish and operate pretrial release programs, diversion programs, community corrections programs and court supervised recidivism programs.

For more information on HB 1102, visit iga.in.gov.