A gunman looking for someone he believed owed him money shot himself inside an Indiana real estate office, where he'd held hostages for several hours earlier, and was taken to a hospital, police said Friday.Gov. Mitch Daniels on Monday announced the state's first comprehensive review of Indiana's criminal code and sentencing policies since 1976 – a move to help address recidivism and the state's growing prison population.
The population has risen from 7,500 offenders in 1976 to nearly 29,000 today.
A national study this year showed while the population of state prisons across the country declined for the first time in 38 years, Indiana led the nation in percentage growth in prison inmates, with a 5.3 percent increase.
Indiana added 1,496 prisoners from 2008 to 2009. In contrast, Ohio reduced its prison population by 80, and Michigan by 3,260.
"In Indiana, we will not compromise public safety," Daniels said. "Having more dangerous and repeat offending criminals in prison is the best way to protect Hoosiers, but if our current laws and practices result in non-dangerous offenders taking up space at high cost to taxpayers, there may be better ways to manage that."
All three branches of state government – legislative, judicial and executive – will partner with the Pew Center on the States and the Council of State Governments Justice Center on the issue.
The study will collect and analyze criminal sentencing data and compare the state's current sentencing and corrections policies and practices with nationally recognized, evidence-based and fiscally responsible practices.
nkelly@jg.net
