Gov. Holcomb Signs Victims' Rights Bill

The law includes several provisions that help victims of crimes.

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signs Senate Enrolled Act 551. Photo provided. 

(Indianapolis, Ind.) – Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has signed a victims’ rights bill into law.

On Wednesday, Holcomb signed Senate Enrolled Act 551, which addresses several important areas in the criminal justice world dealing with crime victims.

State Sen. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) authored the bill after a constituent approached him about a situation where a man was grooming a 14-year-old girl.

Because no physical act had occurred, the mother of the teen was unable to file a restraining order, but language in SEA 551 allows for restraining orders to be filed when someone is making inappropriate contact with minors.  

“I am very pleased to see this legislation signed into law,” Messmer said. “SEA 551 will impact every Hoosier community by improving how we support victims as well as ensuring offenders are justly penalized for their actions.”

The new law also addresses a gap in the current kidnapping and criminal confinement laws by creating an offense when the kidnapping or criminal confinement results in moderate bodily injury to the victim.

By doing so, the legislation does away with the current practice of offenders having the opportunity to have their felony domestic battery conviction to a misdemeanor.

SEA 551 contains other provisions that help victims of crimes, including adding confidentiality provisions for victims in court documents, barring the release of Department of Child Services reports during an ongoing criminal investigation, enhancing penalties on repeat strangulation offenders and allowing victims access to an emotional support animal or comfort item while testifying in court.

Some provisions of the bill have already become law, while the rest of the bill will take effect on July 1.