SB 420: Transfer of high risk persons from county jail. - Indiana

Enrolled Senate Bill (S) → Senate Bill (S) · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) to a Senate Bill (SB) format, indicating it is still in the legislative process rather than finalized. The substantive policy content regarding inmate transfers for safety reasons remains largely the same, though some procedural language was simplified and reorganized.

Scope change

No substantive change in scope; the bill still applies to inmates in county jails awaiting trial who pose safety risks.

TECHNICAL

Changed document type from 'Senate Enrolled Act No. 420' to 'Senate Bill No. 420', indicating the bill is still pending rather than enacted.

Removed the digest section that summarized the bill's purpose, as this is now the official bill text rather than a summary document.

Added line numbers and formatting consistent with official Indiana Senate bill text rather than the enrolled act format.

REQUIREMENT

Simplified the transfer request process by removing the requirement for a court petition when a transfer is approved, allowing the requesting party to file a motion directly.

Changed the denial justification requirement from a separate written justification to a combined approval/denial with written justification.

DEFINITION

Reorganized the eligibility criteria into a clearer two-part test: meeting safety conditions AND court finding that confinement in the original jail is not reasonable.

Engrossed Senate Bill (H) → Enrolled Senate Bill (S) · 3 edits · Apr 24, 2025

MINOR

This bill transitions from a draft Senate Bill to an enrolled Act, making it official law. The core policy content remains largely the same, establishing procedures for transferring high-risk inmates from county jails to other facilities for safety reasons. The main changes are formatting updates and the addition of a post-transfer hearing provision.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains unchanged; it still applies to inmates in county jails awaiting trial who pose safety risks.

TECHNICAL

The bill changed from 'Senate Bill' status to 'Senate Enrolled Act' status, indicating it has been finalized and approved for enactment.

Formatting and layout changes occurred as the bill moved from draft version to final enrolled version, including updated headers and page numbering.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for post-transfer hearings where inmates can request review of transfer orders and refuse transfers if the only issue is their personal safety.

Introduced Senate Bill (S) → Engrossed Senate Bill (H) · 5 edits · Feb 20, 2025

MODERATE

SB 420 was amended to streamline the transfer process for high-risk inmates from county jails to other facilities. The changes simplify the language, clarify who can initiate transfers, and modify how approvals and petitions are handled to reduce procedural complexity.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on transferring high-risk inmates from county jails to other county jails or the Department of Correction, but the procedural requirements for initiating and approving transfers were modified.

REQUIREMENT

Reorganized the structure of eligibility criteria from a two-part test to a clearer list of three specific risk conditions (escape risk, violent behavior, or danger from other inmates).

Changed the approval process by removing the requirement for a court finding that the inmate cannot reasonably be confined in the original county jail before a transfer request is made.

Updated the petition filing requirements to specify that a petition must be filed only after approval by the sheriff or commissioner, and must include the approved request as an attachment.

Clarified that written requests must set forth the basis for the person's belief that a risk condition exists, rather than a preliminary determination of conditions.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill title, digest date, and reprint date to reflect the engrossed version status and recent legislative actions.

Transfer of high risk persons from county jail.

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors