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State Sentencing Change Delays Need For More Prisons

Last updated on Monday, June 22, 2015

(FORT WAYNE) - Indiana lawmakers’ decision to start sending more low-level criminals to community corrections and jails has delayed the state’s need for new prison space.

Starting next January, no person convicted of the lowest felony class can be committed to the Indiana Department of Correction, with a few exceptions.

The Journal Gazette reports Indiana's prison system will get between 6,000 and 7,000 fewer new inmates each year under that change.

That means state prisons won't exceed their capacity until 2018, or a year later than had been expected.

Republican state Rep. Greg Steuerwald of Avon remains hopeful Indiana won't have to build any new cell-houses at all.

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