INDIANA— The Indiana State Senate has passed a criminal penalties bill that includes an amendment requiring individuals charged with domestic violence-related crimes to wear a monitoring device if released on bail.
Indianapolis Senator Fady Qaddoura introduced the amendment.
This legislative action comes as Indiana faces a high rate of domestic violence. According to the National Domestic Violence and Prevention Coalition, 42.5% of women and 27.9% of men in Indiana have experienced intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence, or stalking. Indiana remains the only state to receive an “F” rating from domestic violence advocacy groups due to these high rates and a perceived lack of legal protections for survivors.
Maggie Moore of the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) highlighted the connection between domestic violence and firearms, noting that over half of domestic violence homicides in Indiana involve a gun. ICADV provides training and resources to legal professionals and advocates for policies like Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) and stricter firearm restrictions for abusers.
