Hamilton County “Get Out of Jail Free” Cards 9/22/19

Hamilton County “Get Out of Jail Free” Cards 9/22/19

Hamilton County, one of eleven pilot counties for Indiana’s new pretrial release program set to be implemented statewide on January 1, 2020 is busy handing out “get out of jail free” cards to more than simple misdemeanors and first time offenders.

These programs remove family and accountability from the system by relying on soft on crime pretrial risk assessment tools to determine who gets released. Why remove this discretion from judges?

What do these programs mean to Indiana?

ZERO Accountability for criminal defendants.
ZERO Deterrent to those victimizing communities.
ZERO Supervision for those out on pretrial release.
ZERO concern for victims of crime.
ZERO Bail…just a “promise” to return to court.

Hamilton County Defendants – Free to Go 9/22/19

OR Release – Released for free without any bond, simply a “promise” to appear.

Hughes, Matthew Tyler35 OWI:  .15 BAC or GreaterOR Release
35 OWI (Stop For Reason Other Than Erratic Driving)OR Release

Bowser, Kahlil Latrae22 Public IntoxicationOR Release
22 Disorderly Conduct; B MisdOR Release
22 Battery: Moderate Bodily Injury (F6)OR Release
22 Resisting law EnforcementOR Release

Chezem, Ethan Layne25 Public IntoxicationOR Release
25 Disorderly Conduct; B MisdOR Release
25 Refusal to IdentifyOR Release

Wilkins, Elijah Dewayne Lee36 Carrying a handgun without licenseOR Release
36 Possession of Marijuana, Hash Oil, Hashish, B MisdOR Release

Teague, Michael Gene46 Theft (MA)OR Release
46 Unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle (MB)OR Release

Hernandez, Kane Nathan23 OWI: .08 to <.15 BACOR Release
23 OWI: Endangering a PersonOR Release

Dawn, William Henry38 Possession of a controlled substance [F6]OR Release