Lawmakers ready to crack down on Prosecutors

Republican lawmakers in Indiana are pushing back against local prosecutors like Ryan Mears in Marion County who have announced they will not pursue minor crimes like marijuana possession. Lawmakers have introduced legislative proposals to penalize prosecutors who refuse to charge specific crimes, regardless of evidence. Rep. Chris Jeter’s House Bill 1006 would withhold reimbursement for prosecutors who do not file charges, while Sen. Aaron Freeman’s Senate Joint Resolution 22 aims to allow the governor to remove prosecutors who refuse to prosecute certain cases. Democrats argue that these proposals undermine local control and take power away from voters. The bills would need to pass two consecutive General Assemblies before being put to a statewide vote.