Indiana’s General Assembly seeks to curb prosecutors who choose not to prosecute certain crimes

INDIANAPOLIS – Marijuana is illegal in Indiana and an almost total ban on abortion has been suspended. However, Marion County Attorney Ryan Mears said he will not go after people who possess small amounts of marijuana or doctors who perform abortions.

Republican lawmakers believe Myars’ position is undermining our government.

To solve this issue, the deputies proposed Senate Bill 284which appoints three members of the Board of Attorneys in Indiana to oversee noncompliance complaints.

Those selected came from the northern, central and southern parts of the state. No more than two can be of the same political affiliation.

“I don’t want to be in that position,” said state Sen. Aaron Freeman, a Republican representative of the 32nd District and the bill’s author. “I want to make laws and expect the executive branch to enforce the laws that we do on behalf of the citizens.”

If someone files a complaint, the Indiana Prosecuting Attorney Council (IPAC) will investigate, Freeman said. The elected council will then decide whether the prosecutor is compliant and whether they should be granted jurisdiction.

IPAC supports SB 284 even though they testified they wouldn’t. Now they say they understand where the legislature is coming from.

“We don’t like to be in this situation,” said Courtney Curtis, IPAC’s assistant executive director. “But we understand that your body members don’t like being in this situation either. We feel that we are the best body to deal with this problem. “

Some Indiana residents disagree with the Indiana General Assembly.

“Republicans are the ones who often talk about how we need local control and that we need to keep the government out of our lives. We need to keep the state from telling us what to do,” said Nathan Blevins, a Marion County resident. “So I think they’re doing the opposite of what they say they’re going to do.”

Another Marion County resident said she appreciates Mears’ efforts to stand up for people and try to defy laws that many disagree with.

One of the women who spoke to WRTV said she doesn’t agree with the General Assembly’s policy, but believes prosecutors should uphold their oath of office.

“I don’t agree with the Legislature, but the law is the law,” said Tammy Shuler, a resident of Marion County.

SB 284 passed the Senate and is currently working its way through the House.

WRTV has reached out to Attorney Mears for comment on this legislation, but we are still awaiting a response.