Indiana Republicans Propose Bill to Abolish the Death Penalty: A Look at House Bill 1030

INDIANAPOLIS — A group of Republican lawmakers in Indiana has introduced a bill to abolish the death penalty. If passed, it would go into effect next year.

This proposal comes shortly after the state carried out its first execution in 15 years, putting death row inmate Joseph Corcoran to death.

It’s a human system, and humans make mistakes, said Joanna Green, a Deputy Public Defender who has represented several death row inmates, including Corcoran.

Green noted that House Bill 1030 is the first time she has seen Republicans pushing to repeal the death penalty in Indiana. She hopes it will gain support next year.

Executing someone doesn’t bring solace to everyone involved, and we’ve learned from science that mistakes do happen. If someone is executed wrongly, there’s no way to fix it, Green explained.

State Rep. Bob Morris (R-Fort Wayne), the bill’s lead author, was unavailable for comment. However, co-author State Rep. Jake Teshka R-North Liberty shared his concerns about innocent people being wrongly executed. He mentioned that about 160 Americans were proven innocent and exonerated last year.

There’s always a chance, however small, that an innocent person could be executed, Teshka said.

Teshka, who survived a road rage shooting in 2021, said his pro-life beliefs also influenced his support for the bill. I believe in protecting life from conception to natural death as ordained by God, he said. While I sympathize with victims, I think the death penalty is unnecessary.

If the bill is passed, it would change the sentences of all current death row inmates to life in prison without parole.

David Frank, a representative from the Indiana Abolition Coalition, expressed hope for the bill’s success. This could ensure Indiana never takes another life unnecessarily, he said.

However, Teshka admitted that reactions from fellow Republicans have been mixed. If the bill doesn’t move forward, he plans to push for a more transparent execution process. Currently, Indiana doesn’t allow media to observe executions unless an inmate gives up a spot for a loved one.

“I think the public should know what happens during an execution to ensure transparency,” Teshka said.

Questions remain about the recent execution of Joseph Corcoran. The Indiana Department of Corrections declined to disclose details about the drug used, citing confidentiality.

Joanna Green emphasized the importance of transparency in executions. “We need information about the drug used, like its dosage and expiration date, to prevent botched executions,” she said.

 

 

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