Proposal Pushes To Exempt Hoosiers With SMI From Death Penalty
The Hoosier Alliance for Serious Mental Illness Exemption (HASMIE) says the initiative would define five specific disorders for this exemption. To be exempt, the person must have had symptoms of SMI when they committed the crime.
This proposal would not allow people with SMI to use ‘not guilty by reason of insanity’, but they would be found guilty and sentenced to life without parole. That would be in place of the death penalty.
Attached is a news release introducing HASMIE – the Hoosier Alliance for Severe Mental Illness Exemption. HASMIE is a new initiative working towards getting an exemption from the death penalty for people who have Severe Mental Illness. Legislation for this cause will be filed with the General Assembly for its 2017 session.
Serious mental illness is defined as one or more of the following specific disorders:
– Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders.
– Bipolar disorder.
– Major depressive disorder.
– Delusional disorder.
– Post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury (TBI).
 Cross Burning and Graffiti on Mobile Home
The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office has been interviewing residents in the trailer park. They say no one was hurt in the incident and they have not named any suspects.
The investigation is ongoing and the FBI was notified about this potential hate crime.
Previous Story – October 6th
Detectives in Daviess County Investigate Burning Cross Near Home
Juvenile Arrested After Allegedly Shooting BB Gun at Fall Festival
Above is a photo of the gun police say was used.
Around 8 o’clock Thursday night, officers approached a group of juveniles who were causing a disturbance at Fall Fest, but they all took off running.
A short time later, police say some of the teens came back and one fired a carbon dioxide powered BBÂ gun into a crowd.
One person was hit in the leg.
Officers had to chase the suspect through the crowd, but eventually arrested him and took him into custody.
Police say the BB gun looked just like a real gun and had no markings on it to indicate that it was not real.
He is charged with criminal recklessness, resisting and disorderly conduct.
If anyone has further knowledge about this crime, they are asked to call the Evansville Police Department at 436-7979 or theWeTip line at 1-800-78-CRIME.
