STATEHOUSE (Aug. 5, 2021) – Gov. Eric Holcomb recently ceremonially signed into law legislation sponsored by State Rep. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville) increasing protections for victims of domestic violence.
The new law enhances the crime of domestic battery to a Level 6 Felony if the victim has a protective order against the suspect or if the court has issued a no contact order. Previously, it was a misdemeanor charge.
“We wanted to strengthen the penalty to help prevent someone from coming back and repeating the violence against the individual,” McNamara said. “Raising it from a misdemeanor to a felony will keep that offender off the street and away from the victim.”
McNamara, who serves as chair of the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee, said a local police officer inspired her to write this law. Evansville Police Sgt. Matt Karges noted the penalty was not tough enough to deter violators and reached out to McNamara. She then worked with State Sen. Michael Crider (R-Greenfield), author of the law and the former director of the DNR Division of Law Enforcement.
(Left to right) Evansville Police Sgt. Matt Karges meets with State Rep. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville) and Gov. Eric Holcomb, seated, during a ceremonial bill signing July 27, 2021. The new law sponsored by McNamara increases protections for victims of domestic violence by enhancing the crime of domestic battery to a Level 6 Felony if the victim has a protective order against the suspect or if the court has issued a no contact order between the victim and suspect.
Karges testified in legislative committee hearings prior to the bill’s passage and attended the ceremonial signing at the Indiana Statehouse.
According to the Evansville Police Department, there are more than 5,500 calls and incident reports related to domestic violence in the city every year.
The Evansville Police Department’s Domestic Violence Unit is located at Holly’s House, 750 North Park Drive, and can be reached at 812-437-7233. For a protective order, Vanderburgh County residents, unless they have a pending divorce or legal separation in another court, may file at the Vanderburgh County Clerk’s Office at 825 Sycamore Street. There is no charge to file a petition for a protective order.
Hoosiers experiencing domestic or sexual abuse can also reach out to several local sources for help, including the Albion Fellows Bacon Center at 812-422-9372, the domestic violence 24-hour crisis line at 812-422-5622, the sexual assault 24-hour crisis line at 812-424-7273, and the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence hotline at 800-332-7385.
