Indiana law lists violent crimes and applies related sentencing rules

Indiana law lists the offenses that count as crimes of violence for laws that use that definition. The list includes specified serious crimes, such as homicide, certain assaults, sex crimes, robbery, burglary, and some firearm offenses. The provisions take effect July 1, 2026.

A prior conviction or infraction judgment can raise the level or penalty of some offenses only within a 12-year period. The rule concerns offenses where a prior conviction or infraction judgment raises the offense level or makes the penalty more serious. The period runs from the latest applicable conviction, infraction decision, or release from incarceration, probation, or parole. The rule does not apply to crimes of violence, crimes causing bodily injury or death, sex offenses, domestic battery, strangulation, and specified drug offenses. The 12-year period is measured from the latest applicable event listed in the law.

Courts may impose consecutive prison terms for crimes of violence without the usual combined-term caps for connected offenses. This applies when a person is sentenced for multiple offenses arising from one connected episode, including a crime of violence. The rule concerns offenses closely connected in time, place, and circumstances. Courts decide whether prison terms run at the same time or one after another, unless another rule requires consecutive terms. The rule applies when a court determines how prison terms for connected offenses will be served.