SB 404 Summary: Elimination of Grand Juries

• Abolishes grand juries in Indiana effective July 1, 2012, and repeals IC 35-34-2 entirely, which contained all grand jury procedures and regulations.

• Replaces grand jury indictments with informations filed by prosecuting attorneys as the sole method for charging felonies, eliminating the requirement for grand jury approval of charges.

• Makes conforming amendments throughout Indiana Code by removing grand jury references from election procedures, civil investigative demands, jury selection, court proceedings, and various regulatory licensing provisions.

• Modifies procedures for accusations against public officers, allowing prosecuting attorneys or special prosecuting attorneys to present accusations instead of grand juries, with circuit courts handling the process.

• Includes technical corrections for gender-neutral language and updates terminology from "indictment or information" to simply "information" throughout approximately 130 statute citations.