Sec. 7. (a) This section applies to state reimbursement of expenses for conducting a new trial if:

(1) a defendant is convicted of an offense in a criminal proceeding conducted in a trial court;

Terms Used In Indiana Code 35-38-4-7

  • Attorney: includes a counselor or other person authorized to appear and represent a party in an action or special proceeding. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
(2) the defendant appeals the defendant’s conviction to the Indiana court of appeals or Indiana supreme court; and

(3) the court of appeals or supreme court remands the case to the trial court for a new trial.

     (b) Subject to subsection (d), the state shall reimburse the trial court, the prosecuting attorney, and, if the defendant is represented by a public defender, the public defender for expenses:

(1) incurred by the trial court, prosecuting attorney, and public defender in conducting a new trial described in subsection (a); and

(2) that would ordinarily be paid by the county in which the trial court is located.

     (c) The expenses of a trial court, prosecuting attorney, and public defender reimbursed under this section:

(1) may not include any salary or other remuneration paid to a trial court judge, prosecuting attorney, deputy prosecuting attorney, or public defender; and

(2) must be paid from money in the state general fund.

     (d) The office of judicial administration (IC 33-24-6-1) shall administer a program to pay claims for reimbursement under this section. The maximum amount that may be reimbursed for all proceedings and all offenses arising out of the same facts is fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). The maximum amount that may be paid in any particular year for all expenses otherwise eligible for reimbursement under this section is one million dollars ($1,000,000). If the total of all claims that would otherwise be eligible for reimbursement under this section exceeds the maximum amount that may be reimbursed under this subsection, the office of judicial administration shall prorate reimbursement of eligible expenses, as determined by the office of judicial administration.

As added by P.L.234-2007, SEC.71. Amended by P.L.3-2008, SEC.250; P.L.161-2018, SEC.124.