Question from Indianapolis Mayoral Debate on WISH-TV: ‘Revolving door’ of Marion County justice
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Democrat mayor of Indianapolis and a Republican hopeful for the job answered questions, many provided by WISH-TV viewers, during a live, hourlong debate aired Monday night.
Hogsett is seeking a third four-year term as mayor of Indianapolis. Shreve, a businessman who has previously served on the City-County Council, won the Republican primary in May.
Monday night’s presentation was the first one-hour televised debate in an Indianapolis mayoral campaign in nearly 20 years.
In the past couple of years, critics have noted a “revolving door” in the Marion County criminal justice system, with criminals arrested only to be quickly released and commit other crimes. News 8 even heard that criticism recently from Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter. Is that criticism fair? What changes, if any, do the candidates want to see made in the Marion County judicial system?
Shreve says the criticism is fair. He agrees with Carter in his call for a complete review of the criminal justice ecosystem in Marion County. If elected, Shreve says he will use his voice to close the “revolving door” and take violence offenders off the streets of Indianapolis.
Hogsett says he respects Carter’s comments. Hogsett says he believes added enforcement is needed, and he has been working to add with three special assistant attorneys to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in pursuit of violent crime in Marion County. The federal prosecutor has more tools available to address violent crime, Hogsett says.