Our family, like many others, has endured the heartbreaking pain of losing members to drug overdose. This tragedy takes an even more devastating turn when family members who themselves are battling addiction, are slapped with charges of dealing resulting in death, saddled with an excessive sentencing of 40 years in prison that does not fit the crime committed. It’s an astounding reality that these individuals, often struggling addicts, are dealt a sentence that equals some of the most heinous intentional crimes.

The law, coded as 35-42-1-1.5, requires re-evaluation. We are advocating for an amendment that changes the sentencing to a maximum of 6 years, equivalent to involuntary manslaughter. The definition of involuntary manslaughter reads: a crime involving an unintentional killing due to recklessness or criminal negligence without the intent to cause harm. This is a more accurate assessment of the actions of these struggling individuals, reflective of their state, without the intent to invoke harm.

It's unjust to classify and penalize them in the same vein as premeditated killers, and the sentencing indicates a grave misalignment of our justice system. This petition seeks to align penalties more accurately with the nature of the offense, upholding justice while recognizing the complexities surrounding addiction. We need your support to make this change possible – please sign this petition to bring fairness to law 35-42-1-1.5.