Veteran college progams among new laws signed by Pence

INDIANAPOLIS | Military veterans should have an easier time navigating the state's universities thanks to a new law sponsored by state Rep. Shelli VanDenburgh, D-Crown Point, that was signed last week by Republican Gov. Mike Pence.

Senate approves flurry of legislation

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana Senate voted in favor of 40 proposals Wednesday, the final day for the Senate to act on House-approved legislation.

Senate extends statute of limitations for child sex crimes

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana Senate voted 49-0 Thursday to lengthen the amount of time a criminal or civil action relating to child sex abuse can be brought.

Chicago man indicted on charges of forcing sex on 14-year-old Hammond girl

HAMMOND | A federal grand jury indicted a 29-year-old Chicago man this week on charges he forced a 14-year-old Hammond girl to have sex with him in a Lansing hotel room earlier this year.

South Haven man charged with sexual battery

SOUTH HAVEN | A South Haven man was arrested Wednesday and charged with sexual battery.

Former Hammond pastor faces 10 years to life for sex offense

HAMMOND | An Apple iPad, iPhone, digital camera and digital voice recorder belonging to a disgraced former Baptist pastor are among the evidence showing he had a sexual relationship with a minor, according to court documents made public Wednesday.

Union Township man sentenced to probation in underage sex case

VALPARAISO | A 22-year-old Union Township man walked out of the courtroom rather than going to prison Monday after pleading guilty earlier this year to a reduced felony charge stemming from allegations he had sex with a 14-year-old girl after texting with her and receiving nude photos.

Lake Station man charged with rape, deviate conduct

LAKE STATION | A Lake Station man sexually assaulted a woman after she passed out from drinking at a party at his house, police said.

Porter man gets 1 year in jail for molestation

VALPARAISO | Porter Superior Judge Bill Alexa followed the recommendation of the adult probation department Friday when sentencing a 30-year-old man to one year in jail for molesting a 13-year-old girl in 2009.

Senate votes 48-0 to approve tougher human trafficking law

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana Senate on Tuesday approved a plan to toughen the state's human trafficking laws ahead of next month's Super Bowl in Indianapolis.

Notre Dame making changes to sex assault response

SOUTH BEND | The University of Notre Dame has agreed to changes in how it handles allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, including allowing accusers to appeal the results of a disciplinary hearing, following a seven-month investigation by the U.S. Department of Education, officials sa…

Senate OKs more penalties for sex offenders

SPRINGFIELD | The Illinois Senate on Monday approved legislation to toughen existing laws for sex offender harassment.

EDITORIAL: Make sex offenders vote elsewhere

Indiana has reasonable rules to prevent convicted sex offenders on parole from living or working within 1,000 feet of schools, and some communities ban them from living near parks. So why should they be invited into schools on Election Day?

Official: Female sex offenders not the norm

VALPARAISO | Deputy Prosecutor Cheryl Polarek said it is still unusual to see girls accused of carrying out the violent type of sexual offense that surfaced this week in Valparaiso.

Hobart man, 39, charged with sexual misconduct with minor

LAKE STATION | A 39-year-old Hobart man allegedly had sexual relations with a 14-year-old girl then bragged about it to friends, police said.

South Haven man, 22, faces sexual misconduct charges

HOBART| A 22-year-old South Haven man has been charged with two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, police said.

Sex offenders find housing where they can

CHICAGO | Significant numbers of white and Hispanic sex offenders are living in nearly all-black communities on Chicago's South and West sides, according to the Chicago Police Department's Registered Sex Offenders website.

Sheriff reports compliance during sex offender roundup

The Cook County Sheriff's first sex offender roundup of the year successfully tracked dozens of registered offenders across unincorporated Cook County on Saturday.

Child, disabled victims could attend pretrial hearings via TV

INDIANAPOLIS | Children and the mentally disabled who are victims of sex crimes or other violent crimes no longer may have to sit across from their alleged attacker at pretrial hearings.