Car Theft Laws in Indiana

Indiana treats car theft as theft: knowingly or intentionally exerting unauthorized control over another person's property with intent to deprive the owner of its value or use. Theft of a motor vehicle or a motor vehicle component part is a Level 6 felony (6 months to 2 1/2 years) regardless of value, and a Level 5 felony (1 to 6 years) if the person has a prior conviction for stealing a motor vehicle or part, or if the value is $50,000 or more. Taking a car without intent to deprive the owner (criminal conversion, often called joyriding) is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year), but a Level 6 felony if the car is taken to help commit a crime and a Level 5 felony if it is used to help commit a felony; failing to return a leased motor vehicle after a written agreement and demand is a Level 6 felony.

Indiana's rule on court-appointed lawyers: Before public defense counsel is assigned, the court must find the defendant indigent; the judicial officer then assigns counsel. If the court finds the person is able to pay part of the cost of representation, it shall order a fee of $200 for a felony action or $100 for a misdemeanor action; other statutes allow courts to order reimbursement of reasonable attorney's fees and costs at any stage after determining ability to pay. Costs must be reasonable and not more than the cost of representation, and a court may not order an indigent defendant to pay based on possible future earnings. Ind. Code §§ 35-33-7-6(c), 33-40-3-6, 33-37-2-3; Davis v. State, 843 N.E.2d 65 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006)

Lawyers set their own fees, and Indiana has rules on how they may charge. See hiring a criminal defense lawyer in Indiana for fee rules, how to check a lawyer's license and free help.

How release before trial works in Indiana: Under Indiana Criminal Rule 2.6 (effective January 1, 2024), a court should release an arrestee who does not present a substantial risk of flight or danger to self or others without money bail or surety, subject to conditions the court sets. This does not apply to arrestees charged with murder or treason, on pretrial release for an unrelated incident, or on probation, parole or other community supervision. In assessing risk, the court should use the results of an evidence-based risk assessment approved by the Office of Judicial Administration plus other relevant information, but need not run an assessment first if that would delay release. If money bail is required, the court sets the amount and decides whether a surety bond and/or cash deposit may satisfy it, and may accept a partial cash deposit. Cash bail deposits may be retained to pay fines, costs, fees, restitution and publicly paid costs of representation. Ind. Crim. Rule 2.6(A)-(C); Ind. Code § 35-33-8-3.2(a) What happens after an arrest.

Each state sets its own rules for sealing or expunging records. See Indiana expungement and record sealing rules.