The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce the successful implementation of Senate Bill 23, legislation that increased penalties for intentionally damaging fire suppression systems within jails and prisons. This dangerous and costly form of inmate vandalism has impacted correctional facilities throughout Indiana for years.
The law, authored by Senator Vaneta Becker, was driven in part by repeated incidents at the Vanderburgh County Jail, where inmates damaged 24 sprinkler heads in 2023 alone. The resulting floods damaged housing units and disabled critical fire safety systems, endangering both staff and inmates. By contrast, as of July 2025, there have been zero reported incidents this year, a success attributed to the deterrent effect of the new felony classification.
“Tampering with lifesaving fire protection systems is more than just property damage. It poses a direct threat to the safety of inmates, staff, and first responders,” said Sheriff Noah Robinson. “Before this law, inmates awaiting trial or serving an existing sentence could damage sprinkler heads without facing serious consequences. Now, it is a felony offense that holds offenders fully accountable and prevents costly disruptions to our facility.”
Sheriff Robinson publicly advocated for this change in January 2024, delivering testimony during an Indiana Senate hearing that drew the attention of lawmakers and media across the state. “If you are already convicted and waiting to go to prison, you do not care about adding a few misdemeanors. That is why it became a game to damage jail property like sprinkler heads,” Robinson testified.
Senate Bill 23 passed with bipartisan support and was signed into law, taking effect on July 1, 2024. The legislation reclassified the intentional damage of a fire suppression system within a jail or prison as a Level 6 felony under Indiana Code 35-43-1-2, Indiana’s criminal mischief statute. Prior to this change, the only applicable charge was a Class A misdemeanor because the cost to replace a sprinkler head fell far below the $50,000 threshold required for felony criminal mischief under existing law.
“When I learned about the repeated destruction of sprinkler heads inside the Vanderburgh County Jail, I knew we needed to take action,” Becker said. “I am proud to have championed this legislation and grateful for the bipartisan support it received. I commend the leadership of Sheriff Robinson and the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association on this issue, and I am thrilled to see this law successfully implemented.”
“Because the offense is now a felony, repeat offenders may also become eligible for sentencing as habitual offenders under Indiana law, which allows for enhanced penalties in serious or repeated cases,” said Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Diana Moers. “This law serves as both a prosecutorial tool and a strong deterrent to inmates who might otherwise view such vandalism as a harmless disruption. I’m proud to support Sheriff Robinson’s efforts to ensure the punishment reflects the seriousness of the crime.”
This outcome would not have been possible without the leadership of Senator Vaneta Becker and the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association, whose advocacy helped turn a pressing local concern into effective statewide reform.
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