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Law Office of Mark Nicholson: The Nicholson NuggetAuthor: Mark Nicholson
This is the official podcast of the Law Office of Mark Nicholson, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attorney Mark Nicholson is known as the Battery Man because he focuses on criminal battery cases, personal injury, and civil rights. If you have a criminal case of any kind or have been injured because of someone's negligence, call him 24/7 at 317-667-0718. Also, follow his blog at https://www.marknicholsonlaw.com/blog Language: en Genres: News, News Commentary Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Why Did Indiana Fire The ABCs And Hire Levels? Because Prison Was Full And Logic Wasn’t
Episode 8
Saturday, 31 January, 2026
Send us a messageSentencing shouldn’t feel like a foreign language. I pull back the curtain on Indiana’s felony system and explain, in plain English, how the six levels work, what advisory sentences actually do, and why a few key decisions can change your future. From the top—murder and Level 1—down through Levels 2 and 3, I map the punishments, typical charges, and the real risks at stake. Then I trace the 2014 overhaul that replaced A–D classes with Levels 1–6, showing how that reform cut maximums for some crimes, shifted lower-level time to county facilities, and brought more predictability into the courtroom.The heart of our conversation is strategy. I dive into the Level 6 “wobbler” and how smart lawyering can secure a reduction to a Class A misdemeanor either at sentencing or after successful completion of terms. I outline the factors judges weigh—aggravators like prior felonies, vulnerable victims, and protective order violations, and mitigators like a clean record, remorse, provocation, rehabilitation, and documented family hardship. I also explain how enhancements, especially Indiana’s habitual offender status, can tack on mandatory years and turn a manageable case into a high-stakes battle.Consequences don’t end at release, so I tackle the ripple effects on employment, housing, licensing, and civil rights, and clarify what Indiana law actually says about voting and firearm possession. Finally, I walk through expungement timelines and eligibility, including why knocking a Level 6 down to a misdemeanor can accelerate the waiting period and reopen doors. If you or someone you love is facing a felony in Indiana, this guide gives you the sentencing ranges, the levers that move them, and the paths to second chances. Subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review with the next legal topic you want us to decode.Here are links to my website and other social media. The Law Office of Mark Nicholson The Nicholson Nugget YouTube Facebook Instagram TikTok: thebatteryman
