Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears officially filed Tuesday for reelection, seeking a second full term as the county’s top prosecutor amid ongoing debates over crime, prosecution priorities, and the future of Indianapolis public safety policy.
First elected in 2019 and reelected in 2022, Mears is running on a familiar pitch: tough on violent crime, pragmatic on lower-level offenses, and data-driven in how the office allocates limited resources.
“Public safety isn’t a slogan. It’s a responsibility,” Mears said in a statement announcing his candidacy. “Our job is to protect this community by holding violent offenders accountable, standing with victims, and making sure the justice system works fairly, intelligently, and with integrity.”
Under Mears’ leadership, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office has emphasized violent crime prosecutions, particularly homicides and sexual assault cases, while scaling back prosecutions of certain low-level, nonviolent offenses. Mears argues the strategy allows prosecutors to focus on the most serious cases and use taxpayer dollars more efficiently.
The office also points to its conviction rates as evidence of success. According to Mears, prosecutors have posted homicide trial conviction rates above 90 percent for three consecutive years and secured a 100 percent conviction rate in sexual assault trials last year.
“It’s easy for politicians to take cheap shots at this office’s performance,” Mears said. “Being smart on justice means telling the truth.”
Critics—including some Republican lawmakers and law enforcement advocates—have accused Mears of being too lenient on certain offenses, declining to prosecute some low-level crimes, and contributing to what they argue is a broader perception of disorder in Indianapolis. Mears and his supporters counter that those critiques ignore charging data, conviction rates, and the realities of limited prosecutorial resources.
Beyond the courtroom, Mears has pushed youth violence prevention initiatives, diversion programs, and community partnerships aimed at reducing retaliation-driven violence and recidivism. Supporters argue those efforts reflect a modern prosecutorial model that blends enforcement with prevention; critics say the office still faces scrutiny over charging decisions, plea practices, and Indianapolis’ broader crime challenges.
Mears, a lifelong Marion County resident, has spent his career as a prosecutor. His reelection bid comes as public safety remains a central issue in Indianapolis politics, though as of Tuesday, the Marion County Republican Party has not declared a candidate in the race.
