Criminal Justice (Probation & Parole)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 6, 2025

LC 2087: Revise domestic violence intervention grant requirements

This bill updates how Montana funds domestic violence intervention programs by allowing the state Board of Crime Control to issue grants to communities for probation officers who monitor court-ordered requirements for offenders charged with partner or family member assault, strangulation, or violations of protection orders. It also permits grants to courts for implementing offender intervention programs that meet specific state standards. The legislation requires the board to set funding priorities, track how organizations spend the money, and evaluate the effectiveness of the services provided. These changes apply to community organizations and courts that receive state funding to support domestic violence prevention and offender compliance efforts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds domestic violence intervention programs and probation monitoring for offenders, strengthening criminal justice response to violence.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Probation & Parole Violent Crime

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 3451: Generally revise criminal law

This bill amends Montana's criminal sentencing laws to clarify how courts handle time credit for offenders and limit the duration of community supervision for certain serious crimes. It allows judges to deny credit for time served during revocation proceedings when an offender commits multiple violations, while ensuring offenders receive credit for time spent in custody related to the same conduct they were convicted of. The legislation also sets maximum time limits for community supervision, capping probation periods at 20 years for sexual offenders and deliberate homicide cases, 15 years for violent offenses, and 5 years for other felonies, with exceptions for cases where longer supervision is deemed necessary to protect society. These changes directly affect district court judges, prosecutors, and defendants facing sentencing decisions in Montana.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill clarifies sentencing laws and limits community supervision for serious crimes, promoting judicial clarity and potentially reducing recidivism through structured supervision limits.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing Violent Crime

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Nov 18, 2024

LC 241: Establish the sexual and violent offender presentence investigation and reporting unit

This bill creates a new Sexual and Violent Offender Presentence Investigation and Reporting Unit within Montana's Department of Corrections to handle presentence investigations for specific serious crimes. The unit will consist of probation and parole officers who will conduct investigations for defendants convicted of sexual offenses or violent offenses as defined by state law. The bill also clarifies that these reports must be completed within 30 business days and must be considered by the court before sentencing. Additionally, the bill mandates psychosexual evaluations for certain sexual offense convictions and mental health evaluations for specific other offenses, with costs typically paid by the defendant unless they are indigent.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates specialized unit for presentence investigations, improving accountability and ensuring timely reports for serious offenses, strengthening criminal justice oversight.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 2131: Generally revise laws relating to incarceration

This bill creates a new Office of Reentry Services within Montana's Department of Labor and Industry to coordinate support for people leaving prison. The office will work with various state agencies, businesses, and community organizations to expand job training, housing assistance, healthcare access, and education programs for formerly incarcerated individuals. It requires the office to submit an annual report detailing the services provided, costs incurred, and the number of people served to the legislative committees.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates Office of Reentry Services to support formerly incarcerated individuals through job training, housing, healthcare, and education, directly promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates Office of Reentry Services that includes housing assistance for formerly incarcerated individuals, directly supporting housing access for a vulnerable population.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Nov 18, 2024

LC 240: Generally revise laws related to presentence investigations

This bill updates Montana laws governing presentence investigations and reports used in criminal sentencing. It primarily affects judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and probation officers by clarifying when these investigations must be ordered and how plea agreements are handled. Key changes include allowing plea discussions via two-way electronic audio-video communication, requiring courts to order mental health evaluations when defendants claim mental illness affected their behavior, and setting a 30-day deadline for completing preliminary or final investigation reports after a guilty plea or verdict. The legislation also defines specific circumstances under which presentence investigations are required for felony convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill improves presentence investigation processes, allows electronic plea discussions, and requires mental health evaluations, enhancing fairness and rehabilitation in criminal justice.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 25, 2025

LC 4024: Generally revise the membership of the POST Council

This bill revises the membership composition of Montana's Public Safety Officer Standards and Training Council to ensure broader representation across law enforcement and related fields. The council will consist of up to 13 voting members appointed by the governor, including representatives from state law enforcement, police chiefs, sheriffs, corrections, tribal law enforcement, county attorneys, and communications officers, among others. The bill also adds a misdemeanor probation officer and two general citizens with law enforcement experience to the council. These changes take effect immediately upon passage and approval, updating the council's structure to reflect diverse perspectives within the public safety system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances oversight and representation in law enforcement standards, promoting accountability and broader stakeholder input in criminal justice policy.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Probation & Parole

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 9, 2025

LC 38: Increase size of parole board

This bill increases the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole from five to six members to enhance its decision-making capacity. It directly affects the state's parole and clemency process by expanding the board's composition and adding a new appointment requirement. The legislation mandates that the governor appoint a sixth member within 60 days of the July 1, 2025 effective date, who will serve a term ending January 1, 2029, and may be reappointed for a full six-year term. The bill also updates qualification requirements for board members and maintains existing provisions regarding expertise in American Indian culture, mental illness, and victim awareness.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands parole board size to enhance decision-making capacity, strengthening corrections oversight and potentially improving parole outcomes.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 3439: Generally revise laws related to restitution

This bill revises Montana laws related to restitution, primarily affecting courts, probation officers, and offenders who have been ordered to pay restitution to victims. It removes an offender's financial resources from consideration when sentencing restitution amounts, ensures that information about a victim's pecuniary loss or property loss can be shared with a probation officer outside of a court order, and modifies when a court may grant a petition to revise restitution orders. The legislation aims to clarify legislative intent from 2003 by ensuring restitution amounts are determined based on victim losses rather than an offender's ability to pay, and it updates related statutes to reflect these changes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens restitution laws to better compensate victims, improving victim support and accountability in criminal justice system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing Victims' Rights

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Dec 10, 2024

LC 232: Generally revise laws related to crimes against children

This bill creates a new criminal offense called grooming of a child for a sexual offense, which targets adults who use communication methods to build relationships with minors for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The law specifically addresses behaviors such as manipulating children into sexual conduct, enticing them to meet for sexual purposes, distributing sexually explicit material, or exploiting positions of authority to develop intimate relationships with minors. Penalties vary based on the victim's age, with the harshest punishments - including mandatory 100-year sentences without parole eligibility for victims aged 12 and younger - reserved for cases involving the youngest children. The legislation also updates existing child abuse laws to include computer-generated child pornography as a form of sexual abuse and expands the definition of sexual offenses to cover law enforcement officers whom offenders mistakenly believed to be children.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offense to protect children from sexual exploitation, strengthening criminal justice protections for minors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 25, 2025

LC 305: Establish work time credit for probationers and parolees

This bill establishes a work time credit system for probationers and parolees in Montana, allowing them to reduce their supervision period by earning one day of credit for every 40 hours of eligible employment completed. To qualify for this credit, individuals must comply with all court or board conditions and stay current on restitution payments and supervisory fees, while submitting proof of employment within five business days after completing 30 days of work. The supervising officer must verify employment through documentation and other methods, and any awarded credit must be revoked if the individual violates conditions, is charged with a new felony, or is charged with a misdemeanor that could result in more than six months of incarceration. The program excludes those on misdemeanor-only probation, those under lifetime supervision, registered sex or violent offenders, and youth court participants.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill promotes criminal justice reform by offering work time credits to probationers and parolees, incentivizing employment and compliance, which can reduce recidivism and support rehabilitation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Victims' Rights

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