Criminal Justice (Courts)

This bill repeals Idaho Code section 19-5301 and establishes Chapter 63, the "Idaho Son of Sam Law," requiring payments to offenders from crime-related publicity (e.g., book deals, interviews, or paid appearances) to be placed into a state escrow account for five years. Victims of crimes can claim these funds through court orders during the escrow period, while offenders receive any remaining money after five years if no valid claims are filed. The law explicitly excludes regular wages, unrelated income, works that only briefly mention the crime, and news/documented works with standard interview fees. It clarifies the law regulates only money earned from crime publicity, not free speech, and imposes civil penalties for noncompliance.

Idaho's H 524 strengthens laws against child custody interference by clarifying penalties and adding remedies. It establishes a graduated penalty system: first offenses are fines up to $100 (misdemeanor), while fifth offenses become felonies punishable by up to $5,000 and one year in jail. The bill requires law enforcement to verify a child's safety within 4 hours of a report and mandates courts to order additional custody time (matching denied visitation) to compensate parents deprived of court-ordered time. This directly affects parents denied custody, law enforcement responding to reports, and courts handling custody disputes.