Criminal Justice

vetoed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 605: Revise criminal laws related to strip searches

HB 605 proposed revisions to criminal laws concerning strip searches for individuals entering correctional facilities. The bill would have allowed a person to be subjected to a strip search if they were to be housed in a jail or correctional facility for more than 12 hours. This provision would have created an exception to the existing requirement that individuals arrested for traffic or non-felony offenses can only be strip-searched if there is reasonable suspicion they are concealing a weapon, contraband, or evidence. The change would have permitted strip searches based on the anticipated length of detention, regardless of the initial offense type or specific suspicion for the search.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill removes reasonable suspicion requirement for strip searches in correctional facilities, reducing defendant rights and weakening existing protections.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 582: Generally revise criminal law

HB 582 revises laws related to criminal sentencing in Montana. It allows district courts to deny credit for elapsed time in certain revocation proceedings involving multiple violations. The bill also clarifies that offenders are eligible for credit for time served before sentencing, provided the custody is attributable to proceedings for the same conduct for which they were convicted. Additionally, it adjusts the maximum periods for suspended sentences and community supervision for various felony offenses, including specific limits for sexual, violent, and drug offenders. These changes affect individuals convicted of crimes and the judicial process for imposing sentences.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAllows courts to deny credit for time in revocation proceedings for multiple violations, potentially lengthening sentences and restricting defendant rights.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 532: Generally revise laws related to abuse, neglect, and exploitation of incapacitated persons and vulnerable adults

HB 532 revises laws concerning the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of incapacitated persons and vulnerable adults, defining these terms. It specifies that vulnerable adults include individuals aged 60 or older, or adults with significant physical or mental impairments or developmental disabilities. The bill establishes new felony and misdemeanor offenses for actions such as abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, failure to report, false reporting, and financial exploitation of these individuals. It also outlines penalties including fines and imprisonment for those convicted of these crimes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates new felony/misdemeanor offenses for abuse/neglect of vulnerable adults, strengthening criminal justice protections for at-risk populations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 589: Generally revise peace officer education standards

HB 589 revises education standards for peace officers in Montana, affecting individuals seeking to become peace officers and the agencies that employ them. The bill expands where the mandatory peace officer basic course can be completed. In addition to the Montana Law Enforcement Academy, a qualified law enforcement academy administered by an accredited Montana college or university may now provide this training. These alternative academies must have their curriculum and training methods approved by both a Montana state or local law enforcement agency and the Public Safety Officer Standards and Training Council, ensuring they meet comparable standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands approved training venues for peace officers with curriculum approval, strengthening law enforcement education standards within criminal justice system.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 707: Require Corrections to consider inmate family connections during placement

HB 707 requires the Department of Corrections to consider an inmate's attachment to family when making placements or transfers to correctional institutions located outside of the state. This aims to allow inmates to maintain connections with their families, affecting those in state prisons who are moved out-of-state. The bill mandates the department to assess the inmate's ability to maintain these attachments during such placements. It also integrates this new requirement into existing law governing contracts for inmate confinement, particularly when dealing with excessive inmate populations or a lack of adequate state facilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires family connection consideration in inmate placement to promote rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 718: Generally revise laws relating to incarceration

HB 718 establishes an Office of Reentry Services within the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. This office is tasked with coordinating supportive services for individuals preparing to exit or exiting incarceration and reentering communities. Its purpose is to facilitate access to programs like job training, job placement, education, housing assistance, transportation, food security, and behavioral health services. The office will collaborate with various state agencies, companies, and stakeholder organizations to achieve these goals. It also requires the department to submit regular reports to legislative committees detailing the services provided, their cost, and the number of individuals served.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes reentry services office to coordinate job training, housing, and health programs, directly reducing recidivism through rehabilitation support.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 296: Enhance penalty for crime against vulnerable person

SB 296, known as "Alan's Law," establishes an enhanced penalty for individuals who commit offenses against vulnerable persons while employed or volunteering in a caregiving facility. If found guilty of a misdemeanor or felony offense, offenders face an additional prison sentence of 1 to 10 years. This additional sentence runs consecutively to the original punishment and generally cannot be deferred or suspended. The bill defines "caregiving facilities" broadly to include various health, youth, and educational settings, and "vulnerable persons" as children, vulnerable adults, or incapacitated individuals.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases mandatory consecutive sentences for crimes against vulnerable persons, expanding criminal penalties without rehabilitation focus, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 300: Providing protections for service dogs and handlers

SB 300 provides new legal protections for service animals and their handlers. The bill establishes specific offenses for harassing, harming, or taking unauthorized control of a service animal. Individuals convicted of these offenses face misdemeanor penalties and are required to pay full restitution for all related damages and expenses incurred by the handler. Additionally, it amends existing state laws to include service animals in definitions related to vicious dogs and owner liability for dog bites.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offenses for service animal harassment with penalties/restitution, directly strengthening legal protections within criminal justice framework.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 19: Revise sentencing laws related to theft

SB 19 revises sentencing laws for several offenses, including theft, failure to return rented or leased personal property, issuing bad checks, deceptive practices, forgery, and identity theft. The bill directly affects individuals charged with these crimes by modifying the legal framework for their penalties. A key provision of the bill is raising the monetary thresholds that determine the severity of penalties for these offenses. It also revises the definition of "common scheme" within the state's legal code.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRaising monetary thresholds for theft penalties reduces severity of charges, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing non-violent incarceration.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 572: Revise MCE prison industries training program laws

HB 572 revises the Montana Correctional Enterprises (MCE) prison industries training program, which affects inmates and the operation of correctional facilities. The bill requires the program to include educational programming and allows MCE to offer vocational programs that support private market demand. It also increases the maximum value of construction projects inmates can perform to $1 million and removes the requirement for MCE to provide products and services through contracts and dealer networks.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds educational/vocational training to reduce recidivism and improve inmate rehabilitation within correctional facilities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice