Criminal Justice

died · Montana · Legislature May 22, 2025

LC 2240: Revise criminal child endangerment laws to include prosecution of CPS specialists

This bill (LC 2240) proposed amending criminal child endangerment laws to allow criminal prosecution against Child Protective Services (CPS) specialists for certain actions. It would directly affect CPS professionals who currently have legal protections from such charges. The key mechanism would expand the definition of criminal endangerment to include specific failures by CPS specialists in their duties, potentially making them subject to criminal charges. The bill did not advance beyond drafting and died in process in May 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by enabling prosecution of CPS specialists for professional failures, directly increasing criminal liability under endangerment laws.95% confidence

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died · Montana · Legislature May 20, 2025

LC 1519: Revise laws related to batterer intervention counseling

This bill requires offenders convicted of partner or family member assault (including domestic violence) to complete a minimum of 40 hours of court-approved counseling focused on violent or controlling behavior. The counseling must be provided by a licensed professional, a qualified specialist, or a specialized domestic violence program meeting specific standards. Offenders must follow all recommendations from the counseling provider, and the court or Department of Corrections must approve all providers. This applies to all convictions under Montana's partner/family assault laws, including out-of-state domestic violence offenses, and is added to existing sentencing penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates 40-hour counseling for domestic violence offenders to address root causes, aligning with rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform to reduce recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Sentencing Violent Crime

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died · Montana · Legislature May 26, 2025

LC 1529: Permit prescribed medications in detention centers

This bill, LC 1529, would have permitted detainees in county detention centers to receive their prescribed medications. It directly affected individuals held in detention who rely on ongoing medical treatments. The bill aimed to change facility policies to allow access to necessary medications without requiring special dispensation. However, the bill died in the legislative process on May 26, 2025, and never became law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables access to prescribed medications for detainees in correctional facilities, improving health care access and aligning with rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures detainees access prescribed medications, improving healthcare access for incarcerated individuals without requiring special dispensation.95% confidence

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died · Montana · Legislature May 26, 2025

LC 1560: Require court administrator to publish list of record and non-record courts

This bill (LC 1560) would have required court administrators to publicly post a list identifying which courts maintain official records ("record courts") and which do not ("non-record courts"). It would directly affect state courts and their administrators by mandating this transparency measure. The bill was drafted but ultimately died in the legislative process in May 2025, meaning it never became law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates court transparency by requiring public lists of record/non-record courts, enhancing accountability in judicial processes per criminal justice reform indicators.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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died · Montana · Legislature May 26, 2025

LC 1572: Require department of corrections to provide receipts for payments made by probationers and parolees

This bill (LC 1572) would have required the Department of Corrections to provide written receipts for all payments made by individuals on probation or parole. It directly affected probationers and parolees who pay fees or costs to the state. The key provision mandated that these receipts detail the payment amount and purpose. The bill was introduced but never advanced beyond the drafting stage, dying in process in May 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates transparent payment receipts for probation/parole fees, enhancing accountability and protecting civil rights in corrections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 2993: Increase mandatory minimums for fentanyl trafficking

LC 2993, titled "Increase mandatory minimums for fentanyl trafficking," would have raised the minimum prison sentences for individuals convicted of trafficking fentanyl. It would directly affect people found guilty of fentanyl trafficking by requiring longer mandatory prison terms. The key provision would have amended sentencing guidelines to set higher minimum terms for these offenses. However, the bill died in the legislative process on May 27, 2025, and did not become law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory sentences for fentanyl trafficking, directly opposing criminal justice reform by expanding harsh sentencing policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Sentencing

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 2608: Appropriate funds to the department of corrections to repair and rehabilitate forensic building to accommodate female prisoners

LC 2608 sought to allocate state funds to the Department of Corrections for repairing and upgrading a forensic building to house female inmates. The bill would have directed the department to complete infrastructure repairs to accommodate female prisoners within the facility. However, the bill died in committee on May 27, 2025, without advancing to a vote or becoming law. This procedural funding request did not result in any legislative action.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allocates state funds for corrections infrastructure repairs to accommodate female prisoners, directly supporting facility maintenance in criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 2907: Increase firearm theft penalties

This draft bill (LC 2907) aimed to increase criminal penalties for individuals convicted of stealing firearms. It would have directly affected people found guilty of firearm theft by imposing stricter sentencing requirements. The bill was assigned to a drafter in December 2024 but was placed on hold in January 2025 and ultimately died in the legislative process in May 2025 without becoming law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for firearm theft, expanding criminalization and mandatory sentencing - directly opposing reform efforts in criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Sentencing

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 3188: Generally revise protections for survivors of domestic abuse

This bill (LC 3188) was never enacted, as it died in the drafting process on May 27, 2025. The title indicates it aimed to revise legal protections for domestic abuse survivors, but no specific provisions or mechanisms were developed or introduced for public review. Since the bill did not advance beyond the drafting stage, no concrete policy changes were proposed or implemented. Therefore, no summary of its effects or key provisions can be provided.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill title targets domestic abuse protections (a criminal justice reform component), aligning with 'support' indicators. No provisions developed, but title implies intent to strengthen survivor safeguards within criminal justice framework.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Victims' Rights

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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

Sub-Topics Corrections

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