Criminal Justice

introduced · Montana · Legislature Nov 18, 2024

LC 298: Revise change-of-name laws

This bill updates Montana's change-of-name laws to enhance public safety when incarcerated individuals or those under correctional supervision request name changes. It requires the Department of Corrections to be served with petitions from incarcerated persons and allows the department to contact victims to gather information relevant to their response. Additionally, if a name change petition is granted for someone under correctional supervision, the court must ensure the department and justice system can maintain and share records as needed for offender registration, testing, and victim notification. These changes aim to balance an individual's right to change their name with the need to inform victims and maintain accurate criminal justice records.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances public safety by improving name change procedures for incarcerated individuals, allowing victim input and department oversight, which strengthens corrections and justice system integrity.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 22, 2025

LC 3434: Provide for legislative intent regarding the Montana criminal justice data warehouse

This bill clarifies the purpose and requirements for Montana's criminal justice data warehouse, which collects and stores information from various state and local agencies to help officials make data-driven decisions. It mandates that the Board of Crime Control receive complete criminal history records, including details about sentences, drug involvement, and recidivism patterns from contributing entities like courts, corrections departments, and local governments. The legislation ensures that data ownership remains with the contributing entities while requiring the board to establish confidentiality agreements, seek federal funding, and grant direct access to legislative analysts for oversight purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice data infrastructure to improve decision-making and oversight through comprehensive record collection.85% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 4280: Allow police chief to appoint certain officers as court officer

This bill allows police chiefs in Montana to appoint special service officers as court officers to assist with court duties. It permits the appointment of full-time, paid special service officers in addition to reserve or volunteer officers, expanding the pool of eligible personnel. The law also updates the definition of special service officers to explicitly include both full-time and part-time paid members who may carry firearms while on duty. These changes affect municipal courts and local law enforcement agencies by clarifying which officers can serve court functions under a police chief's authority.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands court officer capabilities to assist with court duties, strengthening judicial support and improving court operations within the criminal justice system.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 13, 2025

LC 39: Revise crime of endangering welfare of child

This bill revises Montana's laws regarding the crime of endangering the welfare of children by clarifying specific situations and adding new offenses. It defines when parents or guardians are not violating their duties, such as allowing children to travel to school or engage in outdoor play, while also establishing stricter penalties for adults who manufacture methamphetamine in places where children might be present. The legislation also makes it a separate offense to commit certain domestic violence crimes against a partner or family member while a child is present, and it provides a mechanism for parents to request protective orders against adults who continue contacting children against their wishes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill clarifies child welfare laws, protects parental rights while adding stricter penalties for meth manufacturing near children, strengthening child protection within criminal justice framework.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 13, 2025

LC 3972: Criminalize use of real and digitally fabricated sexually explicit images

This bill amends Montana's privacy laws to criminalize the possession and threat of disclosure of sexually explicit images, including both real photographs and digitally fabricated content created using artificial intelligence. It directly affects individuals who possess or threaten to share intimate images of identifiable people without consent, as well as platforms and users involved in distributing such material. The law defines "digitally fabricated" as media that realistically misrepresents an individual as engaging in conduct they did not actually participate in, and establishes specific penalties ranging from misdemeanor charges for first offenses to felony convictions for repeat violations. The legislation includes exceptions for law enforcement activities, public interest reporting, and certain artistic or educational uses, while also clarifying that internet service providers are not liable for content created by others.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by criminalizing non-consensual sharing of intimate images, protecting victims and enhancing legal accountability for digital privacy violations.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill strengthens privacy protections and cybersecurity by criminalizing non-consensual sharing of intimate images, including AI-generated content, enhancing digital rights and data privacy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Artificial Intelligence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Nov 19, 2024

LC 258: Resolution urging Congress to fully fund law enforcement in Indian Country

This Montana joint resolution urges the U.S. Congress to fully fund law enforcement, public safety, and justice programs on the state's Indian reservations. It calls on federal agencies to coordinate efforts between the Departments of Justice and the Interior, conduct government-to-government consultations with tribes, and allocate sufficient resources for tribal courts, detention facilities, and victim services. The bill also invites tribal governments and the state governor to submit their own resolutions and letters supporting full funding, which will be compiled and sent to Congress and federal officials by June 30, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly urges full funding for law enforcement and justice programs on Indian reservations, requesting allocation of sufficient resources for tribal courts and facilities.85% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill urges full funding for law enforcement and justice programs on reservations, explicitly calling for resources for tribal courts, detention facilities, and victim services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Tags Tribal Nations

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 30: Revising laws related to the Montana end of watch trust

This bill updates Montana's End of Watch Trust laws to improve how payments are administered to law enforcement officers and their families. It gives the Department of Justice authority to create rules for managing the trust, including setting application processes, appeal procedures, and reporting requirements. The bill also clarifies eligibility criteria, requiring applicants to provide a workers' compensation determination of permanent and total disability for catastrophic injury claims, and allows legal children of officers to receive payments after age 18 in certain circumstances.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens support for law enforcement families through improved trust fund administration and clearer eligibility criteria, enhancing protection for those affected by criminal justice incidents.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 3077: Generally revise bail bonds laws

This bill updates Montana's regulations for surety bail bond insurance licenses by raising the minimum age requirement from 18 to 21 and adding new educational and background standards. It mandates that applicants complete a 16-hour basic training course covering constitutional law, civil rights, use of force, and handling individuals with mental health or substance use challenges, with existing licensees exempt from initial training but required to participate in biennial continuing education. The legislation also introduces a temporary license option for up to 12 months to allow applicants to work under supervision while completing training requirements, and clarifies that law enforcement or military training can substitute for the basic course.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens bail bond regulations by raising age requirements, adding education standards, and mandating training on civil rights and constitutional law, enhancing oversight and accountability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Policing

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 19, 2025

LC 3423: Generally revise sexual abuse reporting laws

This bill revises Montana's sexual abuse and exploitation reporting laws to improve how county attorneys handle cases involving children aged 12 or older. It requires county attorneys to collect and retain all investigative materials for 25 years, request assistance from the Department of Public Health and Human Services when perpetrators are unidentified, and certify receipt of reports to initial reporters. County attorneys must also submit detailed annual reports to the attorney general tracking case outcomes, including charges filed, prosecutions declined, and convictions obtained. The attorney general will then compile this data into annual reports for the legislature, providing aggregated information on case status and outcomes while maintaining confidentiality for sensitive criminal justice information.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by improving sexual abuse case handling, requiring evidence retention, and enhancing accountability for county attorneys.90% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 9, 2025

LC 1502: Revise definition of victim in youth court act

This bill amends the Montana Youth Court Act to expand the legal definition of "victim" to include corporations and other entities, allowing these organizations to seek justice when harmed by youth offenses. The change directly affects how cases are handled in Montana's youth court system by broadening who can be recognized as a victim under the law. The amendment modifies Section 41-5-103 of the Montana Code Annotated to update the definitions used throughout the youth court framework. This revision ensures that business entities and organizations can participate in youth court proceedings when they are harmed by delinquent youth behavior.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands victim definition to include corporations, strengthening victim protections and broadening access to justice within youth court system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Victims' Rights

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