Trio of Bills Addresses Justice Reform

Exterior of the North Dakota State Penitentiary. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

(Jeff Beach – North Dakota Monitor) – When parole and probation officers have to try to collect fees from people on supervised release, “it puts both parties in a difficult situation,” said Colby Braun, director of the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Eliminating those fees, and the time and effort that goes into collecting them, has been identified as one way to help keep low-level criminals out of North Dakota’s crowded jails and prison system.

Lawmakers on Wednesday heard from Braun and others advocating for three bills addressing jail overcrowding and keeping people from getting caught in a revolving door of legal trouble.

House Bill 1425 focuses on diversion and deflection, keeping people out of jail with mental health and substance abuse service. It would establish a pilot program in three counties.

House Bill 1417 would eliminate fees for people on supervised release. Not paying those fees can lead to a return to jail. The fees are also seen as a burden for low-income people.

House Bill 1549 would create a grant program for local jails for programs that help people adjust after being released from jail, referred to as reentry. It would also study barriers to reentry, such as housing, access to Medicaid, and maintaining a valid driver’s license or getting some other identification. It would also study why Blacks and Native Americans are incarcerated at higher rates than other populations.