North Dakota Laws Address Avoiding Criminal Charges, Improving Life After Jail

North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong, center.  (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

(By: Jeff Beach. North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota officials described new legislation as improving “off-ramps” from the criminal justice system, with one of the off-ramps coming before offenders get into the court system.

“We know that people who get into the criminal justice system tend to stay there,” said Tom Erhardt, director for parole and probation within the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He said by improving the off-ramps, it will reduce the number of crime victims, reduce the number of repeat offenders and save the state money.

North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong had a signing ceremony for three criminal justice reform bills, trying to keep people out of the court system, making it easier for them to comply with probation and helping former inmates integrate into society.

The bills were based in part on a study conducted after the 2023 legislative session and a collaboration with the corrections department and the Department of Health and Human Services.