[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6290033,"mediaKeyId","2531698-a863764cb1bef3b311bd0c06b5ad8660","parentId",2531698,"title","Roughrider Industries pitches workforce gains and requests equipment funds; paint line replacement singled out as urgent","audioSeconds",1306,"startMs",2849000,"endMs",4155000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2531698-a863764cb1bef3b311bd0c06b5ad8660&start=2849&end=4155","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2531698-a863764cb1bef3b311bd0c06b5ad8660/thumbnail_2849000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6290033/North-Dakota/Roughrider-Industries-pitches-workforce-gains-and-requests-equipment-funds-paint-line-replacement-singled-out-as-urgent","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6290033-cc73b66bc4746ce1fdcf6fc38694a570/orig.mp4?Expires=1775216982&Signature=AguFQ9cA7uvZ2kWDHJFdwiSf81cIWONNWCVK5hbt3cIV0vgw3mf7FhggzFp-XYyp1jf3x-K-wbyTcLVCh22nccpycoSlt2Eielq0KDad1olKvCgVLCI-U-71Y7l9OGKcPwWburj81x8q9WTBPaEdDu4RKRDDOvvfxXYWNMKUuxwJVRBT1oMyzU2wRvP2~VNHsrU5aENzx7yalUNykEY9mWnkY~DD37CaeMObBJ0iA9mHGfdWqIkCoxk9lfp7VivjziqV-U~be6pthU0WxXTt-3rMKyVFE5aYwnKafgM5ZhVy3x22TDMgYAtmav63MY~iTLp1FjhLZiV1SILZjGBPbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-03-10T00:00:00Z","article","Roughrider Industries, the correctional industries program within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, presented the committee with program highlights and several capital and operating pressures that staff said will affect production and reentry outcomes.

A video shown to the committee described Roughrider’s mission of preparing incarcerated residents for reentry through education, job skill training and certified work experience. The video narrator said, “92 percent of residents who have been enrolled in the Roughrider Industries program for at least 6 months during their incarceration successfully reintegrate back into our communities,” language presented to the committee as program performance.

Rick Gardner, chief administrator for correctional industries, told the committee the shops now run a broad set of businesses — furniture fabrication, metal fabrication, license plates, signs, sewing, upholstery, commissary and sandbag operations — and operate a separate weld facility at MRCC. Gardner said the program has high demand: he reported roughly $2,300,000 in open orders and said some production lines are at capacity, limiting the ability to accept new orders close to the end of the fiscal year.

Gardner identified three capital pressures: sharply rising raw‑material costs (he cited recent steel price increases), an urgent need to replace a 40‑year‑old coatings (paint/powder) line, and equipment upgrades for license‑plate production. He told the committee the coatings contract procurement has been difficult — vendors are busy and bringing contractors into a correctional setting requires extra liability and indemnification steps — and that the replacement contract negotiations have been underway for about a year.

On equipment asks, Gardner listed a TriJet license‑plate printer and laminator and a modern blanking line for license‑plate production, plus a robotic/CO2 welder to expose residents to current technology. He said license‑plate equipment and reflectivity changes drive periodic reissues and that an inkjet printer would reduce production time and cost compared with the department’s current thermal transfer process.

Committee members and Gardner discussed Roughrider’s sales and self‑funding model. Gardner said Roughrider can sell directly to government entities, nonprofits and authorized retailers, and that prior legislative language to “encourage” purchases from Roughrider had been removed after opposition from some business groups. Representative Murphy noted that raw‑materials outlays are ultimately recycled into revenue as sales are completed; Gardner agreed, describing Roughrider as self‑funded.

The committee also heard success stories: Gardner described a former resident, Mano, who served a long sentence, was paroled and subsequently hired by private industry after briefly working as a Roughrider staff member. Gardner said those hires and training opportunities reduce recidivism and provide manufacturing and equipment operation skills relevant to private‑sector employers.

Gardner and other DOCR staff asked the committee to consider funding or equipment replacement timing, but the committee did not record a formal vote on any decision packages during the session. Gardner emphasized the paint/coatings line replacement as an operational risk: if the line fails, the metal shop’s production could be halted.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations - Human Resources Division Monday, Mar 10, 2025 2:31 PM - 4:15 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Roughrider Industries presented a video and testimony describing vocational training for incarcerated residents, recidivism outcomes, high demand for production, and capital needs including a long‑delayed paint/coatings line replacement and license‑plate production upgrades.","taxTitle","Appropriations - Human Resources Division, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28888,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6290038,"Transitional planning staff outline inmate transport responsibilities, restorative justice costs",156,2315000,2471000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2531698-a863764cb1bef3b311bd0c06b5ad8660&start=2315&end=2471","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2531698-a863764cb1bef3b311bd0c06b5ad8660/thumbnail_2315000.jpg","/articles/6290038/North-Dakota/Transitional-planning-staff-outline-inmate-transport-responsibilities-restorative-justice-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6290038-53c05db07c14a48e5777a215f6ab831d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775216982&Signature=FIyzllxjcbjUbrvBhJWspdBPCLd6AKzewE8cBfxtzCUX4~yW8FJZSnWRVTj0AeObYrYdQJGGdIw761~0AdwNxMxDmDT5ZWieW5ZmLEOmO7keofdshjw3Oh4uhRjnql1-qhfKT0LLAwbAZGRj6f6scBWfjrEykB3Y-L98xzncv3K4dd9KQh5t~t37lJty83auJO6wW6czKDsHbfeK8~-w0H7kFmBoaYEG-QjZB8xbm9TiRaify1J5QhezayoDQVg-g1sqUzkTdFmJoP4Xm7kQ7dZaLkC-VM2M-~9GV~Hb92Z6O~N2M88FGkC4szlnRC1rHV4xq4w~v-yeYwhlCsLT9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Adam Anderson, program manager for Transitional Planning Services at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, told the Appropriations committee that the transitional planning line supports inmate movement between DOCR facilities and external contract facilities and provides support for the Parole and Pardon Boards.

Anderson said the department typically transports offenders between state facilities when necessary but that “it’s the responsibility of the counties to bring them to us” initially. He added that the department makes exceptions for parole violators, which the department retrieves directly.

The department described a net change of minus one FTE in transitional planning that corresponds to a net plus one FTE moved into adult services earlier in the hearing. The transitional planning budget described operating costs including transport, motor‑pool, meals and lodging, and a large share of fees and professional services used for resident and offender assessment and restorative justice facilitation.

Committee members asked about who provides transport. Anderson said the department primarily uses retired department staff working in temporary partial‑time roles to perform transports. The committee discussed a prior coordination issue in Grand Forks County that required local coordination to get sentenced individuals moved to state custody; staff said the problem was a local communication issue and has since been addressed.

The department said increases in temporary salaries for transitional planning are driven by higher transport needs tied to an increased census, and the restorative justice line saw a modest increase for contractor services. The committee did not record a formal action on the transitional planning request during the hearing.","Program manager said counties generally are responsible for transporting individuals to DOCR facilities; transitional planning also funds restorative justice facilitation and increased transport-related temps amid rising populations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6290043,"DOCR budget hearing focuses on VOCA shortfall; agency seeks $7 million one‑time SIF to stabilize victim services grants",205,319000,524000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2531698-a863764cb1bef3b311bd0c06b5ad8660&start=319&end=524","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2531698-a863764cb1bef3b311bd0c06b5ad8660/thumbnail_319000.jpg","/articles/6290043/North-Dakota/DOCR-budget-hearing-focuses-on-VOCA-shortfall-agency-seeks-7-million-onetime-SIF-to-stabilize-victim-services-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6290043-7239bbabc612ff5b169756b47b543de6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775216982&Signature=XiaF1csWCbW1s49ASp~qkUIYermNhLRjnoYLwUoqWD9qk97di606yqiyS-RaP07AIHopZOWqZod6QcaaGjObq6G-hOq4b0gpxnx-PmbsCHiG04RY6et9IemVMCuZtyZ1d6Q8-~02IpjbB0Pu3amWWFLKf3gNPCNFRQMP~0ZRlN5oYlMb2stw9fs3lA3pCDLtGtefmONe6hPuvSlWhNX9v9oLkyPu9QE~CJ1HePttsyiGbJBrdP8kOxgpubK6-HUw9PjhLNcpsW7IWcMmH3tCSRxf-lwq8NyCGx4tAzjCtlvu3aXPf93f~ZxHyXV1btc1uM305AaVBvCfTYqX3akW3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairman Nelson and members of the Appropriations committee heard on record testimony from Michelle Zander, Chief Financial Officer for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, that the department is seeking a one‑time $7,000,000 allocation of SIF funding to backfill reduced federal VOCA awards and maintain victim services grants.

Zander said the adult services line holds the department’s interstate compact program, victim services and associated administration. She told the committee that the department has moved an existing victim services coordinator FTE into this line from transitional planning to “build up our victim program.” She also described several operating costs, including travel for returning interstate compact offenders and outreach printing for crime victims programs.

Committee members pressed Zander on the department’s grant and expenditure history. Zander and Charlie Hedden, the department’s grants and contracts manager, explained that historically large VOCA awards were drawn down over multiple years and that recent federal awards to the state have fallen. Zander said VOCA contractor rates and wage caps contributed to an increase in department costs. She told the committee the line in the executive recommendation shows $11,600,000 in grants and benefits and that the decision package asks for $7,000,000 in one‑time SIF funding.

Representative Murphy and others questioned whether the $7 million would simply replenish the fund so the department would not need additional state money next session. Zander characterized the $7 million request as a one‑time infusion and said the department hopes federal awards will rise in future years. She told the panel, “we are anticipating about 2,000,000 each year” in VOCA awards going forward.

Hedden told the committee the VOCA/CVC line contains two pockets: the federal VOCA awards and state crime victims compensation (CVC) payouts. He estimated about $1,600,000 in additional expenditures could be claimed by June 30 and said “so in this line item, potentially $2,000,000 around $2,000,000 could yet be expended,” reflecting both VOCA and CVC activity and the timing of subrecipient claims.

Department staff characterized the recent decline in award sizes and the end of multi‑year distributions as the driver of the shortfall. They said the VOCA program previously benefited from an $8.1 million award that was spread over multiple years and that current annual awards to the state are expected to be roughly $2.0–2.4 million — a level staff said is insufficient to sustain the existing subrecipient awards of roughly $5.5–5.8 million per year.

Committee members also asked about operating increases in the victim compensation and program lines. Zander said some growth reflects targeted outreach and temporary staff to process claims and respond to audit recommendations; the department is acting as “payer of last resort” for certain crime victim claims and must reimburse eligible medical, funeral and mental‑health expenses after other sources have paid.

The department provided a list of recent subrecipients; Hedden said the VOCA program typically funds between 38 and 42 organizations. Hedden and Zander both emphasized that timing of subrecipient expenditures (quarterly claim submissions) affects the department’s year‑to‑date spending profile.

The hearing record contains no formal committee vote on the SIF request; the appropriation is a decision‑package request presented for committee consideration.","Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials told the Appropriations committee that federal Victims of Crime Act awards (VOCA) have fallen and that the department is requesting a one‑time $7 million SIF allocation to maintain current grant awards and victim services.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Roughrider Industries pitches workforce gains and requests equipment funds; paint line replacement singled out as urgent

Transitional planning staff outline inmate transport responsibilities, restorative justice costs

DOCR budget hearing focuses on VOCA shortfall; agency seeks $7 million one‑time SIF to stabilize victim services grants