Senate Appropriations panel backs HB1425 to pilot prosecution-led diversion, deflection and pretrial services

At a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, members recommended a do-pass on House Bill 14 25, a criminal-justice package bill that would expand prosecution-led diversion, authorize community deflection programs and fund a three-county pretrial services pilot. The bill includes a $1,000,000 appropriation to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) for one full-time equivalent (FTE) and contracting, $750,000 to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for treatment services, and $55,000 for a study of pretrial services.

The bill sponsor, Representative Killeen, told the committee the measure "targets the front end of reentry" by strengthening diversion, deflection and pretrial programs so returning justice-involved people can access supervision and services outside of incarceration. He said the bills are intended to "serve public safety, make the best use of our overcrowded prison and jail beds," and noted North Dakota's recidivism rate is about 40 percent and the state prison is operating over capacity (discussed in testimony as about 112 percent of capacity).

The measure would codify Rule 32.2 of the North Dakota Rules of Criminal…