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Montana Committee Moves to Restore Harsher Penalties for Retail Theft; Debate Split Over Crime and Poverty
Summary
Senate Bill 19 would increase penalties and jail time for retail theft and related offenses; businesses and law‑enforcement urged the change citing rising losses, while civil‑liberties and reform groups warned it would criminalize poverty and expand jail populations.
Senate Bill 19, presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee by Sen. Barry Usher, seeks to reverse aspects of earlier criminal justice reform and raise penalties for retail theft and related property offenses. Usher told the committee the bill “takes us back to…pre HB133” by adjusting thresholds, fines, and county jail ranges for repeat offenders.
Retailers, small‑business representatives and law‑enforcement witnesses testified in favor. Brad Griffin of the Montana Retail Association said Montana retailers face major losses and cited a statewide estimate of $145 million in retail theft.…
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