Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Agency Briefings topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Agencies brief Law and Justice Interim Committee on courts, corrections and public defense
Summary
During the July 16, 2025 meeting, agency leaders — including the Office of Court Administrator, Department of Justice, Montana Board of Crime Control, Department of Corrections, Board of Pardons and Parole, and the Office of State Public Defender — gave overviews and answered committee questions about operations and priorities.
Committee staff scheduled a series of agency presentations July 16, 2025, to provide lawmakers with an overview of state court administration, criminal-justice programming, corrections operations, parole processes, and public-defense capacity.
Dave McAlpin, Supreme Court Administrator (Office of Court Administrator), provided background on court administration matters. Alan Doane, legislative liaison for the Department of Justice, presented DOJ priorities. The Montana Board of Crime Control was represented by Sheriff Leo Dutton (chair) and Natalia Bowser (executive director); they discussed MBCC activities and grants. Deputy Director Eric Strauss briefed the committee on Department of Corrections operations and answered questions on staffing and program results. Steve Hurd, chairman of the Board of Pardons and Parole, gave a short introduction to the board’s work. Director Brett Schandelson of the Office of State Public Defender outlined public-defense priorities and responded to questions about caseloads and resources.
Committee members asked substantive follow-up questions during each presentation; the minutes record exchanges from multiple members, including Rep. Steven Kelly, Rep. Braxton Mitchell, Sen. Barry Usher, and Rep. Ed Stafman. The committee recessed midmorning and reconvened for public comment related to agency oversight, at which Nanette Gilbertson (Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association) addressed the committee. Other public commenters later in the day included Erin McGowan (Montana Community Corrections Association) and Rep. James Reavis.
Why it matters: These briefings give the interim committee baseline information it will use to decide whether to pursue oversight, statutory changes, or further study during the interim.
