Trio of bills addresses justice reform, crowded North Dakota jails
When parole and probation officers have to try to collect fees from people on supervised release, 'it puts both parties in a difficult situation,' said Colby Braun, director of the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Eliminating those fees, and the time and effort that goes into collecting them, has been identified as one way to help keep low-level criminals out of North Dakota's crowded jails and prison system.
Lawmakers on Wednesday heard from Braun and others advocating for three bills addressing jail overcrowding and keeping people from getting caught in a revolving door of legal trouble.
House Bill 1425 focuses on diversion and deflection, keeping people out of jail with mental health and substance abuse service. It would establish a pilot program in three counties.
House Bill 1417 would eliminate fees for people on supervised release. Not paying those fees can lead to a return to jail. The fees are also seen as a burden for low-income people.
House Bill 1549 would create a grant program for local jails for programs that help people adjust after being released from jail, referred to as reentry. It would also study barriers to reentry, such as housing, access to Medicaid, and maintaining a valid driver's license or getting some other identification. It would also study why Blacks and Native Americans are incarcerated at higher rates than other populations.
'As a package, these proposals promote public safety through an intentional focus on reentry, recovery and rehabilitation that will improve the lives of people exiting the justice system and reduce the likelihood that they find their way back into the system,' Rep. Lawrence Klemin, R-Bismarck, the sponsor of the bills, told the House Judiciary Committee. 'This is a better use of our tax dollars, correctional space and the smart approach to maintaining public safety in our state.'
The bills address issues identified by a Reentry Study Work Group. They also address the lack of beds available in North Dakota jails, which also is in need of a short-term fix, Gov. Kelly Armstrong has said. Armstrong, a former defense attorney, also voiced support during his budget address for investments in behavioral health and other steps to reduce reliance on jails and prisons.
In committee work later Wednesday, Rep. Jeff Hoverson, R-Minot, spoke against all three bills.
'If we continue to think that the government is the answer to behavioral health, we're going to be going down into a bottomless pit,' Hoverson said.
The Judiciary Committee did not act on the bills, with Klemin indicating the committee will take them up Monday. Monday is the deadline for House committees to act on bills that must go to the Appropriations Committee.
The bill on fees removes a $55 per month supervision fee charged to people on supervised release. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation bills about $6 million in supervision fees per biennium, with a collection rate of only about 25%.
Braun said that does account for the time officers spend trying to collect fees. 'There's no bang for the buck,' Braun said.
He said being able to provide positive reinforcement with people is much more effective.
Sister Kathleen Atkinson, who operates Ministry on the Margins in Bismarck, said some people will choose going back to jail and using state resources rather than paying fees.
The diversion bill would allow state's attorneys in each county to create their own program that could lead to the dismissal of charges if a defendant uses mental health or substance abuse treatment.
While not specified in the bill, Klemin said it is intended for low-level charges.
Legislative hearing at North Dakota State Penitentiary highlights rehabilitation programs
The bill also calls for a pilot project in three counties, to be determined later, working with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
'Pick me,' Cass County State's Attorney Kim Hegvik said Wednesday, testifying in favor of the bill.
Hegvik said Cass County had a diversion program but did not have the resources to provide the supervision that people in the program needed.
'This is a great place to spend our resources,' she said.
There was no negative testimony presented Wednesday, but there was opposition testimony submitted by Ward County State's Attorney Rozanna Larson. She said she feared the bill would not provide the mental health support that many people need and instead create more work for prosecutors and law enforcement.
The bill would also study the effectiveness of pretrial services, which Larson said is not meeting expectations.
The reentry study would include looking at programs specifically designed for Native Americans and drawing on Native culture. Braun noted the implementation of Akisni Warrior Lodge program targeted at Natives at the James River Correctional Center as an example.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
20 minutes ago
- Axios
Colorado lawmakers tap reserve, end tax breaks to fill budget gap
Democratic leaders at the state Capitol outlined plans Tuesday to increase taxes, cut services and tap reserve funds to close a $1 billion budget hole spurred by President Trump's "big, beautiful bill." State of play: The legislation will generate fierce debate about how the state should manage its money when lawmakers return Thursday for a special legislative session. The core of the Democratic plan eliminates a handful of corporate tax breaks worth a combined $300 million to $400 million. The five-bill package will limit the business tax deduction, remove corporate tax breaks on foreign-sold goods and crack down on corporate profit shifting to tax haven countries. The intrigue: The most controversial proposal is lowering the state's 15% financial reserve by $200 million to $300 million, dropping it to 13% at a time when fiscal analysts are warning about a potential recession. Yes, but: Those moves are not enough to close a roughly $750 million gap. Instead, lawmakers will punt $300 million in spending cuts to balance the $44 billion state budget to the governor in consultation with the legislative Joint Budget Committee in the coming weeks. The governor is expected to move quickly to implement cuts by Sept. 1. What they're saying: "We're looking forward to rolling up our sleeves and making sure we can maintain strong fiscal stewardship here in Colorado," Gov. Jared Polis told Axios Denver in a recent interview. Between the lines: More than most states, Colorado is susceptible to changes in federal taxes because they affect state income taxes. The federal tax bill, known as H.R. 1, reduced the state's individual and corporate income taxes by an estimated $1.2 billion, according to the governor's office. The other side: Republican state lawmakers are touting the cuts from Trump's tax bill and pushing back against Democratic efforts to generate new tax revenue, suggesting spending cuts are what is most needed. Sen. Byron Pelton (R-Sterling) plans to introduce legislation requiring voter approval for any bill that changes state tax liability caused by federal tax law. What's next: Beyond the budget, Democratic lawmakers also plan to introduce legislation to stabilize the state's health care marketplaces amid projections that thousands of residents could lose their insurance and enable Planned Parenthood to accept Medicaid payments.
2 hours ago
Iowa US Senate candidate ends bid to run against Republican incumbent Joni Ernst
DES MOINES, Iowa -- An Iowa Democratic state lawmaker bowed out of the 2026 U.S. Senate primary race on Monday and endorsed a fellow legislator as the 'best hope' to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, who has yet to formally announce her bid for a third term. Rep. J.D. Scholten said in a statement he was suspending his campaign and endorsing Democratic Rep. Josh Turek, who launched his campaign last week. Both represent districts in counties that overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump in 2024. Turek joined a crowded primary field that includes state Sen. Zach Wahls, who on Monday announced the endorsement of a northeast Iowa iron workers union; Nathan Sage, a former chamber of commerce president; and Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris. Eyes remain on Ernst as Republicans encountered early headaches in some of the 2026 races that will be pivotal to maintaining the party's Senate majority, including a contentious GOP primary in Texas and a surprise retirement announcement by two-term Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina. After flipping pork chops last week at the Iowa State Fair, Ernst told reporters that she'd make an announcement on her own 2026 intentions in the next several weeks, adding, 'I've got a lot more work to do.' In a reelection bid, Ernst would face GOP primary challengers who include former state Sen. Jim Carlin and Navy veteran Joshua Smith. Of her Democratic competitors, Ernst said 'good for them.' 'When we see those Democrats getting in, what they're trying to do is get their name out there, but they cannot deny the fabulous agenda that President Trump has," Ernst said. 'Glad they're engaging but, you know what, they're not going to stand a chance.' Ernst announced a campaign manager in June, an October date for her annual fundraiser and has raised just shy of $1.8 million in the first half of the year. A former Army National Guard member and a retired lieutenant colonel, she was first elected to an open Senate seat in 2014. She served for several years in the No. 3 spot in the Senate GOP leadership and was considered a vice presidential contender for Trump's first White House run. She's since faced some backlash from Trump supporters, including earlier this year after signaling a hesitance to support Trump's pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth. Democrats meanwhile are capitalizing on a retort Ernst made about Medicaid cuts at a town hall in May. As Ernst explained that the legislation protects Medicaid for those who need it most, someone in the crowd yelled that people will die without coverage. Ernst responded: 'People are not ... well, we all are going to die.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Emmer visits St. Cloud's New Flyer, discusses Northstar's future
House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., paid St. Cloud a visit Thursday morning to tour the New Flyer facility and promote President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill." Emmer toured the bus manufacturing facility alongside Federal Transit Administration Administrator Marc Molinaro and local leaders like Metro Bus CEO Ryan Daniel and former Mayor Dave Kleis, chair of the Metro Bus Board of Commissioners. The visit was part of efforts to promote the "One Big Beautiful Bill" and the American manufacturing industry, which Emmer and Molinaro discussed on the tour, as well as the future of the Northstar commuter rail. "One of the greatest things about changes in administration is fresh ideas that come in," Emmer said. "Is there a way that we can get more decision making at the local level, is there a way we can make it more efficient to save costs? I'm just really excited because of the new way of looking at manufacturing." Rail service: Minnesota's Northstar commuter rail, link bus service expected to stop The new legislation signed into law in July includes many tax cuts, as well as major cuts to programs like Medicaid, SNAP and clean energy credits. This summer, the Federal Transit Administration also made $1.5 billion available to cities for new bus purchases as part of its Low or No Emission Grant Program and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. Molinaro said the bill, with its focus on American manufacturing and decreasing regulation, would likely boost production at New Flyer and support the country's public transportation industry, particularly buses. "Our public transit systems are the circulatory system of America," he said. "What the president understands... is making it easier for transit systems to make those purchases." While the two leaders celebrated the use of buses in Minnesota and nationwide, Emmer emphasized the importance of "smart transit" and criticized the Northstar commuter rail, saying the cost for the route "doesn't make any sense." After prolonged rising operational costs and low ridership, the Northstar rail is expected to make its final trip early next year. The route currently connects central Minnesota to the Twin Cities, with a train to Big Lake and the Northstar Link bus that takes passengers to St. Cloud. Light rail is not a solution to the region's public transportation needs, Emmer said, and buses can be more useful by serving people where they are rather than making people go to the train. Metropolitan Council plans to transition to bus service instead, which will only go as far north as Ramsey, according to presentation documents. Arctic Cat: Arctic Cat resumes production at St. Cloud, Thief River Falls plants A Metro Transit survey of Northstar riders also found that if it transitioned to an hourly bus service from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., about half of riders said they would be somewhat likely to use the service, with a third saying they are not at all likely to use it. "We've had this debate ongoing in this state for quite a while, how are you going to get the most bang for the dollars that you have? Light rail has not proven to be the answer to that question," Emmer said. New Flyer CEO Paul Soubry also spoke at Thursday's tour, saying the "One Big Beautiful Bill" aligns with the company's goals of stable funding, efficiency and retaining skilled workers. "What the Administrator is trying to do is streamline the way that money gets to the operators and how they buy vehicles," Soubry said. "The ability to be effective as an American employer is exactly what they're talking about." New Flyer, one of St. Cloud's largest employers, has about 900 workers at its St. Cloud facility. It produces traditional diesel, electric and natural gas-powered buses for 18 transit agencies nationwide, including Metro Transit, New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Teagan King covers business and development for the St. Cloud Times. She can be reached at teking@ This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Rep. Emmer visits St. Cloud's New Flyer on Big Beautiful Bill tour Solve the daily Crossword
