Bill > SB84

This bill generally revises laws related to presentence investigations, making several key changes to how and when such investigations are conducted in the criminal justice system. The bill mandates that district courts shall now order a presentence investigation and report for most felony offenses, with some exceptions, such as if an investigation has been completed within the past 18 months or has already been provided to the court. The legislation expands requirements for specific types of evaluations, including mandatory psychosexual evaluations for certain sexual offense convictions and potential mental health evaluations for specific crimes. The bill also clarifies that these presentence investigations must include detailed information about the defendant's characteristics, criminal history, circumstances of the offense, and potential risks to the community, using validated risk and needs assessments. Additionally, the bill allows for more flexibility in evaluation types, potentially including substance use disorder assessments, and ensures that victims' pecuniary losses are documented. To support these expanded investigation requirements, the bill includes an appropriation of $2,410,613 to the Department of Corrections for implementation during the biennium starting July 1, 2025, indicating a significant investment in more comprehensive pre-sentencing procedures.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0240