Bill > HB1425

This bill establishes three main initiatives to improve criminal justice and behavioral health interventions in North Dakota. First, it allows county prosecutors to create diversion programs that suspend prosecution for defendants who agree not to commit new offenses, with each county required to develop written guidelines for program eligibility. Second, the bill introduces a "deflection process" that enables law enforcement and first responders to redirect individuals with behavioral health conditions (such as substance use or mental health disorders) to treatment facilities instead of pursuing criminal charges, with specific requirements for program design including participant screening, case management, and data collection. Third, the bill creates a pilot program for the Department of Corrections to supervise defendants in diversion programs in three counties during the 2025-2027 biennium, with the department required to collaborate with various agencies, develop guidelines, and report on program outcomes. Additionally, the bill mandates a legislative management study on pretrial service programs to examine their costs, savings, and potential impact on recidivism, and provides appropriations totaling $1,805,000 from the strategic investment and improvements fund to support these initiatives, including funding for a new full-time equivalent position, third-party provider contracts, consulting services, and treatment services.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/bill-overview/bo1425.html