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Justice Reinvestment in North Dakota: Policy Framework

NCJ Number
250623
Date Published
January 2017
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This report outlines North Dakota's policies for addressing the projection that under current criminal justice policy its prison population will increase 36 percent by FY 2022 at a cost of $115 million.
Abstract
Data analysis has shown that in North Dakota increasing numbers of people are sentenced to prison for lower level nonviolent offenses or for violations of conditions of their community supervision. Such offenders compose almost 75 percent of all prison admissions. In January 2016, the State committed to a "justice reinvestment" effort in which key stakeholders are cooperating to develop policies and legislation that will reduce prison population growth by curtailing admissions of those who have committed low-level, nonviolent felonies, as well as those who have violated probation or parole conditions. The policies developed will also improve the treatment services for high-risk offenders with serious behavioral health needs, such as mental illness and substance abuse disorders. Post-release supervision programming will be upgraded. By implementing these policies, the State anticipates reducing prison costs by a minimum of $63.8 million by 2022. The savings will be reinvested in strategies proven to reduce recidivism. Policy options, legislation, and their anticipated impact are reviewed. 2 figures and 20 notes