MontanaCourts would order reports in more felony cases
The proposal directs district courts to order reports in many felony cases and certain violent crime or unpaid loss cases before sentencing.
What it does
The proposal would direct courts to order reports before many felony sentences, with exceptions if a report was already provided or completed within 18 months.
For violent crimes and certain cases involving unpaid victim losses, the proposal would require a report; if no report is ordered, the court would hear loss evidence at sentencing.
Argument forReports could help judges consider victims' losses and a person's needs when deciding a sentence.
Argument againstPreparing reports could add work before sentencing, and cases may take longer when more information or victim input is needed.
More detail
The proposal directs district courts to order reports for people convicted of felonies. This applies to people found guilty of one or more felonies in district court. A court need not order another report if one was provided before the plea or guilty finding, or the person completed one within the prior 18 months. A requested report must be ready within 30 business days after the plea or guilty finding, unless more information or time for victim input is needed.
The proposal directs courts to order reports in certain cases involving violent crimes or repayment to a victim or other entity. This applies to people convicted of a violent offense, or a crime where a victim or other entity may be owed repayment. A report is required for a crime where a victim or other entity may be owed repayment only if the amount is not included in a plea agreement. If no report is ordered, the court must accept evidence of the victim's loss at sentencing. The court would accept evidence of the victim's loss at sentencing when a report is not ordered.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Died
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- May 23(H) Died in CommitteeDied
- Apr 10(S) Revised Fiscal Note Requested
- Vote recorded to_table. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 10(H) Tabled in Committee - (H) AppropriationsMinor
- Apr 10(H) Hearing - (H) Appropriations
- Apr 10(H) Rereferred to Committee - (H) AppropriationsMinor
- Apr 9(H) Committee Report - (H) Judiciary
- Vote recorded be_concurred_in_as_amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Judiciary
- Apr 7(H) Hearing - (H) Judiciary
- Feb 27(S) Fiscal Note Printed
- Feb 25(S) Fiscal Note ReceivedMinor
- Feb 25(S) Fiscal Note Unsigned
- Feb 19(S) Fiscal Note Requested
- Feb 18(H) Fiscal Note Requested
- Feb 7(H) 1st Reading
- Feb 7(H) Referred to Committee - (H) JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 6(S) Transmitted to House
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 6(S) 3rd Reading
- Feb 6(S) Scheduled for 3rd ReadingMinor
- Feb 5(S) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 5(S) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Feb 3(S) Committee Report - (S) Judiciary
- Vote recorded do_pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 3(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Judiciary
- Jan 28(S) Hearing - (S) Judiciary
- Jan 22(S) Hearing Canceled - (S) Judiciary
- Jan 7(S) Referred to Committee - (S) JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 6(S) 1st Reading
- 2024
- Dec 27(S) Introduced
- Dec 27(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- Nov 18(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- Nov 17(LC) Draft in Assembly
- Nov 11(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- Oct 28(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- Oct 23(LC) Draft in Edit
- Oct 9(LC) Draft in Legal Review
- Sep 12(LC) Drafter AssignedIntroduced
Criminal Justice