Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to enhance the presentence investigation process in Montana, particularly for sexual and violent offenses. The bill establishes a new Sexual and Violent Offender Presentence Investigation and Reporting Unit within the Department of Corrections, which will consist of probation and parole officers tasked with conducting presentence investigations and reports as directed by the court. This initiative responds to the increasing rates of sexual and violent crimes in the state and addresses concerns regarding the workload of probation and parole officers, which can affect the quality and timeliness of presentence reports.

The bill amends existing laws, specifically Sections 46-18-111 and 46-18-242 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA). Notable changes include the requirement for the court to order a presentence investigation for defendants convicted of violent offenses and the inclusion of a psychosexual evaluation for certain sexual offense convictions. Additionally, the bill clarifies the roles of probation and parole officers in the presentence investigation process and mandates that the costs associated with evaluations be borne by the defendant unless they are deemed indigent. The amendments aim to streamline the presentence investigation process and ensure that the court has comprehensive information before sentencing.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 46-18-111, 46-18-242
SB0089_1(1): 46-18-111, 46-18-242
SB0089_1(2): 46-18-111, 46-18-242
SB0089_1(3): 46-18-111, 46-18-242
SB0089_1(4): 46-18-111, 46-18-242
SB0089_1(5): 46-18-111, 46-18-242
SB0089_1: 46-18-111, 46-18-242