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Bill

SB 84

Generally revise laws related to presentence investigations

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Laura Smith

Montana bill revising presentence investigation procedures for criminal sentencing, died in House committee after fiscal concerns delayed action.

(H) Died in Standing Committee
#corrections #criminalprocedure(seealso:lawenforcement)
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Bill Summary · SB 84

Legislative bill overview

SB 84 revises Montana's laws governing presentence investigations (PSIs)—comprehensive reports prepared by probation officers that detail a defendant's background, criminal history, and personal circumstances before sentencing. The bill modifies requirements for conducting these investigations and likely adjusts procedures, standards, or resource allocation related to PSI preparation and use in sentencing decisions.

Why is this important

Presentence investigations directly influence judicial sentencing outcomes, potentially affecting sentence length and type. Changes to PSI requirements can impact court efficiency, the quality of information judges receive, probation department workload, and defendants' opportunities to present mitigating information. These investigations are critical tools in individualizing sentences according to legal standards.

Potential points of contention

  • Resource implications: Revisions may increase or decrease probation department responsibilities, affecting staffing needs and state budget allocations (evidenced by fiscal note requests)
  • Due process concerns: Changes to investigation scope or defendant access to PSI information could affect defendants' ability to contest inaccurate statements before sentencing
  • Judicial discretion: Modifications might expand or limit what information judges must consider, affecting sentencing consistency and fairness standards

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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