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LC 4485

Study of the criminal justice data warehouse

2025 Regular Session

Montana authorizes a study examining the state's criminal justice data warehouse systems and operations to assess functionality and identify policy needs.

(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
#criminalprocedure(seealso:lawenforcement) #legislature #interimstudies
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Bill Summary · LC 4485

Legislative bill overview

LC 4485 is a Montana bill that authorizes a comprehensive study of the state's criminal justice data warehouse system. The bill appears to be in the early drafting stages and would likely establish parameters for evaluating how criminal justice data is collected, stored, managed, and accessed across state agencies.

Why is this important

Criminal justice data warehouses are critical infrastructure for law enforcement, courts, and corrections agencies, but they also raise significant questions about data accuracy, privacy, and equitable access. Understanding how Montana's system functions—and whether it's meeting public safety and fairness objectives—can inform future policy decisions about modernization, security, and accountability measures.

Potential points of contention

  • Data privacy and access: Questions about who can access criminal justice records, how personal information is protected, and whether individuals have adequate rights to challenge inaccurate data
  • Algorithmic bias and disparities: Whether the data warehouse perpetuates or reveals racial, socioeconomic, or geographic disparities in the criminal justice system
  • Cost and scope: The expense of conducting such a study and how comprehensively it will examine system performance, security vulnerabilities, and interagency coordination

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

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