North Dakota Code 12.1-32-02 – Sentencing alternatives – Credit for time in custody – Diagnostic testing
1. Every person convicted of an offense who is sentenced by the court must be sentenced to one or a combination of the following alternatives, unless the sentencing alternatives are otherwise specifically provided in the statute defining the offense or sentencing is deferred under subsection 4:
Attorney's Note
Under the North Dakota Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 360 days | up to $3,000 |
| Class B misdemeanor | up to 30 days | up to $1,500 |
Terms Used In North Dakota Code 12.1-32-02
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Court: means any of the following courts: the supreme court, a district court, and where relevant, a municipal court. See North Dakota Code 12.1-01-04
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
- following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute means the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- Force: means physical action. See North Dakota Code 12.1-01-04
- Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
- Individual: means a human being. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- Offense: means conduct for which a term of imprisonment or a fine is authorized by statute after conviction. See North Dakota Code 12.1-01-04
- person: includes , where relevant, a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, unincorporated association, or other legal entity. See North Dakota Code 12.1-01-04
- Presentence report: A report prepared by a court's probation officer, after a person has been convicted of an offense, summarizing for the court the background information needed to determine the appropriate sentence. Source: U.S. Courts
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
- Property: includes property, real and personal. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- Risk assessment: means an initial phase with a secondary process approved by the department of health and human services for the evaluation of the likelihood a person that committed an offense will commit another similar offense. See North Dakota Code 12.1-01-04
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
- written: include "typewriting" and "typewritten" and "printing" and "printed" except in the case of signatures and when the words are used by way of contrast to typewriting and printing. See North Dakota Code 1-01-37
a. Payment of the reasonable costs of the person’s prosecution. b. Probation.
c. A term of imprisonment, including intermittent imprisonment:
(1) In a state correctional facility in accordance with section 29-27-07, in a regional corrections center, or in a county jail, if convicted of a felony or a class A misdemeanor.
(2) In a county jail or in a regional corrections center, if convicted of a class B misdemeanor.
(3) In a facility or program deemed appropriate for the treatment of the individual offender, including available community-based or faith-based programs.
(4) In the case of persons convicted of an offense who are under eighteen years of age at the time of sentencing, the court is limited to sentencing the minor defendant to a term of imprisonment in the custody of the department of corrections and rehabilitation. d. A fine.
e. Restitution for damages resulting from the commission of the offense. f. Restoration of damaged property or other appropriate work detail.
g. Commitment to an appropriate licensed public or private institution for treatment of alcoholism, drug addiction, or mental disease or defect.
h. Commitment to a sexual offender treatment program.
i. Drug court program. A drug court is a district court supervised treatment program approved by the supreme court which combines judicial supervision with alcohol and drug testing and substance use disorder treatment in a licensed treatment program. The supreme court may adopt rules, including rules of procedure, for drug court programs.
j. Veterans treatment docket. A veterans treatment docket is a district court supervised docket approved by the supreme court which combines judicial supervision with licensed treatment programs to treat substance use disorders, mental health conditions, behavioral health conditions, traumatic brain injuries, military sexual trauma, and co-occurring disorders. The supreme court may adopt rules, including rules of procedure, for veterans treatment dockets.
k. Completion of a restorative justice program. For purposes of this section, “restorative justice program” means a system of justice which focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large.
l. Mental health court program. A mental health court is a district court supervised treatment program approved by the supreme court which combines judicial supervision with mental health services and treatment in a licensed treatment program. The supreme court may adopt rules, including rules of procedure, for mental health court programs.
Except as provided by section 12.1-32-06.1, sentences imposed under this subsection may not exceed in duration the maximum sentences of imprisonment provided by section 12.1-32-01, section 12.1-32-09, or as provided specifically in a statute defining an offense. This subsection does not permit the unconditional discharge of an offender following conviction. A sentence under subdivision e or f must be imposed in the manner provided in section 12.1-32-08. If the person is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, the court may prohibit the person from contacting the victim during the term of imprisonment. For purposes of this subsection, “victim” means victim as defined in section 12.1-34-01.
2. Credit against any sentence to a term of imprisonment must be given by the court to a defendant for all time spent in custody as a result of the criminal charge for which the sentence was imposed or as a result of the conduct on which such charge was based. “Time spent in custody” includes time spent in custody in a jail or mental institution for the offense charged, whether that time is spent prior to trial, during trial, pending sentence, or pending appeal. The total amount of credit the defendant is entitled to for time spent in custody and any credit for sentence reduction under section 12-44.1-32 or 12-54.1-01 the defendant is entitled to must be stated in the criminal judgment.
3. A court may suspend the execution of all or a part of the sentence imposed. The court shall place the defendant on probation during the term of suspension.
4. A court, upon application or its own motion, may defer imposition of sentence. The court must place the defendant on probation during the period of deferment. An order deferring imposition of sentence is reviewable upon appeal from a verdict or judgment.
In any subsequent prosecution, for any other offense, the prior conviction for which imposition of sentence is deferred may be pleaded and proved, and has the same effect as if probation had not been granted or the information or indictment dismissed under section 12.1-32-07.1.
5. A court may, prior to imposition of sentence, order the convicted offender committed to an appropriate licensed public or private institution for diagnostic testing for such period of time as may be necessary, but not to exceed thirty days. The court may, by subsequent order, extend the period of commitment for not to exceed thirty additional days. The court may also order such diagnostic testing without ordering commitment to an institution. Validity of a sentence must not be challenged on the ground that diagnostic testing was not performed pursuant to this subsection.
6. All sentences imposed must be accompanied by a written statement by the court setting forth the reasons for imposing the particular sentence. The statement must become part of the record of the case.
7. If an offender is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, that term of imprisonment commences at the time of sentencing, unless, upon motion of the defendant, the court orders the term to commence at some other time.
8. Unless otherwise specifically authorized in the statute defining the offense, a court may not include a minimum term of imprisonment as part of its sentence.
9. A person who is convicted of a felony and sentenced to imprisonment for not more than three hundred sixty days is deemed to have been convicted of a misdemeanor. However, if an order is entered revoking a term of probation that was imposed as part of a sentence, the person is deemed to have been convicted of a felony.
10. A court shall order a defendant to pay fifty dollars to the department of corrections and rehabilitation at the time a presentence investigation is initiated to partially defray the costs incurred by the department for the preparation of the presentence report. The court may also order that any additional costs incurred by the department relating to the presentence investigation and report be paid by the defendant at a rate of payment up to the full costs of conducting the investigation and preparing the report as established by the department.
11. Before sentencing a defendant on a felony charge under section 12.1-20-03, 12.1-20-03.1, 12.1-20-11, 12.1-27.2-02, 12.1-27.2-03, 12.1-27.2-04, or 12.1-27.2-05, a court shall order the department of corrections and rehabilitation to conduct a presentence investigation and to prepare a presentence report. A presentence investigation for a charge under section 12.1-20-03 must include a risk assessment. A court may order the inclusion of a risk assessment in any presentence investigation. In all felony or class A misdemeanor offenses, in which force, as defined in section 12.1-01-04, or threat of force is an element of the offense or in violation of section 12.1-22-02, or an attempt to commit the offenses, a court, unless a presentence investigation has been ordered, must receive a criminal record report before the sentencing of the defendant. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the criminal record report must be conducted by the department of corrections and rehabilitation after consulting with the prosecuting attorney regarding the defendant’s criminal record. The criminal record report must be in writing, filed with the court before sentencing, and made a part of the court’s record of the sentencing proceeding.