North Dakota Code 19-03.1-23.4 – Overdose prevention and immunity
An individual is immune from criminal prosecution under sections 19-03.1-22.1, 19-03.1-22.3, 19-03.1-22.5, subsection 7 of section 19-03.1-23, subsection 3 of section 19-03.2-03, and section 19-03.4-03 if in good faith that individual seeks medical assistance for another individual in need of emergency medical assistance due to a drug overdose. To receive immunity under this section, the individual receiving immunity must have remained on the scene until assistance arrived, cooperated with the medical treatment of the reported drug overdosed individual, and the overdosed individual must have been in a condition a layperson would reasonably believe to be a drug overdose requiring immediate medical assistance. Neither the individual who experiences a drug-related overdose and is in need of emergency medical assistance nor the cooperating individual seeking medical assistance may be charged or prosecuted for the criminal offenses listed in this section or for the sharing of controlled substances among those present. Immunity from prosecution under this section does not apply unless the evidence for the charge or prosecution was obtained as a result of the drug-related overdose and the need for emergency medical assistance. Good faith does not include seeking medical assistance during the course of the execution of an arrest warrant or search warrant or during a lawful search.
Terms Used In North Dakota Code 19-03.1-23.4
- Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Individual: means a human being. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49