Gov. Kelly Armstrong interview with Jay Thomas
BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong disagrees with North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley who wants the Legislature to set mandatory minimum sentences for simple assault on a peace officer, fleeing and resisting arrest charges.
“Mandatory minimum sentences don’t deter the crime you think they deter, but more importantly take control out of judge’s and prosecutors who you elect locally. I don’t know how much you’ll lock horns. I think we’ll have policy disagreements on some of these things, but that’s the way it’s supposed to go,” Armstrong explained on The Jay Thomas Show on WDAY Radio.
Armstrong says he also has a plan to increase capacity at county jails and the state penitentiary during his Wednesday budget address to the Legislature. He says he needs more immediate solutions than just adding onto the state penitentiary.
“[I’m] not saying I don’t support that, but those beds wouldn’t be ready until 2030,” Armstrong said.
