Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner’s conversation with Scott Hennen
BISMARCK, N.D. – Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner rebukes the North Dakota House Judiciary Committee for gutting Attorney General Drew Wrigley’s so-called “Truth In Sentencing Bill”.
The legislation would have required violent offenders to serve at least half of their prison sentences before parole eligibility, but that language was removed from the bill. The committee recommended the bill should not be passed by the full House. The legislation passed the Senate 28-18.
Jahner believes some legislators are advocating for only one side of working with people once they’re convicted of a crime.
“There’s not enough capacity at the state level. That’s pushing people back onto the counties and pushing a community rehabilitation-type model. That needs to change. Obviously we need to have a balance there, but right now there’s been a way higher push for rehabilitation rather than incarceration,” Jahner said.
Chair of the House Judiciary Committee Republican State Rep. Lawrence Klemin of Bismarck said in a bill hearing the legislation takes hope of getting out of prison away from inmates and the $44 million cost is too high.
Prosecutors, including Wrigley, argued the bill was needed to ensure criminals are doing their time.
Jahner says the Cass County Sheriff’s Office has gotten complaints from victims when inmates don’t serve their full sentences.
“I’ve told our staff that we’re not going to take the blame on those calls anymore when our staff does a great job with the investigation and someone else decides to reduce that and it harms the victim,” Jahner explained.
