Grant Details

The purpose of Misdemeanor Probation is to provide monitoring and enforcement of sentence compliance for offenders who have been convicted of a first or second misdemeanor offense of Partner or Family Member Assault (PFMA) under MCA 45-5-206 or of violation of an order of protection under MCA 45-5-626. Recidivism and risk of serious injury or death to victims can be reduced when offenders are held accountable by the criminal justice system and are required to comply with court ordered sanctions such as payment of fines and restitution, Orders of Protection, drug and alcohol evaluation and treatment, and successful completion of an offender intervention program.

Communities are strongly encouraged to develop a comprehensive plan for achieving goals including assessment of need, demonstration of collaboration through coordinated community response teams, methodologies to be employed, meaningful sanctions for non-compliant offenders, plans for sustainability of the program, and specific details regarding program evaluation.

Misdemeanor Probation grant funds may be used for the following purposes (a program containing most of these elements would qualify as a comprehensive program):

• Supervision/Probation for offenders convicted of a first or second misdemeanor offense of partner or family member assault or of violation of an order of protection;
• Tracking of sentence requirements and compliance with each;
• Electronic or GPS monitoring of some offenders after risk assessment;
• Victim safety measures such as lethality assessment;
• Tracking of outcomes (i.e. recidivism, revocations of probation etc.);
• Establishment of a supervision fee structure or other means of program sustainability; and
• Utilizing evidence-informed offender intervention programs that are designed to reduce the risk of future violent behavior.

The purpose of the Domestic Violence Intervention Program is to assist courts in implementing an Offender Intervention Program that meets the standards adopted by the Montana Board of Crime Control (MCA 44-7-210). Applications submitted by courts must outline adherence to the adopted OIP standards per MCA 44-7-201.