Should time served mean time locked up—or time spent preparing to reenter society? That was the heart of North Dakota’s most debated bill this session. Senate Bill 2128, backed by Attorney General Drew Wrigley, sought stricter prison terms for violent and serious offenders. Supporters said it was about accountability. Opponents warned it would strain packed prisons and ignore rehabilitation. In the end, the House said no—but the debate over justice, safety, and second chances is far from over. April Baumgarten with InForum has the full story on what has been one of the more vigorously debated bills of the 2025 session.
SB 2128
A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 12-44.1-01, 12-48.1-01, 12-48.1-02, 12-54.1-01, 12-54.1-03, 12.1-08-02, 12.1-17-01, 12.1-32-02.1, 12.1-32-09.1, and 39-10-71 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to transparent sentencing of criminal offenders, work release eligibility and conditions for criminal offenders, sentences for assaulting and fleeing from law enforcement officers, and sentences for preventing arrest; to provide a legislative management report; and to provide a penalty.
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