BISMARCK - North Dakota officials are touting new legislation aimed at slowing prison growth by helping nonviolent offenders through treatment and sentencing alternatives.
Gov. Doug Burgum, lawmakers, corrections officials and others on Friday hailed a package of new laws that represent a major shift in North Dakota incarceration policies.
Among bills signed by Burgum this week is a measure that lowers penalties for possessing drugs for first time offenders. The goal is to reserve that prison space for more dangerous criminals.
Burgum also signed a bill that appropriates $7 million to improve access to substance abuse treatment programs.
Corrections director Leann Bertsch says North Dakota's state prisoner population is about 1,840. She says that's up from about 1,300 five years ago.