SB 561 Summary

• Establishes county incentive and disincentive programs based on Class D felony commitments to the department of correction, with incentives calculated using average daily marginal costs and average length of stay.

• Creates substance abuse treatment fund and probation improvement fund administered by the department of correction to award grants to probation departments for improving services and reducing revocations.

• Requires courts to impose sentences on Class B, C, and D felony offenders with suspended portions to be served on probation, in community corrections programs, or problem solving courts, rather than full commitment to prison.

• Changes theft offense classifications: makes theft a Class A misdemeanor for property under $750, Class D felony for $750-$50,000 or with prior conviction, and Class C felony for $50,000 or more; eliminates receiving stolen property as separate offense.

• Reduces forgery from Class C to Class D felony; establishes risk-based probation supervision standards; allows restricted disclosure of conviction records for nonviolent misdemeanors and Class D felonies after eight years without additional felony convictions.