ND HB1252

Courts may prohibit sentenced offenders from contacting victims during the term of imprisonment.

Expands the definition of "victim" to clarify it includes family members of deceased, incompetent, incapacitated, or minor victims, but excludes the accused and persons acting against the victim's best interests.

Allows spouses, parents, grandparents, children, siblings, grandchildren, guardians, or substantially similar relationships to exercise victim rights when the direct victim is deceased, incompetent, incapacitated, or a minor.

Requires courts to order restitution for reasonable damages directly related to criminal offenses, including costs for professional services and treatment for sexual offense victims, unless the court documents reasons on the record for not ordering or only partially ordering restitution.

Declares the act an emergency measure.