[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6125935,"mediaKeyId","2674168-b3f1afe532534d07f5f2429d5a633255","parentId",2674168,"title","Residents and partners tell appropriators mandatory minimums would remove incentives, harm reentry","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4818000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674168-b3f1afe532534d07f5f2429d5a633255&start=4818&end=4818","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674168-b3f1afe532534d07f5f2429d5a633255/thumbnail_4818000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6125935/North-Dakota/Residents-and-partners-tell-appropriators-mandatory-minimums-would-remove-incentives-harm-reentry","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125935-14feae0c4cf8d6db3b3bc2e6345729c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770530098&Signature=CtsQL9yeyotZ7QAduHK3lH~GQ8Bab8lDZ4L2YHisJkGTWuqVI~XGyzdDkdj5LxmSdb4yy1zzpyDGe264NvV89U0cFKY9u-Qi0QNN0A8UDlPqmqypcYhbozfBF88vjRAHnTnl7r8Iwj2VCNwM0kp44atyAbgnLB142RM2UBA8SU2xYd9rRfflT2CjLTAud0GxaLlxogCkPZ~VBNgXGfJJo7Kc-E7UuwIgC5XceJgdXVeC46nEcanaZ-y5D~QkcWO4Bh8gUjzJxJtXOxk6-iEhYonKIOGAo6ywTHXMeJV2FQStvjgB4NM5C8ZrNDxKwe5uI3TxM5aQ14eo7JNm7oWecg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-03-18T00:00:00Z","article","During the site visit, several residents, resident volunteers and community partners addressed the committee specifically about pending legislation, Senate Bill 2128, which would impose mandatory minimum sentences. Witnesses urged caution and warned the committee that the bill would remove incentives that currently encourage participation in peer support, educational and reentry programs.

Nathan Teavey, a resident who serves on the Resident Crisis Support Team (RCST), told the committee that the RCST provides observation coverage and that members earn additional meritorious good time. “Senate Bill 2,128 is the embodiment of incentive destroying legislation,” Teavey said. He argued that removing the earned-time benefit would substantially reduce participation and that the program’s 50-plus volunteers currently provide coverage that would otherwise cost the state the full-time salaries of several staff.

Adam Martin, founder and CEO of the FI Project, said he supports rehabilitation and that mandatory-minimum changes “take away incentives and lock people up longer,” and he urged legislators to invest in programming instead: “If we want to fix something, fix putting them to work.” Resident speakers, including Christian Tolbert, Antonio Stadaro and others, described how orientation, resident-led programs, Shining Light and faith-based groups created hope and a sense of purpose; several said removing incentives would strip that hope away.

Why it matters: witnesses framed the choice about sentencing as a practical question about outcomes: programs that offer meaningful incentives and pathways to employment or housing, they said, increase the chances people will change behavior and return to communities as productive neighbors.

What legislators heard: a cross-section of residents, program staff and community partners asked lawmakers to weigh the operational and human effects of mandatory sentencing proposals before removing earned-time or other incentive structures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations - Human Resources Division Tuesday, Mar 18, 2025 8:27 AM - 11:48 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents, resident volunteers and community partners urged lawmakers not to adopt Senate Bill 2128 in its current form, arguing the bill’s mandatory minimums and removal of earned-time incentives would reduce participation in peer and crisis programs and undermine prospects for successful reentry.","taxTitle","Appropriations - Human Resources Division, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28888,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6125940,"Correctional officers and residents describe trauma response, peer support and resident crisis teams",4251,404000,4655000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674168-b3f1afe532534d07f5f2429d5a633255&start=404&end=4655","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674168-b3f1afe532534d07f5f2429d5a633255/thumbnail_404000.jpg","/articles/6125940/North-Dakota/Correctional-officers-and-residents-describe-trauma-response-peer-support-and-resident-crisis-teams","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125940-3c8630d374eec48f68fa93865ee346cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770530098&Signature=lwxwXNjtF-c05s1lp6N79ZPMYtVvY6joMvQjEiRQolx4Bp3s3HWogpASHAShbCjBX57C-gm3Y~63b509QMA0Jrvfp1~0amyZebxtHyXy7mIDoQXN-EHgsSx7S60wD-6HLm-aD3iwMEY2pTHe-wjf7HKXc-ZbAo6CM0zzsQuqx8MQJz4HQu3HuY-Qt-ZIN4Ci-bjQVUEOY66pQB5jtaoB1IEVwRGjJLFjMibh4vkG~YkF2wOmi63mRzBox2-xOkKcRi0qdd6h6uqv8J~iqOLsJgQgEFkTnf6srPKAHpDoaejxBgRu9lCH5e70jSvevXqaR-wxF9UI4k-E16mUhrj70A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the appropriations panel’s site visit to the North Dakota State Penitentiary, staff and resident representatives described the psychological and operational realities behind safety and wellness programs for both staff and residents.

Sergeant Skyler Larson of the Department of Corrections described responding to suicides, assaults and threats while on patrol and the lasting effects of those events. “That night was a tough night. There was a lot of emotion,” Larson said, describing an earlier cell suicide and a separate attempted suicide his team later prevented. Larson said violent incidents and threats have led to vivid dreams and physical symptoms among officers and that the work contributes to shortened average officer lifespans cited in his remarks.

The committee heard about formal peer support and resident crisis initiatives. Lorraine Skachenko Reinbold, a human relations counselor who oversees peer support, summarized the unit’s approach: peer specialists receive state training and offer voluntary, recovery-oriented support; since June 2019 the facility trained more than 60 peer support specialists and has 11 currently active in-house serving about 55 residents. Peer specialists said they provide weekly check-ins, coping strategies and help with short- and long-term goals.

Nathan Teavey described the Resident Crisis Support Team (RCST) — a volunteer resident program that provides staffed observation coverage for residents at risk of self-harm or harming others. Teavey said RCST members work shifts monitoring people in observation and, as an incentive, members receive additional meritorious good time credited to their sentences. He warned the committee that proposed mandatory-minimum legislation (Senate Bill 2128) would “nullify the effect of this earned good time” and that removing incentives would reduce program participation and harm safety outcomes.

Why it matters: officers and resident volunteers said trauma response, peer supports and resident-run observation coverage reduce the need for additional salaried staff and provide supervision and humane care in crisis. Speakers urged lawmakers to consider the operational consequences of statutory changes that remove earned-time incentives.

What legislators heard: committee members were urged to preserve incentives and funding for peer support, crisis response and staff wellbeing as part of a broader approach to public safety.","Sergeant Skyler Larson, peer support specialists and members of the resident crisis support team described on-the-job trauma, peer-driven recovery supports and a resident-staff crisis intervention program that provides supervision for people placed in observation. Speakers tied incentives and earned time to program participation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6125944,"NDSP education and workforce programs spotlighted — college classes, Last Mile coding and CDL training",446,3022000,3468000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674168-b3f1afe532534d07f5f2429d5a633255&start=3022&end=3468","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674168-b3f1afe532534d07f5f2429d5a633255/thumbnail_3022000.jpg","/articles/6125944/North-Dakota/NDSP-education-and-workforce-programs-spotlighted-college-classes-Last-Mile-coding-and-CDL-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125944-76dfa29f3cc17043fb152d96b98043c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770530098&Signature=W9~-7djc2PYuH~yf~hdUsXDEk4LRNGizaRTd8wffm-mRA8zIhtOdyUOzpIdlCE2NtcRgdsBIBhYoj5~uEGDlcTYWeDBAafzCpVTpvYbojWKVWLfZXZAoOwn3T9NZGQeTshhrA6SxykjNuWI4HfBdWCD1OZ6C9UQPIhOTJ4jqEmWbnq~lVcWusprqTmmEynsWC~nQcXgddwPMC5C-kzh5QMfx6sxmYwtR2dhs8qycyJZQe2T5Dn~Q5sgoyeqZgnx1rToxQxaWyZd4kWZzjlzJRzipy7-JkuHS6q8Mdi907iWNNeoU3mY3SjjU8v2kL7A31ukuhepko30WT43oJi4GAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During a legislative site visit at the North Dakota State Penitentiary, corrections educators and resident participants outlined how academic, vocational and technology programs operate inside the facility and help prepare residents for work after release.

Michelle Pfaff, superintendent of correctional education for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, told the committee that in the most recent school year the department served 567 adults and 78 youth, awarded 82 diplomas and maintained a GED passing rate “in the top 5 of all correctional departments across the country.” Pfaff listed training and certification accomplishments: 16 residents earned commercial driver’s licenses and 15 obtained crane and rigging certification.

Pfaff said partnerships with Bismarck State College, Valley City State University and others were expanding postsecondary opportunities; a college-technology grant of about $695,000 is intended to build infrastructure for college programming.

The committee heard from current participants. Simon Jacobson, a Last Mile graduate and teaching assistant, described a full-time coding class that meets 30 hours per week and prepares students for web development roles, and said nationwide the Last Mile has helped more than 700 released students rejoin the workforce. Jacobson noted that Last Mile graduates sometimes serve as remote instructors and that the program includes reentry support and career coaching.

Michelle Pfaff warned the panel that the CDL portion of the Integrated Education and Training program “would cease to exist” if Senate Bill 2128 (mandatory minimum sentencing) passed as written, because the program requires sending students off property for training and the bill’s mandatory minimums would affect eligibility and program logistics.

Resident tutors and graduates described how trade and education opportunities translated into jobs: one resident, Jesse Kubish, said that work with Roughrider Industries and Bismarck State College led to paid employment and a teaching role in carpentry after his release.

Why it matters: corrections educators told appropriators that certificates and college credentials are linked to employment prospects and lower recidivism. Several presenters told the committee that removing incentives or raising in-prison time without access to programming could undercut those outcomes.

What's next: educators asked legislators to preserve program funding and to consider statutory and administrative implications of sentencing changes for training and reentry partnerships.","Corrections education officials and resident participants told the appropriations panel about GEDs, college partnerships, a coding program (The Last Mile) and CDL/crane training, and cautioned that pending sentencing changes could reduce program availability.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6125948,"Lawmakers visit North Dakota State Penitentiary to review rehabilitation, education and reentry programs",11375,688000,12063000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674168-b3f1afe532534d07f5f2429d5a633255&start=688&end=12063","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674168-b3f1afe532534d07f5f2429d5a633255/thumbnail_688000.jpg","/articles/6125948/North-Dakota/Lawmakers-visit-North-Dakota-State-Penitentiary-to-review-rehabilitation-education-and-reentry-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125948-3cba41c72b3a4e196bdb666d940016d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770530098&Signature=DT4s3hM6jAT3HQyyFY7mvyMst1d4jpIM6JvczN9y9qmrbT-qtUU9xC7twtS7y2UlSlniXHEDfW-9~LVaIIIPsoh5h4q2x8NRNSVnvXN6aXL5DCUcCMAWH8P3oES4pXIZsrav-A5c6v8Rw2o15mfaMwOsZpkcwd0srA6LNDfxUjtKjH-IVGYbb61HoJUXUee1eCVFxyZSqTd84ncOCxZJEF0vHctCWpa2lTVEdXDdyxmC-2jPApor3phcJ5xastLXYVvzVfN7JX3PNnC8qt81nn6TM191MWbnwoFcxzKgoudkyGZ4SWL-D-Cg7TVL-ubQGtGRuSG8cQ6rYaA2tNnJJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the House Appropriations — Human Resources Division met at the North Dakota State Penitentiary on a legislative site visit to hear how security and in-prison programming aim to support rehabilitation and reentry.

The committee heard from corrections staff, residents and outside partners about orientation, education, peer-support and community reentry work. Committee chair Chairman Nelson opened the session and thanked penitentiary staff for hosting the delegation.

The hearing combined operational briefings with personal testimony. Todd Flanagan, chief of security at the penitentiary, outlined “static security” measures — walls, gates and surveillance — and said the committee would also hear about “other methods” that improve safety for residents and staff. Several residents and staff then described “dynamic security” and programs meant to make daily life more normal and prosocial, including orientation, peer mentors, education and faith- and community-based programming.

Joshua Hewson, the prison’s orientation case manager, described the five-week intake program that gathers residents’ histories and connects them with classification, housing and treatment plans. Hewson said orientation helps avoid snap decisions based solely on an individual’s index offense by creating individualized plans and early peer mentoring.

Michelle Pfaff, the superintendent of correctional education, summarized education outcomes: last school year the department served 567 adults and 78 youth, awarded 82 diplomas and reported historically high GED passing rates. Pfaff described partnerships with Bismarck State College, Valley City State University, The Last Mile coding program and vocational training, and said 16 residents have earned CDLs and 15 had crane/rigging certifications.

Multiple residents described the day-to-day impact of programming. Christian Tolbert, a permanent orientation worker and peer-support specialist, said orientation and resident-led programs helped change his outlook, noting a participant’s six-page letter about how orientation “changed his whole mindset and his trajectory.” Antonio Stadaro, a resident mentor, told the committee that restoring normal interactions — “it’s normal for a resident to shake the hand of a sergeant” — and offering jobs, education and podcasts creates hope and motivation.

Community groups described continuing partnerships that extend programming beyond the walls. Adam Martin, founder and CEO of the FI Project, and representatives of Evangel Church and Ministry on the Margins described transitional housing, mentoring, faith-based supports and reentry casework that link residents to services on release. Prison Fellowship and other national partners described program models that run inside the facility and provide volunteer and volunteer-management support.

Why it matters: committee members said the site visit was intended to show how in-prison programs connect with community services to reduce recidivism and improve public safety by giving residents skills and supports for returning to their communities.

What’s next: legislators on the appropriation panel said they would carry what they learned back to budget deliberations and hearings. Several speakers urged continued legislative investment in education, peer support and reentry partnerships so gains made inside the facility can be sustained after release.","Members of the House Appropriations — Human Resources Division held a field hearing at the North Dakota State Penitentiary to hear staff, residents and community partners describe security, education, peer support and reentry services and to explain how those services fit into efforts to reduce recidivism.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents and partners tell appropriators mandatory minimums would remove incentives, harm reentry

Correctional officers and residents describe trauma response, peer support and resident crisis teams

NDSP education and workforce programs spotlighted — college classes, Last Mile coding and CDL training

Lawmakers visit North Dakota State Penitentiary to review rehabilitation, education and reentry programs