46-23-1011. Supervision on probation. (1) The department shall supervise probationers during their probation period, including supervision after release from imprisonment imposed pursuant to 45-5-310, 45-5-311, 45-5-503(4), 45-5-507(5), 45-5-601(3), 45-5-602(3), 45-5-603(2)(b), or 45-5-625(4), in accord with the conditions set by a sentencing judge. If the sentencing judge did not set conditions of probation at the time of sentencing, the court shall, at the request of the department, hold a hearing and set conditions of probation. The probationer must be present at the hearing. The probationer has the right to counsel as provided in chapter 8 of this title.
     (2) A copy of the conditions of probation must be signed by the probationer. The department may require a probationer to waive extradition for the probationer's return to Montana.
     (3) The probation and parole officer shall regularly advise and consult with the probationer to encourage the probationer to improve the probationer's condition and conduct and shall inform the probationer of the restoration of rights on successful completion of the sentence.
     (4) (a) The probation and parole officer may recommend and a judge may modify or add any condition of probation or suspension of sentence at any time.
     (b) The probation and parole officer shall provide the county attorney in the sentencing jurisdiction with a report that identifies the conditions of probation and the reason why the officer believes that the judge should modify or add the conditions.
     (c) The county attorney may file a petition requesting that the court modify or add conditions as requested by the probation and parole officer.
     (d) The court may grant the petition if the probationer does not object. If the probationer objects to the petition, the court shall hold a hearing pursuant to the provisions of 46-18-203.
     (e) Except as they apply to supervision after release from imprisonment imposed pursuant to 45-5-310, 45-5-311, 45-5-503(4), 45-5-507(5), 45-5-601(3), 45-5-602(3), 45-5-603(2)(b), or 45-5-625(4), the provisions of 46-18-203(7)(a)(ii) do not apply to this section.
     (f) The probationer shall sign a copy of new or modified conditions of probation. The court may waive or modify a condition of restitution only as provided in 46-18-246.
     (5) (a) Upon recommendation of the probation and parole officer, a judge may conditionally discharge a probationer from supervision before expiration of the probationer's sentence if:
     (i) the judge determines that a conditional discharge from supervision:
     (A) is in the best interests of the probationer and society; and
     (B) will not present unreasonable risk of danger to the victim of the offense; and
     (ii) the offender has paid all restitution and court-ordered financial obligations in full.
     (b) Subsection (5)(a) does not prohibit a judge from revoking the order suspending execution or deferring imposition of sentence, as provided in 46-18-203, for a probationer who has been conditionally discharged from supervision.
     (c) If the department certifies to the sentencing judge that the workload of a district probation and parole office has exceeded the optimum workload for the district over the preceding 60 days, the judge may not place an offender on probation under supervision by that district office unless the judge grants a conditional discharge to a probationer being supervised by that district office. The department may recommend probationers to the judge for conditional discharge. The judge may accept or reject the recommendations of the department. The department shall determine the optimum workload for each district probation and parole office.

     History: En. 95-3304 by Sec. 10, Ch. 333, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 95-3304; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 195, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 579, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 26, Ch. 125, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 52, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 505, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 493, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 25, Ch. 483, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 16, Ch. 374, L. 2013.