Senate passes bill to limit private probation solicitations and require provider lists

Senator Plumb introduced second substitute Senate Bill 218 to create new protections for people subject to private probation and other court-ordered services.

Plumb said the bill would prohibit private probation providers and similar vendors from soliciting clients on court property, require criminal justice coordinating councils to compile lists of private probation providers, assessors and treatment providers, and require courts to make those lists available to people under court-ordered supervision. The sponsor said the goal is to reduce predatory practices and conflicts of interest where the same entity both provides probation and assessment or treatment services.

Plumb said the bill had been developed with input from multiple stakeholders, including support from the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ) and prosecutors. The Senate passed the measure under suspension of the rules in a roll-call recorded as 21 yea, 0 nay, 8 absent and will send it to the House for consideration.