46-18-237. Garnishment -- report by supervising authority. - Montana Statutes

     46-18-237. Garnishment -- report by supervising authority. (1) If the department of corrections becomes aware that a person while incarcerated under the legal custody of the department of corrections or a person supervised by the department is entitled to receive money from any source, the person's supervising authority may prepare a report identifying:
     (a) the total costs incurred by the state or county during the person's incarceration;
     (b) the criminal sentences imposed upon the person, including:
     (i) the amount of restitution, if any, ordered in each sentence;
     (ii) the name and current address of each victim or other person to whom restitution is owed;
     (iii) the amount of restitution paid by the person; and
     (iv) the amount of restitution currently owed by the person for each sentence;
     (c) the amount of any child support owed by the person.
     (2) The supervising authority shall provide notice and a copy of the report to the office of victims services in the department of justice and the county attorney for the county in which the person was sentenced, either of whom may submit the report along with a petition for garnishment to the court that sentenced the person. The court may order garnishment of the person's money for the payment of restitution, child support, and per diem costs of incarceration owed by the person. Upon receipt of the petition, the court shall provide a copy of the report to the person, who has 15 days following receipt to file an objection. The court may hold a hearing to consider objections raised by the person.
     (3) Upon compliance with the provisions of subsections (1) and (2), the court shall determine the amount of restitution, child support, and repayment for per diem costs owed by the person. The court shall order, up to the amount of money available, payment of an amount equal to the restitution owed by the person to the person designated under 46-18-245 to supervise the making of restitution payments, any outstanding child support payments to the department of public health and human services for disbursement to the obligee, and per diem costs owed by the person. All restitution owed by the person must be paid prior to payment of any child support payments. All child support owed by the person must be paid prior to the payment of any per diem costs.

     History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 475, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 272, L. 2003.