Montana § 45-5-234 - Offender Intervention Counseling Confidentiality

§ 45-5-234. Offender Intervention Counseling Confidentiality

Offender intervention counseling confidentiality. (1) Offender intervention programs must have policies and procedures to protect the confidentiality of the offender and the victim. The investigative criminal justice report may be used within the offender intervention counseling sessions and psychoeducational groups after precautions are taken to protect confidentiality. (2) The counselor may contact the victim of the assault. The counselor may notify the victim that the offender intervention program is not a guarantee that the offender will not be violent. The victim may be asked to provide information about the most recent offense, the offender's history of violence, the offender's use of recreational intoxicants, the offender's use of power and control over the victim, and whether the offender has committed another offense. All precautions must be taken to prevent this contact from increasing the victim's danger. (3) The counselor shall, when possible, warn the victim if the offender exhibits behavior or makes statements in a group meeting that indicate imminent danger to the victim. If the counselor is unable to tell the victim this information, information about these high-risk behaviors must be given to the local victim advocacy agency. This contact does not violate the offender's right to confidentiality.