BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) Local officials say a proposal to bill counties if they send too many prisoners to state lockups doesn't address North Dakota's rising population and crime rates. State's attorneys and law enforcement officers also say the proposal could pit counties against one another, and put prosecutors and judges in difficult positions when it comes to giving offenders proper sentences.
Lawmakers are considering a proposal to set a county-by-county allocation at state prison facilities using a formula based on population. Counties that exceed their quota would be billed.
State Representatives Chet Pollert and Jon Nelson say the state prison system is full, and there has to be a better solution than building more facilities.
But North Dakota Association of Counties spokesman Aaron Birst says the quota proposal ``is quite offensive to county government.''