{"data":{"id":"us-mt/46-1-502","jurisdiction":"us-mt","citation":"46-1-502","heading":"Mediation.","body":"(1) At any time after the commencement of a prosecution and before the verdict, the court may, at its suggestion or upon motion of a party and with the consent of all the parties, refer the proceeding to mediation by a mediator chosen by the court.\n(2) The proceeding may not be referred for mediation if the offense charged is:\n(a) deliberate homicide, as described in 45-5-102;\n(b) mitigated deliberate homicide, as described in 45-5-103;\n(c) intimidation, as described in 45-5-203;\n(d) partner or family member assault, as described in 45-5-206;\n(e) assault on a minor, as described in 45-5-212;\n(f) strangulation of a partner or family member, as described in 45-5-215;\n(g) stalking, as described in 45-5-220;\n(h) aggravated kidnapping, as described in 45-5-303;\n(i) a sex crime, as described in 45-5-502, 45-5-503, 45-5-504, or 45-5-507;\n(j) endangering the welfare of children, as described in 45-5-622;\n(k) sexual abuse of children, as described in 45-5-625; or\n(l) ritual abuse of a minor, as described in 45-5-627.\n(3) Any aspect of or issue in the proceeding may be the subject of the mediation, including but not limited to the charge, a plea bargain, or a recommended sentence.\n(4) At any point during mediation, a party may withdraw from the mediation without penalty or sanction.\n(5) This section does not prohibit the parties from engaging in traditional plea negotiations.","path":["TITLE 46. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE","CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS","Part 5. Mediation of Criminal Proceedings"],"source_url":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0460/chapter_0010/part_0050/section_0020/0460-0010-0050-0020.html","current_through":"Montana Code Annotated 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:55:37Z","sha256":"600e52747fb4afca6e3e698e08e60e7341f0edee6c8cd8336436d5ef93c7d9f2","source_id":"us-mt","stale":false,"prev":"us-mt/46-1-501","next":"us-mt/46-1-503"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}