12.1-32-02.2. Repayment of rewards paid by crimestoppers programs - Duties of attorney general - Qualified local programs - Disbursement of moneys collected

12.1-32-02.2. Repayment of rewards paid by crimestoppers programs - Duties of attorney general - Qualified local programs - Disbursement of moneys collected. 1. After a defendant has been convicted of a felony, the court may order the defendant to repay all or part of any reward paid by a qualified local program. In determining whether the defendant must repay the reward or part of the reward, the court shall consider: a. The ability of the defendant to make the payments, including any financial hardship that payment may cause to the defendant's dependents. b. Whether the information that was reported to the qualified local program substantially contributed to the defendant being charged with the offense. To the extent allowed by law, the court shall respect the confidentiality of the records of the qualified local program. 2. "A qualified local program" means a program approved by the attorney general to receive repayment of rewards. The attorney general shall consider the organization, continuity, leadership, community support, and general conduct of the program to determine whether the repayments will be spent to further crime prevention purposes of the program. The attorney general also shall determine that the qualified local program provides rewards to persons who report information concerning criminal activity and whether that information substantially leads to defendants being charged with felonies. 3. If the court determines that a defendant is capable of repaying all or any part of a reward paid by a qualified local program, the judgment must include a statement of the amount owed, the identity of the qualified local program, and a schedule, if any, of payments to be made by the defendant. The clerk of court may establish an account within which to deposit repayments of rewards and at least quarterly shall pay over to each qualified local program the sums that have been collected for the benefit of that program. 4. A judgment that includes a repayment of reward, either alone or in conjunction with section 29-26-22, may be docketed and thereafter constitutes a lien upon the real estate of the defendant in the same manner as a judgment for money rendered in a civil action.