For almost two decades, Idaho’s counties have run their own probation programs for misdemeanor offenders. Now a recent legal memo has some county and state leaders scratching their heads, wondering if state lawmakers have enacted a law that violates the Idaho Constitution and may have thrown the entire misdemeanor probation system into question. State laws giving counties the authority to conduct adult misdemeanor probation services are “null, void and unenforceable,” wrote Sara B. Thomas, an attorney with the State Appellate Public Defender's Office, in an Aug. 15 memo that Ada County commissioners became aware of this week. Under the state constitution, only the Board of Correction — an executive branch of state government — has the authority to supervise adult probationers/Cynthia Sewell, Idaho Statesman. More here.

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