Criminal Justice (Corrections)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 13, 2025

LC 26: Revise death penalty laws

This bill revises Montana's death penalty laws to establish specific procedures for carrying out executions. It mandates that executions be performed using a lethal injection of an ultra-fast-acting barbiturate combined with a chemical paralytic agent, administered by a person selected by the prison warden who does not need to be a medical professional. The law sets strict timelines for scheduling executions, limits the number of witnesses to 12 including representatives from the media, victim's family, and the condemned person, and requires the warden to maintain confidentiality regarding the identity and training of the executioner. These changes apply to all death sentences in Montana and govern how executions are conducted, supervised, and documented.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reformulates death penalty procedures to establish clearer execution protocols, representing criminal justice reform efforts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 14, 2025

LC 2432: Revise crime laws

This bill amends Montana's child welfare laws to explicitly include exposing children to the production or manufacture of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine as a crime. It directly affects parents, guardians, and other individuals supervising children under 18 by expanding the legal definition of endangering a child's welfare. The key provision makes it a felony offense punishable by up to five years in state prison for knowingly producing these drugs in locations where children might be present or allowing children to be exposed to them. The bill also increases penalties to up to ten years in prison if a child suffers serious bodily injury from such exposure.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands criminal penalties for drug exposure to children, strengthening law enforcement tools and protecting vulnerable populations through enhanced criminal justice measures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 856: Revise qualifications for teachers of adult basic education or high school equivalency programs at state correctional institutions

This bill establishes a Montana Correctional Education Program within the Department of Corrections to provide inmates with opportunities to earn high school equivalency diplomas and participate in adult basic education. It sets specific qualifications for instructors, requiring them to be at least 18 years old, of good moral character, and hold either an associate or bachelor's degree, a valid teaching certificate from another state, or prior teaching or military training experience. The legislation explicitly states that instructors do not need to hold a Montana teaching certificate, while allowing the Department of Corrections to create policies determining inmate eligibility for the program.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes correctional education program to provide inmates with education opportunities, which promotes rehabilitation and reduces recidivism.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes correctional education program to provide inmates with high school equivalency and adult basic education opportunities, expanding educational access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections K-12 Education

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 12, 2025

LC 1575: Regulate restraints on women while giving childbirth

This bill restricts the use of restraints on pregnant inmates during labor and delivery, prohibiting leg and waist restraints entirely while allowing other restraints only in extraordinary circumstances such as when an inmate is a flight risk or poses a threat to themselves or others. The legislation requires that any restraints used be applied in the least restrictive manner necessary and mandates their removal once the flight risk or threat is mitigated or at the request of a healthcare professional. It defines restraints to include handcuffs, shackles, belly chains, and other devices that restrict movement, ensuring these rules apply to all such equipment used in detention centers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restricts restraints on pregnant inmates, protecting civil rights and improving humane treatment in corrections, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient rights during childbirth by restricting restraints, ensuring safe medical care for pregnant inmates.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Women's Health

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 425: Prohibit incarceration of certain inmates out of state

SB 425 prohibits Montana's Department of Corrections from sending inmates to out-of-state facilities if they have a child under 13 living in Montana, unless parental rights have been terminated or the incarceration is for a sexual offense. This directly affects incarcerated individuals with young children residing in Montana who might otherwise be transferred out of state. The bill amends existing law to add this restriction as a new condition for out-of-state confinement contracts. It does not change current practices for inmates with no minor children in Montana or those with terminated parental rights. The bill died in committee in May 2025 and did not become law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts out-of-state incarceration for inmates with young children in Montana, promoting family unity and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing negative impacts and improving reintegration.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 572: Revise MCE prison industries training program laws

HB 572 revises the Montana Correctional Enterprises (MCE) prison industries training program, which affects inmates and the operation of correctional facilities. The bill requires the program to include educational programming and allows MCE to offer vocational programs that support private market demand. It also increases the maximum value of construction projects inmates can perform to $1 million and removes the requirement for MCE to provide products and services through contracts and dealer networks.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds educational/vocational training to reduce recidivism and improve inmate rehabilitation within correctional facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 2608: Appropriate funds to the department of corrections to repair and rehabilitate forensic building to accommodate female prisoners

LC 2608 sought to allocate state funds to the Department of Corrections for repairing and upgrading a forensic building to house female inmates. The bill would have directed the department to complete infrastructure repairs to accommodate female prisoners within the facility. However, the bill died in committee on May 27, 2025, without advancing to a vote or becoming law. This procedural funding request did not result in any legislative action.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allocates state funds for corrections infrastructure repairs to accommodate female prisoners, directly supporting facility maintenance in criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 485: Generally revise laws related to incarceration

SB 485 requires Montana's state and local correctional facilities to provide free hygiene and stationery items to people in custody. Specifically, facilities must supply soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, feminine hygiene products, letter envelopes, writing paper, and postage stamps at no cost upon admission and on request. The bill also mandates that facilities develop a distribution policy ensuring these items are accessible in medical areas and common housing, particularly for those unable to access them in general population. This bill amends existing laws to clarify these requirements and supersedes unfunded mandate laws.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides essential hygiene/stationery items in correctional facilities, promoting humane conditions and rehabilitation - key criminal justice reform elements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 3340: Generally revise laws concerning prerelease and transition centers

This bill (LC 3340) aimed to revise laws related to prerelease and transition centers, which support individuals transitioning from incarceration to community life. However, the provided context does not specify the exact changes proposed or who would be directly affected by the revisions. The bill was assigned a drafter in December 2024 but was placed on hold in February 2025 and ultimately died in process in May 2025, meaning no specific provisions were enacted. No details about key mechanisms or concrete policy changes are available in the given context.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill revises prerelease/transition centers to support post-incarceration reintegration, directly aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism through rehabilitation programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 26, 2025

LC 3453: Generally revise criminal procedure law

This bill (LC 3453) requires Montana's Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, and Judicial Branch to collaborate by October 1, 2025, to determine the most efficient method for providing criminal history data of district court offenders (from the past five fiscal years and all future convictions) to the state's Criminal Justice Data Warehouse. If the agencies cannot reach agreement, the Department of Corrections must provide this data directly. The bill amends Section 44-7-126, MCA, to clarify data-sharing responsibilities, ensure offender names are linked to their records, and allocates $2,000 to each agency for the collaboration effort. It directly affects state criminal justice agencies and the centralized data system used for policy and operational decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires interagency collaboration for efficient criminal history data sharing to Criminal Justice Data Warehouse, enhancing system coordination and oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

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