The governor signed a bill last week that allocates $250 million to address overcrowding in Montana’s correctional facilities.
Lawmakers this session allocated the funding for a new women’s prison facility and to study other potential changes to the prison system.
Republican Sen. John Esp carried the legislation in the Senate.
“ What this bill does is it recognizes the fact that we need beds," Esp said. "It sets aside money to try to figure out what the most economical or thoughtful way to go forward with getting beds.”
This investment into women’s facilities comes alongside a separate $150 million investment to the State Prison in Deer Lodge.
The Montana Department of Corrections anticipates prison populations to rise in the next 10 years. Montana only has one prison to house female inmates, which is currently over capacity. There are 45 women in county jails waiting for a bed in the state prison.
