Montana State Prison

Gov. Greg Gianforte was in Deer Lodge Tuesday to celebrate construction of new housing units at the Montana State Prison.

Gov. Greg Gianforte is asking lawmakers for 500 additional beds at the Deer Lodge prison. With the state prison full, more inmates are being sent to private, out-of-state facilities. Montana PBS’s Sam Wilson dug into the issue and spoke with MTPR’s Elinor Smith.

Gov. Greg Gianforte is proposing a nearly $18 billion budget to keep Montana’s government up and running over the next two years. The state is projected to continue to bring in strong revenues. Gianforte aims to invest in a few big projects, while cutting taxes. MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar joined Corin Cates-Carney to talk through the big ticket items.

A Flathead County board has denied state officials’ request to start a pre-release center for Montana State Prison inmates. The state will now have to look for a new location.

Briefs: Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is set to appear before an oversight board to address 41 charges of professional misconduct; State lawmakers Tuesday finalized recommendations to ease overcrowding in the Montana State Prison; Food-conditioned grizzly killed near Libby.

A sewage backup into a Montana State Prison unit lasted for several days last month.

The first cohort of inmates at the Montana State Prison to complete an intensive, year-long coding program graduated Thursday.

Montana officials are looking at different ways to address a staffing shortage and tight capacity at the state prison, including pay raises and expanding a contract with a private prison.

In-person visitation remains on pause at the Montana State Prison at Deer Lodge. Prison officials implemented the suspension late last month, with limited exceptions over the holidays.

Starting October 31st, all in-person visitation to the State Prison will be suspended until further notice.