Billings Is Tired of Being the Dumping Grounds for the State

Billings is tired of being the dumping grounds for the state's offenders. It's a refrain we've heard often over the past decade or so.

Billings City Councilwoman Jennifer Owen has shared the concern. So did Yellowstone County Commissioner Mark Morse. This, as the state is looking at where to place a state mental hospital for prison inmates.

First off, let me say- I think the state is finally starting to get it. They've been looking at where to place the new women's prison, including locations outside of Billings. They're also building new pre-release centers in other locations. And, two state senators from Billings released a document that says Billings is the ideal location for a mental health hospital for prison inmates.

Commissioner Morse isn't sold on the idea:

Just to give you a rundown- Yellowstone County, we currently have the Montana Womens Prison. We have the largest number of pre release centers for criminal inmates. We have the largest number of criminal probationers. We have the largest number of sober living facilities in the state. And we have several other state programs and ones that include sex offender treatment. I mean, you know, Yellowstone County is the dumping ground for the state.

Plus, Commissioner Morse says that Yellowstone County conducted a gap assessment which shows several shortfalls if the facility were to be placed in Billings.

Commissioner Morse: "This workforce deal, it is a big deal. The workforce gap is just tremendous. And secondly, you know, at some point you have to say the person is stabilized and you have to release them. So are you just going to open the front door and push them out on the street and close the door behind you?"

Here's the full audio of our chat with Commissioner Morse from last Friday: