Gov in Billings: Montana Desperately Needs More Prison Capacity

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte (R-MT) was in Billings last week alongside local law enforcement. He was touting efforts to expand our in state prison capacity, along with other measures to provide support to local law enforcement and corrections officers.

In case you missed it, the full press conference video is below.

The governor emphasized the importance of public safety and law enforcement resources in Montana, citing rising crime and drug issues linked to open border policies from the previous presidential administration. His budget is before the Montana Legislature as we speak.

Gov. Gianforte: "We added $150 million to add 500 beds there so we have the capacity to make sure violent criminals are locked up. We also added $250 million to develop and execute a long term plan to keep criminals off the street here in Montana, we added six and a half million dollars to better support our correctional officers, to make sure that we have folks that can maintain our prisons. We also included pay raises for Montana Highway Patrol to make sure that they're paid properly for the important work that they do. These investments are significant. They span the range of public safety and corrections, they address immediate needs, and they also plan for the future with long term investments."

Local law enforcement and community leaders supported these investments, noting the strain on local jails and the need for increased capacity.

Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder: "Whether it be here in Yellowstone County, whether it be Great Falls, whether it be any of the- especially the larger jails around the state- and we're all busting at the seams. A lot of this has to do with the capacity of the state prison, because many of the people that we're holding would otherwise be at the state and so it's affecting a lot of our jails. So I'm here to support the governor's initiative and his push to get these programs here through the budget, and to support and work with our local legislators to encourage them to go along with what's being proposed in the budget bill. Very important to us, very important to public safety, very important to our community, and the citizens in our community."

Billings Police Chief Rich St. John: "The one thing that will be most helpful for us- going into the end of 2024, the total number of arrests that the Billings Police Department had- 60% were for warrants, revocation, suspended sentences, people that are already in the system. They're not new offenses, and these are the individuals that are tying up the system, reoffending, causing issues that- if we can create capacity at all levels, it'll certainly benefit the community, and I certainly support the governor's plan."