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| Women's Alternative Prison Proposed |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 09/26/2005 |
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The Montana state Department of Corrections is proposing an alternative women detention center here that would help keep some offenders out of the women's prison. The Billings Assessment and Sanctions Center would have 30 beds, and would be used as an alternative to prison for certain female offenders. This is an individualized program designed to divert those sentenced to the department to other options,'' Corrections Director Bill Slaughter said Thursday Slaughter said the program is part of the overall expansion approved by the 2005 Legislature to deal with increases in the prison population in the state. Montana has 3,000 men and women locked up. Another 8,000 are on probation, parole or in prerelease programs. The Billings center will be a secure, 45-day diversionary program for women sentenced to Corrections supervision rather than prison. We want these nondangerous offenders coming out with better counseling, education and life skills,'' he added. Eighty-five percent of the women prisoners are nondangerous offenders.'' He said one of the reasons Billings was chosen was the availability of services for women here. The Montana Women's Prison in Billings was built to hold 207 prisoners. It currently has 235 inmates, Slaughter said. Slaughter said the state also is expected to begin taking bids in October for a 120-bed methamphetamine treatment program, which would serve as another alternative to sentencing offenders to prison. |
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