Montana

Montana Department of Corrections working to move inmates from local jails, but struggles with capacity

Published

1 year ago

August 30, 2024

Montana Department of Corrections working to move inmates from local jails, but struggles with capacity

MISSOULA — The Montana Department of Corrections this week said it’s working on plans to move inmates out of county jails to the state prison and is looking for long-term solutions to overcrowding and capacity issues.

Missoula County this month launched a disputewith the state agency, saying that it’s using local jails to house its own inmates and not funding the full cost of doing so. It also claims that state inmates aren’t getting treated for addiction or mental health issues while held in county jails.

Carolynn Stocker, the communications director for the Department of Corrections, said the agency is doing what it can to address those concerns, which are held by a number of counties.

“We’re trying to move people out of those jails as quickly as we possibly can,” Stocker said. “Every single facility we have is overcrowded right now.”

As of Thursday, the Department of Corrections listed 473 jail holds, including 41 in the Missoula County Detention Facility. Of those, 178 are currently pending transport to prison.

However, the Montana State Prison’s current population stands at 1,588 while its operational capacity is 1,526. The Montana Women’s Prison listed its population at 247 while its operational capacity is 240.

“We have nowhere to put the people,” Stocker said.

Missoula County sent notice to the statethat it plans to revoke its consent to hold state offenders at the local jail without prior permission unless the Department of Corrections pays the full cost of housing that inmate.

According to the county, the running cost of housing a single inmate for one day at the local jail stands at $125. But the Department of Corrections reimburses the county just $82 for holding one of its inmates.

County officials said that leaves local taxpayers to cover the remainder of the cost.

“They’re not paying the actual cost currently set by the county at $125, therefore shifting that difference to Missoula County taxpayers for individuals we’re not responsible for,” said jail commander Sheryl Ziegler. “We’re trying to avoid that continued financial burden we’re placing on county taxpayers.”

The payment issue has lingered for years, but Stocker said it’s one the Department of Corrections can’t control.

“Those rates are set by the Legislature,” she said. “We are where we are for now.”

The county also accused the state of failing to address capacity issues and mental health. Among other things, it said state inmates held at the county jail “stay with us until they reach eligibility for parole and they’re released and never get treatment.”

Stocker said the Department of Corrections would need specific examples before commenting on the issue.

“I would need specific examples of people put in jail. There is generally treatment programming requirements from the judge,” she said. “But we know that local detention centers aren’t set up for that type of programming.”

This week, the state’s Select Committee on Corrections Facility Capacity and System Development moved closer to finalizing a reporton how to expand Montana’s prison capacity.

Among other things, it considers adding more beds to the Montana State Prison and building a new women’s prison, nearly doubling the capacity there to 500 beds.

It may also consider moving Montana inmates to contracted prisons in other states like it did recently when it shipped 120 inmates to Arizona. The proposal also looks to “fund additional contracted capacity in lieu of facility construction.”

In all, according to the committee’s draft report, Montana’s offender population has grown by nearly 65% over the last 24 years – more than twice the rate of the state’s resident population.

“At some point, we have to recommend something,” said Rep. John Fitzpatrick. “We’ve studied this thing about five times in the last 20 years and haven’t done anything. The first step in doing something is to have someone recommend you do it.”

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Montana

Montana State’s Taylee Chirrick earns second straight Big Sky Conference weekly honor

Published

10 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Montana State’s Taylee Chirrick earns second straight Big Sky Conference weekly honor

BOZEMAN — For the second consecutive week, Montana State sophomore guard Taylee Chirrick has been named Big Sky Conference player of the week, the league office announced Tuesday.

The 5-foot-11 product of Roberts scored the game-winning basket with 1.7 seconds remaining to lift the Bobcats to a 71-70 upset of Big 12 member Colorado on Sunday afternoon at the CU Events Center. Chirrick finished the contest with 21 points, which included a 7-for-7 effort at the free throw line.

Chirrick once again stuffed the stat sheet, pulling down a team-best six rebounds, while adding four steals, three assists and a pair of 3-pointers in the victory.

Chirrick is currently ranked third in the nation averaging 4.5 steals per game, and her 27 total steals rank 14th overall. Her 19.8 points per game rank second in the Big Sky and 28th in the nation.

Montana State opens the Big Sky Conference/Summit League Challenge on Wednesday at North Dakota State in Fargo. Tip is slated for 6 p.m. (MT) in the Scheels Center. The game will air live on the CBS Sports Network.

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Montana

Photos: Montana State clips Illinois State to win national championship

Published

22 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Photos: Montana State clips Illinois State to win national championship

Montana State plays Illinois State in the FCS national championship game at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.Justin Hosa / MTN Sports

Montana State topped Illinois State 35-34 in overtime to claim their first National Championship since 1984.TOM WYLIE/MTN Sports

Montana State plays Illinois State in the FCS national championship game at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.Kyle Hansen / MTN Sports

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Montana

Watch: Bobcat Built – Montana State’s Championship Quest

Published

1 day ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Watch: Bobcat Built – Montana State’s Championship Quest

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Montana State squares off with Illinois State Monday night in the FCS national championship game at FirstBank Stadium on the campus of Vanderbilt University. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.

The Bobcats are making their third trip to the title game in the past five seasons under coach Brent Vigen. The program is seeking its first championship since 1984.

MTN Sports has been on the ground in Nashville for the past five days covering the lead-up to the game, including the pregame show “Bobcat Built: Montana State’s Championship Quest” hosted by Scott Breen and Kyle Hansen.

In it the MTN staff provides game previews, features, facts and figures and sights and sounds from the past several days in Music City in the run-up to the game. To watch, see the video reel below.

Watch: Bobcat Built – Montana State’s Championship Quest

Bobcat Built: Montana State’s Championship Quest

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Montana Department of Corrections working to move inmates from local jails, but struggles with capacity

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Montana Department of Corrections working to move inmates from local jails, but struggles with capacity

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Montana State’s Taylee Chirrick earns second straight Big Sky Conference weekly honor

Montana

Photos: Montana State clips Illinois State to win national championship

Montana

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Montana Department of Corrections working to move inmates from local jails, but struggles with capacity

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Montana

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