Montana
CRYJ — A model for youth restorative justice in Montana
About 200 teens from around the valley walk through the door at the Center for Youth Restorative Justice each year to reconcile offenses that affected their communities.
Spending one to three months working on accountability, roughly 95% of participants will walk out that door having completed “restorative agreements,” entered into by the teens and their families, according to CRYJ Executive Director Catherine Gunderson.
While moving to 110 East Idaho Street a few years ago increased the nonprofit’s visibility in Kalispell, Gunderson hopes it also translates to people learning more about restorative justice and what it offers teens in their community. The nonprofit was honored last year by the Montana Board of Crime Control.
Restorative justice seeks to reduce the number of teens entering the justice system or time spent in school suspensions. Through a restorative justice program, teens work on acknowledging and taking responsibility for their actions; identifying factors contributing/leading to an offense; when possible, making amends with victims and engaging in personal growth and development.
The Kalispell-based nonprofit serves teens referred to the program by probation officers, school resource officers, or school administrators. Most teens in trouble with the law do not go to court. What types of offenses or issues teens get referred to CRYJ for is a mix. As a teen, many incidents arise out of impulsive decisions. In addition to youth court referrals tied to illegal activities, CRYJ addresses a wider range of harmful behaviors affecting today’s youth such as vaping and bullying.
“It’s basically a way for youth to have an alternative accountability process. It is youth court diversion, meaning it’s intended to be a way for youth, first-time offenders or otherwise, to not have a permanent record and have a chance to learn from an experience before going sort of deeper into this system,” Gunderson said.
“It’s sort of like we’re at a place when youth are sort of just dipping their toe in there, or starting to get into trouble for things and that’s sort of the trajectory [with no intervention],” she said.
Teens who decide to participate in the program may not see charges filed, school suspension time reduced and won’t have to engage further with probation or court. There is no fee for youths to participate in the optional program.
Gunderson attributes the 95% completion rate to the individualized plans CRYJ creates for each participant.
The process starts with a family conference where staff gets to know a teen to build a plan.
“What are the supports that they need? What is the self-reflection that they need on choices that they have made? What resources might they need to be connected to, to feel more a part of the community whether that’s the school community or Kalispell? Managing family dynamics, navigating friend groups, stressors, mental health — all of these things have such an impact on our behavior,” Gunderson said.
THE QUONSET hut on Idaho Street serving as home for CRYJ opens to a large, brightly-lit room divided by various seating arrangements conducive to working with small groups, and a kitchen, giving it a homey feel. Throughout the building are photos of past participants, some of whom still live and work in the community today.
The goal was to create a comfortable space for teens to talk about difficult topics and share personal experiences in facilitated discussions, which they may not be used to doing. It is not therapy, however, Gunderson said, but rather an opportunity for self-reflection and introspection in a supportive environment. Group discussions and activities are also an opportunity to practice respectful, active listening and communication.
A slate of upcoming peer workshops is posted for teens to join. Topics focus on what’s relevant to teens or what participants want to learn more about such as substance use, mental health (what is depression; what is anxiety), safe dating, navigating healthy friendships, school culture, what are impulsive decisions, what is anger management, conflict resolution and life skills such as cooking.
A multipurpose area in the back of the building contains an array of art supplies, yoga mats, fidget toys, a spinning wheel of questions and a wooden block tower with questions written on each block. Art created by the teens hangs on the walls.
“We love questions,” Gunderson said, smiling. “It’s an icebreaker or a teen can grab one, read the questions, reflect on it.”
There will be personal conversations where staff members may be the first people a teen might open up to about issues such as anxiety or drug use, for example. Staff will facilitate the discussion to get participants to think more deeply about their habits, however, CRYJ is not a residential or drug treatment or therapy program. Staff will ensure teens receive the services they need. Rather than just handing a teen a business card or a phone number they may never call, staff will make the call to ensure an appointment is scheduled with the appropriate provider.
“I think people forget it’s a kid,” Gunderson said.
The program’s ultimate goal is for teens to make amends with victims deeply impacted by an incident. Sometimes facing a victim is the scariest part of the program, according to Gunderson. She shared an anecdote about a teen who shoplifted and didn’t get caught, but the teen’s parents insisted on going to the store to return the item and apologize and the teen asked if they could go to the police instead.
“That’s what restorative justice is. It’s not just that a law was broken. It’s that there was a relationship involved, trust involved,” Gunderson said. “It can be way harder to face that than have a paper ticket and a fine,” she said.
Yet, the experience can have an impact.
“… It can be the most profound experience for everyone involved to understand where each other is coming from, and for a teen to realize an impulsive decision has consequences, or has an impact that I didn’t even think of. Understanding that is, has a huge impact on whether or not they do it in the future,” Gunderson said.
When making amends is not possible, teens may participate in a Community Impact Circle, which is a structured conversation between CRYJ families — to discuss harm, personal and family impact, resiliency and building community relationships.
“So there’s still that sense of like hearing from other youth and adults about incidents and how they’re processing it and impact and moving forward and the same types of reflections,” she said.
COMMUNITY BUILDING is also an integral piece of CRYJ programming. A sense of belonging to the community beyond family or school is often not in the immediate purview of teens. To help teens understand they are community members, CRYJ partners with volunteers and businesses to participate in events like cleaning up graffiti, for example, or projects such as assembling grief care packages for families affected by the deaths of teens in a car crash.
“It gives youth a sense of purpose and belonging,” she said.
This year, CRYJ established a three-month paid internship for teens who went through the program.
“They are really set up well to mentor and help with creating workshop content they feel is important, or do a special project, or be in our group settings and … bring that perspective and maturity,” she said.
When teens walk out of CRYJ they receive a “completion bag” filled with journals, resource books and goodies, but the hope from staff is that they leave with a renewed sense of purpose, motivation, self-awareness and empathy.
“Let’s help you take responsibility for what happened and then let’s help you think about who you want to be as you walk out the door,” she said.
CRYJ IS Montana’s only youth-based restorative justice organization and is being looked at as a model to replicate in other communities, according to the Montana Board of Crime Control.
Last year, CRYJ received the Montana Board of Crime Control’s Innovative Community Improvement Award. CRYJ received the award based on its strong collaboration with schools, juvenile probation, school resource officers, and the courts to provide alternatives to suspension, expulsion, and referrals to the juvenile justice system, said Rachel Gemar, a juvenile justice specialist and grant coordinator with the Montana Board of Crime Control.
“CRYJ has been so successful because of the many years of consistent program development, community education, and cross-system collaboration led by Catherine Gunderson and her team. MBCC supports the replication of CRYJ’s program model, but we also recognize that it will take time for local jurisdictions to build sustainable programs,” Gemar said.
CRY J’s success has helped fuel a growing interest in restorative practices across the state and was a program model for the crime control board’s Delinquency Prevention Program Grant, notes Gemar.
“The grant was designed to divert at-risk and justice-involved youth using a combination of restorative practices, mentoring, and coordination of care,” she said.
For more information visit https://restorativeyouthjustice.org.
Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.
Casey Kreider
A staff member asks a teen to reflect on the impact of the incident that brought them to Center for Restorative Youth Justice, ways to repair any harm caused and how to move forward in a positive way. (Photo provided by CRYJ) An area for meetings and conversation at the Center for Restorative Youth Justice in Kalispell on Wednesday, April 3. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
CRYJ teens work alongside community volunteers to clean up graffiti in a pedestrian tunnel in Kalispell. (Photo provided by CRYJ) A small portion of the artwork on display at the Center for Restorative Youth Justice in Kalispell on Wednesday, April 3. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
A group of legal and civil rights organizations late Friday sued U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement over conditions at Camp East Montana in El Paso, the country’s largest immigration detention facility.
“Camp East Montana is nothing short of a civil rights catastrophe,” Kyle Virgien, senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Prison Project, said in a statement. “We’re suing to ensure that no other human being has to endure the inhumane treatment that the Trump administration has inflicted on our clients.”
The Texas Tribune has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
Filed by the ACLU of Texas, the ACLU, the Texas Civil Rights Project and law firm Farella Braun + Martel, the federal lawsuit comes less than a year after the opening of the sprawling tent camp.
In that time, the facility has seen at least three detainee deaths, a measles outbreak and nearly 50 detention standards violations as reported by ICE’s own inspectors, prompting calls for the camp’s closure from immigrant advocates and Democratic lawmakers.
The civil rights groups behind the lawsuit also alleged in a December letter that detained immigrants were subject to medical neglect, physical and sexual abuse by officers, insufficient food and denial of meaningful access to attorneys. In March, ICE switched out the facility’s prime operator for a more experienced contractor, saying the agency would “work closely with them” to improve services, including higher standards of medical care. Still, in a subsequent letter to ICE dated May 22, the groups said the situation “continued to deteriorate” and outlined additional complaints such as hazardous dust exposure.
Friday’s lawsuit argues that conditions at the facility are “unconstitutional punishment” and violate detainees’ due process rights under the Fifth Amendment.
“These conditions are longstanding, pervasive, and well documented, and Defendants’ continued inaction in the face of known risks shows their deliberate indifference — not mere negligence — to detainees’ constitutional rights,” the lawsuit said.
The petition, filed on behalf of four detainees, is also seeking approval to proceed as a class action to cover all those who are currently or will be detained in Camp East Montana.
One of the plaintiffs is Gerald Akari Angye, a detained immigrant who called the conditions at the camp “inhumane and cruel.”
Prior to this lawsuit, the 35-year-old man had filed a petition in January seeking release from ICE detention. According to the filing, Angye was a high school teacher in Cameroon but fled after being kidnapped and tortured amid a separatist conflict. He sought asylum after crossing through a New Mexico port of entry in December 2024. An immigration judge later denied his application, and Angye appealed.
In a statement provided by the civil rights groups, Angye said he had been beaten at Camp East Montana and never thought he would face “such severely violent treatments” in the United States. He was also placed in solitary confinement for 15 days, according to the lawsuit.
“No one deserves such cruel treatment,” he said. “We are all humans and deserve to be treated like it.”
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar said in a statement to the Tribune that she is grateful for the legal fight. A leading critic of Camp East Montana, the El Paso Democrat called the facility “a purgatory for human beings held there.” She also vowed to continue her oversight visits and demand for the tent camp’s permanent closure.
Camp East Montana, first opened in August 2025, is located on Fort Bliss U.S. Army base.
Expected to ultimately reach a 5,000-bed capacity, the camp had a daily average of more than 2,500 detainees as of April 2, according to the most recent public data from ICE. The facility has also held the largest number of detained immigrants thus far in fiscal year 2026, the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University found.
“Camp East Montana is at the epicenter of the administration’s cruel deportation agenda,” Savannah Kumar, staff attorney at the ACLU of Texas, said in a statement.
Disclosure: ACLU Texas has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
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BUTTE, Mont. — The Sentinel Spartans are the kings of Montana AA baseball.
In the inaugural season of AA baseball in the Treasure State, Sentinel took the title by winning three games in two days at the State AA Tournament, culminating with a 6-3 championship game victory over the Gallatin Raptors.
“It’s tough to find words right now,” said Sentinel head coach Brian Moser. “It was pretty emotional celebrating with the guys. Just really happy for them. What an opportunity. They took advantage of it. Very proud of them. Very appreciative of everything they’ve done for me and Sentinel High School and Sentinel baseball. It’s a great night to be a Spartan.”
Junior Stellan Ridley was stellar for Sentinel, with two triples, two runs scored, and two runs batted in. Kaden Thennis added two hits, two runs, and an RBI while also drawing a hit by pitch. Owen Dale had a hit and a run batted in.
“We have a great mentality,” said Ridley. “I’m so proud of these young guys. As a junior and the seniors, leading us to this and showing how discipline works. We faced some chirpy people, and we just stayed with our level of the game and we performed, as you can see. We won the State Tournament!”
Each win for Sentinel in the tournament came in vastly different fashion.
The Spartans earned a nine-inning victory in their quarterfinal against Butte on Thursday, then came back from a 6-0 deficit after 4.5 innings in their Friday semifinal matinee against the Glacier Wolfpack. But on Friday night, in a game that started at 10 p.m. and ended at 12:08 a.m., Sentinel took an early lead and never trailed enroute to a victory over a Raptors team that had lost just one game all season.
“I had never played a game that late. Going from the early game, it was good that we had that little gap, we got to recuperate and take a solid power nap and come back out here with a lot of energy. Because if we came out flat, there was no way. But we came out with a lot of energy, and we stuck it to them. I mean, that team was good,” said Ridley of their hot start in the title game.
“Baseball is a funny game. There’s a lot of ways to win, there’s a lot of ways to lose. Just happy for the guys for sticking to it and never giving up.” said Moser. “Honestly, it takes a couple of lucky bounces here and there in a State Tournament, and we got those and took advantage. Beat a really, really good Gallatin team tonight. Just extremely proud.”
Gallatin managed to tie the game at 3 apiece in the fifth inning before the Spartans scored one in the sixth and two in the seventh, allowing freshman pitcher Lucas Johansson to earn the win and the save on the mound.
“It’s a big deal. 3 runs are way more than 1. It takes a lot of what the offense can do away. So those were huge, huge runs,” said Moser.
Johansson picked up two of the three wins in the tournament for Sentinel, while fellow freshman Paxson Onstot had the victory in the triumph over Glacier.
“I’m not going to say that’s how we drew it up, but that hopefully gives them confidence to come back next year ready to go,” said Moser. “We’ll have a target on our backs, but that’s okay. A lot of youth, it’s fun.”
Keaton Elliott tossed the first 4.1 innings of the title game for Sentinel, allowing just two hits, three earned runs, and five walks while striking out two.
The title marked the end of a remarkable turnaround for a Spartans team that started the season with a record of 5-7 before winning 10 of their last 11.
“(We got) absolutely shamed by our entire school (at assembly). It sat with me this whole time and I hated that. I just had so much drive,” said Ridley. “What are they going to say now?”
Wyatt Ford pitched a complete game for Gallatin, allowing three earned runs, five hits and a hit by pitch while striking out 10 on 103 pitches.
Ford and Louis Musial had the Raptors only two hits on the night, a triple and double, respectively, while Harvey Kimmel had two runs batted in.
Sentinel ends their season with a record of 15-8, while Gallatin concluded their campaign at 18-2.
“I think Gallatin came in here a little cocky. One loss the whole season, thinking they were going to probably roll us,” said Ridley. “No. We showed them up. Their eyes got big, and they realized we’re not a team to mess with.”
HELENA, Mont. — Montana counties have accepted enough signatures for Seth Bodnar, running for U.S. Senate and Michael Eisenhauer, running in Montana’s 2nd Congressional District, to be on the November ballot, although counts are still unofficial.
County election officials are continuing to verify signatures submitted by Tuesday’s deadline as part of the candidate petition process.
The Montana Secretary of State’s Office has not yet verified, certified or accepted the petitions, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
Counties must submit candidate petitions to the Secretary of State’s office by June 1.
The Secretary of State’s office will then conduct its “statutory review to ensure the petitions meet the necessary legal requirements under law.”
The deadline for the November general election ballot to be certified is Thursday, Aug. 20. By then, all qualifying candidates and any potential ballot issues that qualify for the general election will be officially certified.
The following was out by the Montana Secretary of State’s Office:
The attached report is unofficial. It includes totals that the county election officials have processed and entered in the system. These totals do not represent what the Secretary of State’s Office has received, reviewed, tabulated, or certified. The certified totals may differ from what is reflected.
Seth Bodnar, U.S. Senate
- 13,327 required
- 18,772 accepted
- 7,812 rejected
Kimberly Persico, MT-01
- 6,742 required
- 563 accepted
- 156 rejected
Michael Eisenhauer, MT-02
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- 7,274 required
- 7,754 accepted
- 4,720 rejected
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