In June, Montana made great strides in implementation planning, including the submission of a letter of interest to the Bureau of Justice Assistance for phase II technical assistance. The letter had bi-partisan and inter-branch support and the Governor remains supportive of the justice reinvestment initiative. A public bill signing ceremony will be held on July 19th at the State Capitol.
In June, CSG Justice Center staff published a brief document summarizing Montana’s justice reinvestment process and the enactment of nine legislative bills.
Throughout June, CSG Justice Center staff conducted meetings on site and led phone calls to continue laying the ground work for implementation technical assistance. CSG Justice Center staff conducted a site visit to meet with Montana Department of Corrections (MDOC) leadership and begin developing a work plan for revising the presentence investigation (PSI) process and designing a new incentive and intervention grid (MIIG). Additionally, CSG Justice Center staff began work with MDOC communications staff to develop internal and external communications strategies surrounding justice reinvestment in Montana.
CSG Justice Center staff met with Board of Pardons and Parole (MBPP) leadership, MDOC leadership, and the Office of the Governor staff to prepare for the transition of MBPP from a volunteer, part-time board to a full-time, professional parole board in order to meet the July 1st effective date. On June 30th, Governor Bullock made three of the five MBPP appointments and designated one to serve as an Acting Chair until all five appointments have been made. In order to meet budgetary needs, a reduction in MBPP support staff is necessary. The Office of the Governor has not finalized a staffing plan for support staff which has made full transition planning and the distribution of workload challenging as we move into the July effective date. Despite delays in the staff plan MBPP and MDOC staff have remained optimistic and worked collaboratively on finalizing details and needs to ensure compliance.
CSG Justice Center staff worked in conjunction with MBPP and MDOC human resources and training staff to develop new board member orientation trainings which will be held the week of July 10th. Additionally, CSG Justice Center staff coordinated with the Center for Effective Public Policy to conduct joint trainings the week of July 17th on best practices in parole decision-making. CSG Justice Center staff will continue to partner with NPRC throughout the next several months to provide support to MBPP as they continue to transition to a professional board.
Additionally, CSG Justice Center staff conducted a meeting with agency IT and research staff to help Montana think through IT system and data collection capacity for integrating parole board data into the MDOC system and general state monitoring activities. Montana leaders are narrowing down potential projects to increase their data collection and analysis capacity and strengthen their IT infrastructure.
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o Observation of a pre-sentence investigation and risk and need assessment at the Helena probation and parole field office. Meeting with Office of the Governor Government Affairs Coordinator to discuss parole board appointments and Montana's letter of interest for phase II technical assistance.
o Meeting with MDOC Probation and Parole Division Administrator, and three Bureau Chiefs of the Probation and Parole Division to discuss technical assistance needs and begin the development of an implementation plan for relevant justice reinvestment bills.
o Meeting with MDOC Quality Assurance Office Director to discuss program fidelity observation tools and enhanced contract standards as required in Senate Bill 59.
o Meeting with MDOC Administrator, Probation and Parole Division and nine MDOC staff to discuss revisions to the current pre-sentence investigation process and tasks necessary to meet the October 1st, 2017 effective date of Senate Bill 60.
o Meeting with MDOC Probation and Parole Division Administrator, Boyd Andrew Community Services Chief Executive Officer, and seven MDOC staff to discuss modifications to MDOC's Montana Incentives and Interventions Grid (MIIG) as a result of Senate Bills 63 and 64.
o Meeting with Board of Pardons and Parole Executive Director, MDOC Human Resources Director, and MDOC Training Manager to discuss the training needs of new parole board members once appointed.
o Meeting with Board of Pardons and Parole Executive Director to discuss staffing changes with the Board of Pardons and Parole, on-boarding new parole board members and hearing schedules.
o Meeting with Office of the Governor Government Affairs Coordinator and MDOC Data Quality and Statistics Bureau Chief for an introduction into phase 2 data monitoring.
o Meeting with MDOC Data Quality and Statistics Bureau Chief to discuss MDOC data systems and capability in reporting. Meeting with MDOC Interim Director to discuss phase 2 technical assistance and next steps.
• 6/2 - Call with 48th District Senator, 52nd District Representative, 76th District Representative, 26th District Senator, State Court Administrator, and Montana Department of Corrections Government Relations Director to introduce Phase II technical assistance.
• Call with Montana Department of Corrections Interim Director, Office of the Governor Government Affairs Coordinator, Board of Pardons and Parole Executive Director and three MDOC staff to discuss the phase 2 letter of interest and needs for an upcoming CSG Justice Center onsite visit.
• 6/22 - Call with MDOC Communications Director to discuss internal and external communications plan for implementation work.
• 6/23 - Call with Office of the Governor Government Affairs Coordinator, Board of Pardons and Parole Executive Director, MDOC Interim Deputy Director, and MDOC Government Relations Director to discuss the convening of the first oversight committee meetings, the appointment of new parole board members and training needs.
• 6/30 - Call with MDOC Interim Director, MDOC Interim Deputy Director, and two additional MDOC staff to discuss the appointment of new parole board members, training needs and a bill signing ceremony by the Governor for the justice reinvestment bills.
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