Roundup Record Tribune & Winnett Times -

DEER LODGE – Thirty Montana Department of Corrections (DOC) inmates were transported to Saguaro Correctional Center in Arizona Tuesday as part of an effort to relieve overcrowding pressure at Montana State Prison (MSP). In total, 120 inmates will be moved to the facility.

“This first transfer of inmates to the correctional facility in Eloy, Arizona went smoothly thanks to the hard work of everyone involved,” said DOC Director Brian Gookin. “By freeing up this space at MSP, the DOC can more effectively manage inmate populations in our facilities and jails around the state, better ensuring improved safety and security for the public.”

In 2023, Montana legislators passed and Governor Greg Gianforte signed HB 817, delivering $3.9 million to pay for the 120 temporary prison beds.

The funding for the beds was part of a commitment from legislators and the governor to invest in long-needed improvements to the state’s corrections system. This included the governor’s successful proposal for $228 million in infrastructure projects at MSP to make the facility safer and increase its capacity; expansion of the DOC’s community corrections resources; and more.

According to Gootkin, the DOC team worked to ensure the services available to inmates at CoreCivic’s Saguaro Correctional Center are comparable to what is available in Montana facilities including health care needs, treatment resources, inmate communications with family and friends, educational opportunities for high school equivalency diplomas through HiSET, and vocational training.

DOC staff selected inmates for transfer based on whether they wanted to volunteer for the move; custody level; proximity to parole eligibility (more than two years); participation in treatment and other programming; and health/mental health needs.

MSP and the Montana Women’s Prison have been operating over capacity for more than a year.

In 2023, Montana legislators assigned the HB 5 Select Committee to review corrections facility capacity and system development and provide recommendations for the 2025 Montana Legislature.