MT: Investment in Programs Means Fewer Prisoners

Fewer people are going into Montana’s prison system, even though the offender population is projected to grow at 6.2%. How can that be? The state is sending more people to community corrections programs, particularly programs that treat drug and alcohol addictions and mental illness.

The Fiscal Division of the state legislature is projecting that the state will need 150 fewer prison beds than were initially budgeted for in 2008 and 101 fewer prison beds than was anticipated for 2009. This means that Montana could save $5 to $10 million in this budget cycle. These savings are possible because the legislature decided to shift their priorities to community corrections programs, a much less expensive option than building new prisons, and according to the Billings Gazette, that decision is working.

This news brief is based on an article in the Billings Gazette, Gazette Opinion: A positive trend in state prisons? If the link is broken, check the web site’s archives.