Month: October 2018

Warden Lynn Guyer, By a lie, a man… annihilates his dignity as a man. Immanuel Kant

Mary Perrien Congratulations!! They’re lucky to have you.
Lynn Guyer Thanks Mary. It is going to be a huge challenge. No programming, mental health treatment, education and dry cells.

Mary Perrien

By a lie, a man… annihilates his dignity as a man. Immanuel Kant
Warden Lynn Guyer, with a stance of self aggrandizing, is loudly proclaiming to the people of Idaho that the Montana State Prison has no programming, no mental health treatment, no educational opportunities and dry cells (this last comes from his experience with lawsuits in Idaho).  He is coming to Montana to overcome the challenges that have been created at The Montana State Prison.  I am giving Warden Guyer the benefit of the doubt that he didn't show up at the Old Territorial Prison to proclaim these outlandish remarks but rather he actually arrived at the current prison.

The Montana State Prison definitely has its' problems, mainly that of overcrowding.  The state has incarcerated people at an alarming rate, particularly the American Native population.  I am hopeful this scourge is lessening with the retirement of Ron Alsbury.  The newly configured Board of Pardons and Parole, the lynch pin of prison reform, is failing. Lynn Guyer's edict in Idaho that the state prison has no programming, mental health treatment, education and dry cells is completely and unequivocally false. By a lie, a man... annihilates his dignity as a man. Immanuel Kant.  Shall we take a look?

PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES:
Montana Correctional Enterprises (MCE), headquartered near Montana State Prison at Deer Lodge, employs 75 civilians and provides daily training for approximately 500 inmates at Montana State Prison and Montana Women’s Prison in Billings.

The Montana Correctional Enterprises Division provides vocational education, on-the-job training and work experience to inmates in industry, vocational and agricultural programs. Inmates working in these programs develop marketable job skills, a strong work ethic and self-esteem through a feeling of pride in their accomplishments, often for the first time in their lives. In addition, inmates earn a wage to pay their victim restitution and court-ordered fines, and to save money for their release.



INMATE ACADEMIC EDUCATION
Curriculum
The Montana Adult Basic Education Content Standards set by the Montana OPI will be issued to govern all classroom curriculums.

In order for students to receive pay, they must be assigned full time. School is a work assignment and students are not allowed to be assigned to another work assignment, while attending school. 

The Life Skills Program provides learning opportunities directed at independent living through practical preparation in a variety of areas. Life Skills rules that are approved by the Education Department will be discussed with and signed by the inmate before they begin class. If an inmate is identified as having a disability that affects his ability to participate in educational programs, an appropriate accommodation shall be provided, including, but not limited to, individualized instruction. The list continues, however in the interest of space this should give you an idea of educational opportunities.

PROGRAMMING FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE- A message from Department of Corrections Director Reginald Michael.  Lynn Guyer, by declaring there is no programming, denies Director Reginald Michael's message that this program exists.

The Montana State Correctional Treatment Center in Deer Lodge accepted its first 30 inmates, DOC Director Reginald D. Michael said. 

The secure, remodeled facility formerly housed the Treasure State “boot camp” program and now provides a 90- to 180-day intensive chemical dependency treatment program for prison inmates approaching their release dates. 

“It’s critical that we create opportunities for people to stop coming back to prison,” Michael said in a news release.  “By helping inmates develop responsible thinking, become more accountable and learn the skills they need to overcome addiction, this new program will give offenders a real opportunity to take their lives in a more positive direction.”

MARTZ DIAGNOSTIC INTAKE UNIT (MDIU)

Mental health assessment and evaluation

In nearly all cases, mental health services, including evaluations, are voluntary and inmates have the right to decline mental health services if they choose.

Newly arrived inmates are told how to access mental health services and what to do if they experience a mental health emergency.

Inmates are offered an opportunity to sign a release of information form that allows mental health staff to request the inmates’ past mental health records to aid in assessment and treatment.

Within two weeks of arrival at MDIU, each inmate receives a brief mental health screening, which is usually completed by a mental health technician. Based on the results of this screening, inmates who need additional evaluation and assessment are referred to a licensed clinician. This additional assessment is completed within 30 days of admission.

Inmates who may have developmental or learning disabilities are also offered an assessment at MDIU.

DRY CELLS
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS MONTANA STATE PRISON OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE
Dry/Strip Cell Procedures
To enable staff to isolate contraband ingested, or inserted in body cavities, inmates are subject to dry/strip cell procedures in cells where the toilets cannot be flushed.

By a lie, a man... annihilates his dignity as a man. Immanuel Kant

How unfortunate Warden Lynn Guyer has chosen to start his career in Montana by throwing his boss, Director Reginald Michael, under the bus by denying the programs that Mr. Michael says exist.  Now who do we believe, Director Reginald Michael or Warden Lynn Guyer?  Director Reginald Michael says all the above programs exist and Warden Lynn Guyer says the above programs don't exist. Lynn Guyer  It is going to be a huge challenge. No programming, mental health treatment, education and dry cells.

Do we need to make changes at the prison? Absolutely.  Can we improve programs at the prison?  Absolutely.  Can these changes and improvements be made by someone with a hero complex?  Can these changes and improvements be made by someone that throws their boss under the bus before they even begin their job?  Can we ever believe anything Warden Guyer says if he starts his job with lies?  Who do we believe?


By a lie, a man... annihilates his dignity as a man. Immanuel Kant









































	


	
	






	
	

		
The New Warden of the Montana State Prison, No Real Prison Experience Necessary
	


	

		
Headlines across Montana:




HELENA — A former Idaho corrections official has been named the warden of the Montana State Prison.  Corrections Director Reginald D. Michael said Tuesday that Lynn Guyer will begin his  job at the Deer Lodge prison on Oct. 22.  Guyer retired in May 2016 after 13 years as warden of the North Idaho Correctional Institution.




Warden of the North Idaho Correctional Institution (NICI)?  Does anybody actually know what the North Idaho Correctional Institution is?  Well let’s take a look because it isn’t a prison.  


NICI primarily houses defendants sentenced under a retained jurisdiction sentence. Retained jurisdiction provides a sentencing alternative for courts to target defendants who might, after a period of programming and evaluation, be viable candidates for probation rather than incarceration.  Retained jurisdiction means the judge retains jurisdiction over the defendant.  Idaho Department of Corrections does not have jurisdiction over the defendant, the judge retains that jurisdiction.

Per the Idaho Department of Corrections Website: 
"Retained jurisdiction, often called a rider, is a sentencing option available to judges in the State of Idaho. Offenders sentenced under retained jurisdiction are called as retained jurisdiction. During the 90- to 365-day retained jurisdiction sentence offenders receive treatment." http://www.idoc.idaho.gov/content/prisons/inmate_classification...

The North Idaho Correctional Facility is a treatment center, not a prison.  NICI currently averages a 414 male defendant population serving retained jurisdiction sentences (“riders”) between 90 to 180 days where defendants receive treatment for substance abuse, counseling, GED and workforce training. At their rider’s completion, defendants are evaluated and recommended to the court to be either placed on probation or ordered to serve their underlying prison sentence.  

Defendants at NICI are not serving prison sentences, they are receiving treatment.  Retained jurisdiction is what is commonly referred to as the "Rider" program. There are now several options for this available to the Judge. Depending on what one is utilized, the "end date" is when the Judge has to decide whether to place the defendant on probation, or to simply impose the sentence and remand to the custody of the Department of Corrections.  During the time at the treatment center where Lynn Guyer was the warden, the defendant has not yet been remanded to the Department of Corrections.  

Here is Lynn Guyer's work history in corrections:

Lynn Guyer started his career at the treatment center at the North Idaho Correctional Institution as a correction officer.  Two years later he transferred to the Nampa Community Work Center as employment development coordinator. In 1990, he went to Caldwell to work as a probation officer, four years later to the IDOC central office in Boise as program coordinator for Probation and Parole (P&P), and in 1996 was promoted to P&P district manager in Twin Falls.  In June 2003 be became warden at the North Idaho Correctional Institution treatment center.

He worked at a treatment center as a correctional officer.  He then worked as an employment development director.  He then worked as a probation officer and then became "warden" at the same treatment center where he worked as a correctional officer.  With this work history he now has the experience to be warden for the Montana State Prison (MSP), the largest correctional facility in the state, housing nearly 1,500 male inmates in a 68-acre compound designed to handle all custody levels: maximum, close, medium and minimum.  

The Deer Lodge High School mascot is the "Wardens".  Just because the high school students call themselves "Wardens" does not make them experienced to be the Warden of the Montana State Prison.  Being a warden of a treatment center does not make Lynn Guyer experienced to actually be a warden of a prison.

Maybe Reginald Michael said it best at the Interim Law and Justice Committee meeting recently held in Helena.  "It's very hard to find someone to work in the middle of nowhere Montana."  Well, Mr. Michael, that's where we are.  

Warden of the Montana State Prison, no experience necessary.