Gov Steve Bullock recently signed a package of bills to reduce recidivism within the Montana Dept of Corrections. In 2015 the Legislature signed into effect Senate Bill 224 to review practices, policies and to reduce recidivism within the Montana Dept of Corrections. A great deal of effort, money and time has been necessary to overcome Montana Bureau Chief Ron Alsbury’s failed practices, policies and secretive administration.
Ron Alsbury was Bureau Chief of Montana Probation and Parole from 2003 – 2015. Let’s look at his statistics: From FY2009-2015 the raw increase of Parole violations was 241%. The American Indian population accounts for an astounding 27% of the 241% increase. (see Montana Dept of Justice Arrest Data, FY2009-FY2015) In 2003, the year Alsbury took reign, there was an immediate increase of 8% male return rate to prison (from 39% to 47%) and an astounding 11% increase of recidivism rate (from 38% to 49%). This is one year!! ( see Montana Commission on Sentencing, March 2016)
Ron Alsbury is a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ( the Mormons). Ron was raised in a culture, within the church, that dark skin was a sign of sin. I believe it to be preposterous that Bishop Ron Alsbury would allow his religious beliefs to bleed into his responsibilities as Bureau Chief of Montana Probation and Parole. Therefore, I again find it preposterous that the astounding and inequitable increase of American Indians that are violated and returned to prison had anything to do with these personal beliefs.
Ron Alsbury maintained a secretive policy of hiding probation and parole files. (see P&P 40-3 section F, Probation and Parole field file management) Probation officers are refused access to these files. All the talking and meeting, all the bills legislated, and all the money spent preventing recidivism is useless and wasted when we hide the very information necessary for prisoner re-entry. Private contract Pre-Release centers are not even required to submit treatment records, medical records or records concerning the inmate’s activity at the Pre-Release when the inmate is released to Probation and Parole. Probation and Parole officers blindly accept the inmate without any knowledge of what transpired while the inmate was incarcerated at the Private Contract Pre-Release Center. Re-entry cannot be successful. This failure to provide records falls squarely on Ron Alsbury’s shoulders. All the legislation in the world cannot correct policies and procedures as instituted by Ron Alsbury.
Can recidivism be reversed? Yes, but only by understanding what is the true problem. Files and investigations cannot be hidden from the convicted and from the probation officer. Private contract Pre-Release Centers and prisons must be held accountable for maintaining and transferring records to assist in re-entry programs. Imagine going to a doctor for a referral and not having any records. The doctor would not be able to give professional assistance without records. The same goes for a person released from incarceration without records. There cannot be professional assistance without records. Legislate away Montana, waste money and fill up those prisons. Ron Alsbury’s tenure will leave a lasting impact on Montana and it’s families. Secretive policies will always fail. Recidivism will continue to rise as it did under Ron Alsbury and Montana will continue to pay the costs.