Tag: Montana State Prison

“Power intoxicates men. When a man is intoxicated by alcohol, he can recover, but when intoxicated by power, he seldom recovers.” James F. Byrnes. Community Counseling and Correctional Services, (CCCS Inc.)

Deep in the center of Montana lies the refreshingly authentic community of Lewistown. Intersected by a beautiful, spring-fed stream, encircled by gentle island mountain ranges and surrounded by Montana’s natural beauty, Lewistown is a premier destination for fishing, hunting, hiking and biking. Showcasing the heart of a Western lifestyle, Lewistown is the perfect place to find your center. Intoxicated with power from which it seems it cannot recover, Community Counseling and Correctional Services Inc (CCCS Inc) has found its center or so they continue to pretend.

CCCS Inc and its dummy company Montana Behavioral Health Inc is a failing institution. They are hemorrhaging money, losing investments for failure to pay property taxes and closing treatment centers. And yet, CCCS Inc owns a beautiful vacation home deep in the center of Montana on a beautiful golf course surrounded by premier fishing, hunting, biking and hiking. CCCS Inc is also a private contract, non-profit prison. Oh, the profit in non-profit.

This 3360 square foot vacation home has vaulted ceilings, 5 bedrooms and three baths. As with all facilities owned by CCCS Inc. it is carefully staged but deteriorating. There are dead birds on the property, the exterior is in need of repair and of course abandoned. This abandoned property is valued at $330,000.00, one third of a million dollars. One third of a million dollars of taxpayers money. Montana tax payers believed this money would be invested in drug and alcohol treatment for a better Montana. Instead taxpayers got an abandoned deteriorating home.

“Power intoxicates men. When a man is intoxicated by alcohol, he can recover, but when intoxicated by power, he seldom recovers.” James F. Byrnes.

Why is this information important? Montana’s well-vetted legislators are closing the drug and alcohol treatment center at the state prison to send prisoners to CCCS Inc treatment centers. This includes Nexus Treatment Center in Lewistown. Montana is planning on investing millions of dollars into a company that just lost a 2 million dollar property to a California company speculating in delinquent property taxes. CCCS Inc owns a deteriorating abandoned vacation home valued at one third of a million dollars. Two million, three hundred and thirty thousand dollars of tax payer money, designated to treat Montana prisoners, squandered by the intoxication of power. And yet Montana continues to send millions of dollars to a company intoxicated by power from which it will never recover.

CCCS Inc uses the “higher power” concept in its treatment programs. With this concept many are able to recover from the intoxication of addiction. Luke 4:23 Physician, heal thyself. Before attempting to correct others, CCCS Inc needs to be sure they aren’t guilty of the same faults. The intoxication of power.

CCCS Inc cannot heal others until they heal themselves. The intoxication of power has led to a failing company and Montana continues to pour millions of dollars into an intoxicated failing company.

What is the answer? Two million, three hundred thousand squandered dollars would go a long way in helping people to transition out of prison. We have to give people hope. Hope for a better way of life through housing, jobs, medication and community treatment. We have to give people a belief that they are better than the worst thing they did. Despite the millions of dollars poured into CCCS Inc, CCCS Inc cannot give people the hope they need. They can’t heal their own faults, how can they give hope to others.

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. Desmond Tutu

The gateway to drug and alcohol addiction is childhood abuse. Let’s give hope to these people, not millions of dollars to a failing intoxicated company. Give hope through help. Use the money to actually help people transition.

The Lost and Unwanted Souls…Victims of Montana Corrections.

The Montana Department of Corrections and the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole have collaborated to incarcerate mentally ill offenders at Montana State Prisons for indeterminate amounts of time for management purposes only. These incarcerations are for long term mental health needs management, not based on judicial orders and no one accepts jurisdiction over these lost and unwanted souls. These incarcerations are for management purposes only. This collaboration is an illegal agreement under the Administrative Rules of Montana.

To fully understand what is happening to our mentally ill citizens one must be aware of three separate documents, when put together reveal a tragic consequence of long term incarceration to “manage” mental illness and no one is accepting jurisdiction for placement upon being paroled or released. With no placement there is no parole or release.

1)  Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) Rule 20.1.101 states the Board of Pardons and Parole is responsible for the oversight of Montana's inmate parole and furlough programs.  The Montana Board of Pardons and Parole adopts administrative rules separately from the Department of Corrections.
2)  Montana Department of Corrections P&P Procedure No. 4.1.100 Secure Placement - A management decision to place an offender at a secure facility for long term mental health needs and/or treatment.
Montana Department of Corrections determines secure facilities as  Montana State Prison (MSP), Montana Women’s Prison (MWP), Great Falls Regional Prison, Dawson County Correctional Facility, and Crossroads Correctional Center. The mentally ill offender is now an inmate at a state prison and under ARM Rule 20.1.101 the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole has jurisdiction over inmate parole.
3)  Memorandum of Understanding Between Montana Department of Corrections and Montana Board of Pardons and Parole (MOU)  The parties agree that the Board of Pardons and Parole has jurisdiction over DOC Commitments that the DOC has placed in prison under a Secure Placement Request except DOC commitments that the DOC has placed in prison for mental health treatments for the period necessary to meet the DOC Commit's mental health care needs.  This agreement was signed by BOPP Chairperson Annette Carter and Montana Department of Corrections Reginald Michael.

Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) state that the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole (BOPP) is responsible for all inmate parole and furlough. The Montana Department of Corrections places mentally ill people in prison, not under judicial orders but for management purposes only. Once a mentally ill person is placed in prison they become an inmate under the Administrative Rules of Montana. BOPP says we will accept jurisdiction over all inmates except those inmates that are placed in prison for management of mental illness. BOPP says leave your mentally ill commitments for as long as is necessary but we are not taking jurisdiction. Montana Department of Corrections leaves the mentally ill person in prison for as long as necessary to treat the inmates long term mental health needs. Long term is long term. There is no parole or release available because BOPP won’t take jurisdiction.

Montana Department of Corrections has placed these lost, unwanted souls in prison because DOC can’t or won’t manage their mental illness. BOPP says fine, leave them in prison for whatever amount of time you want. We aren’t responsible for them and we aren’t finding placement, treatment or parole. Montana Administrative Rules says if a person is an inmate BOPP has jurisdiction and is responsible for placement and parole. BOPP says, not happening.

Administrative Rules of Montana was established for a good and decent society. The Montana Department of Corrections and the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole entered into an agreement not consistent with the Administrative Rules of Montana and not consistent with a good and decent society. Manage our mentally ill citizens by long term incarceration, not for judicial reasons but for management reasons. Make an agreement where no one has jurisdiction for placement, treatment, parole and release. Without placement and treatment there is no parole or release.

Under the rules of Montana, The Montana Board of Pardons and Parole has jurisdiction of these lost and unwanted souls. The Montana Board of Pardons and Parole is refusing to meet their obligation to the State of Montana. But then, what decent and good society wants these lost and unwanted souls anyway.

Montana Board of Pardons and Parole Annette Carter and The Montana Department of Corrections Reginald Michael…do your jobs as set forth by the Administrative Rules of Montana or get out so we can find someone who will do the job.

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