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Shelby Mayor: State Should Expand Private Prison

By Beacon Staff

SHELBY – Shelby city leaders say the Montana Corrections Department should consider the private prison in Shelby when it increases the number of state prison beds.

Last month, the Montana Corrections Advisory Council recommended that the state provide up to 512 additional beds for male inmates to meet a projected increase in the number of prisoners between now and 2015.

The advisory council did not specify how or where the state would increase the number of prison beds for males.

Shelby Mayor Larry Bonderud and Toole County Commissioner Allan Underdal say state officials should consider adding beds to the private Corrections Corporation of America-run Crossroads Correctional Center.

But Bob Anez, the Corrections Department’s communications director, said the Schweitzer administration believes corrections is a government responsibility and that for-profit companies should not make money from the incarceration of prisoners.