HELENA – The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana is recommending the state make additional changes to its probation and parole system, increase access to services and reduce costs of supervision and treatment so more people are able to meet the terms of their release.
The organization acknowledged changes made by the 2017 Legislature that seek to reduce the number of people returned to custody, but the ACLU says impoverished people or those with mental health or substance abuse issues report they still struggle.
“The existing supervision system penalizes people on supervision for the absence of services and assistance in the community, neither of which they can control,” the organization said in a report released Monday.
The ACLU interviewed inmates, probationers, service providers, advocates and correctional staff before recommending the state fund more community mental health and substance abuse treatment programs for probationers, develop individualized supervision plans and create alternate ways for people living in rural areas or without access to transportation to check in with their probation officers.
It also recommend improved planning for people being released from state custody so their housing and other needs are met, recruiting more American Indians as probation officers, and shortening community supervision terms.
The organization noted that while 6.5 percent of the state’s population is American Indian, they account for 20 percent of the men’s state prisoners and 34 percent of the women’s state prisoners.
State data analyzed by the ACLU also indicated a disparity in the rates at which American Indians have their probation revoked.
Corrections Director Reginald D. Michael said he hadn’t had a chance to read the ACLU’s 72-page report Monday.
“What I can tell you is that the department’s American Indian liaison, the governor’s director of Indian affairs and I have met personally with tribal council members of the Fort Belknap, Blackfeet and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to start the conversation about how we can work together to reduce the overrepresentation of Native Americans in Montana’s correctional system,” he said.
The ACLU plans to present its report to the Legislature’s Law and Justice Interim Committee on Tuesday.