Article Summary –
A legislative audit of the Montana Department of Corrections has highlighted several deficiencies in the department’s educational programs at state prisons, including low participation in such programs, a gap between the training provided and workforce needs, and poor enforcement of agreements with private prisons. The audit was conducted at four facilities between 2020 and 2022, and showed that despite high interest in educational programs among inmates, only a fraction were accepted into these programs, despite there being sufficient capacity. Furthermore, auditors found that 80% of Montana inmates had never discussed their career or educational goals with prison staff, over 80% found it difficult to access higher education and vocational training programs, and nearly 60% felt the job training programs available did not prepare them for life after prison.
Montana’s Prison Education and Work Training Programs Under Fire
A recent legislative audit has found serious deficiencies in the Montana Department of Corrections’ education and work training programs at state prisons, prompting lawmakers to question officials on Tuesday.
From 2020 to 2022, the audit evaluated four facilities and found a significant difference between inmates’ interest and actual participation in these programs. Gaps in data collection, inconsistent enforcement of reentry programming in private prisons, and a disconnect between training and workforce needs were also noted. A notable issue was the department’s inability to clarify why only a small percentage of interested inmates were participating in educational programs.
The audit originated from the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, a suite of state legislation enacted in 2017 to reduce recidivism, decrease prison crowding, and improve data collection. In 2021, an audit was requested to review the prison system’s application of this initiative.
Research highlighted by the audit shows that inmates who partake in education or career readiness programs have recidivism rates 28%-32% lower than those who don’t. A Rand Corporation study also found that every $1 invested in prison education programs decreases incarceration costs by $5.
However, around 80% of Montana inmates surveyed stated they had not met with prison staff to discuss career or educational objectives, and over 80% claimed it was challenging to access higher education and vocational training programs.
Among other issues, the audit pointed out significant gaps in data collection, including inconsistent enrollment monitoring and inaccurate data entry. Despite high inmates’ interest, only a few were accepted into federally funded higher education programs, and the department couldn’t explain why.
Two of the higher education programs will be terminated after the current cohort graduates, including the only such program available at Shelby’s Crossroads Correctional Facility, a private prison run by Core Civic.
The audit also found that neither the Crossroads facility nor the Dawson County Correctional Center had met their obligations to provide education and training to state inmates in recent years. Furthermore, despite contract requirements, only 40% of inmates participated in job training or educational opportunities, leading to unenforced fines exceeding $100,000 in 2021 alone.
Auditors recommended several improvements, including better tracking of programs, developing opportunities aligned with workforce needs, collaboration with the state Department of Labor and Industry, and stricter enforcement of contract provisions with private prisons and Dawson County facility. Department officials agreed with these recommendations.
On Tuesday, Department of Corrections Director Brian Gootkin cited the COVID-19 pandemic as a contributing factor to some of the department’s issues. He informed lawmakers that the department has initiated the process of implementing the audit’s recommendations.
Senate President Jason Ellsworth, who chairs the audit committee, expects department officials to provide evidence of improvement and a plan to enhance workforce and educational programming within six months.
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