Department of Criminal Justice Services

Pretrial Service programs are used successfully across the United States to reduce the number of individuals sitting in jail while they wait up to nine months for their trial date. Our Pretrial Services Program saves Lewis and Clark County $120 per day* for each defendant in the Program, improves the rate of court appearances, and enhances overall public safety. We use the  Arnold Ventures  Public Safety Assessment (PSA) to determine the likelihood a defendant will 1) make it to their court date and 2) remain law-abiding while waiting for their trial. The PSA is used by our judges when deciding if individuals should be released while awaiting trial or if they should wait in the jail. To get in to the Pretrial Services Program, the Judge overseeing the defendant's case needs to order them to the program. Once in the Program, one of our Pretrial Officers assists the defendants in connecting to necessary resources, helps the defendants abide by court orders, and makes sure they appear at all their scheduled court dates.

*With between 300 and 400 defendants assigned to Pretrial Services at any given time, the Program saves taxpayers $45,000 per day!

Visit Dashboards at the bottom of the page to learn more about pretrial performance and outcomes measures.

• Officer Ken Breen, 406-457-8841,  kbreen@lccountymt.gov  
• Officer Tiffany Mowery, 406-457-8843,  tmowery@lccountymt.gov  
• Officer Jenn Norris, 406-457-8842,  jnorris@lccountymt.gov   
• Officer Armalin Richardson,406-457-8847,  arichardson@lccountymt.gov 

• Robyn Genzoli, 406-457-8849,  rgenzoli@lccountymt.gov 

The Education and Transition Program was established in January 2020. The Program fosters connections between the community and incarcerated individuals by  recruiting community volunteers  and bringing them in to the detention center to work directly with those incarcerated. These connections include A.A., N.A., life skills, continuing education and re-entry plans creating a web of support for each person prior to their release from the Detention Center, ultimately reducing recidivism and increasing public safety.

These programs are beneficial because they bring with them hope, joy, and inner peace. In jail things can feel so chaotic, and in a sense it is, but if you have enough courage to reach out you can find the peace and serenity amongst the storm.” –Formerly Incarcerated Person at Lewis and Clark Detention Center.

Current and Future Programs:

Shortly after the completion of the Detention Center renovation, the Education and Transition Program achieved its first goal of reinstating regularly scheduled Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and Chaplain Services in the Detention Center.

With the closely coordinated efforts of a few dedicated individuals, Alcoholics Anonymous has been allowed to resume frequent direct contact with anyone in the facility who may be interested in learning how to lead a different life than that which has brought them and their family to so much pain.” – Detention Center Volunteer

The Program will continue expanding services, building upon established alliances with influential organizations such as Helena College, the Office of Public Instruction, Good Samaritan Ministries, Salvation Army, and many more. With these partnerships, the Detention Center will be able to provide life skills classes, preparation courses for obtaining a high school diploma equivalency, and housing assessments. Eyes are also set on finding ways to help provide instruction for resume writing, job searches, and anger management courses that will satisfy court orders.

“You see such big smiles from each of the inmates after participating in the programs. It’s a major outlet for them, directing their time toward something positive. We are definitely on the right path and I’m excited for what’s to come!” – Lewis and Clark County Detention Officer

Transition Planning:

[Transition] case management is a crucial part of the mental health and substance abuse recovery process. A person can become stabilized while incarcerated, but if they release without a stable housing and discharge plan, their risk of recidivating is much higher.” – Behavioral Health Therapist in the Detention Center

The next goal for this program is to establish and formalize a sustainable and effective reentry system, utilizing the services of our invaluable volunteers and peer supports. The vision includes the ability to work with every individual booked into the Detention Center, addressing their needs in whatever may come next. A vast majority of the folks entering the detention facility are released directly back to our community, whether it be hours, months, or years since they first arrived. Staff and volunteers want to do all that they can to ensure these individuals are afforded the chance to become productive members of society once more.

“We are more than our past mistakes. We are more than the choices we’ve made. We are more than the problems we create. These programs are what shows us we are more. That is hope.” – Formerly Incarcerated Person in Lewis and Clark County Detention

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center, please contact the Education and Transition Coordinator.

•  Volunteer Guidelines 
•  Volunteer Application 
•  Volunteer Timesheet 

Education and Reentry Coordinator: Alexia Clark,  AClark@lccountymt.gov 

According to the  Stepping Up Initiative   website, "Each year, there are an estimated 2 million people with serious mental illnesses admitted to jails across the nation. That’s equivalent to the populations of Vermont and New Hampshire—combined. Almost three-quarters of these adults also have drug and alcohol use problems. Once incarcerated, individuals with mental illnesses tend to stay longer in jail and upon release are at a higher risk of returning to incarceration than those without these illnesses."

Stepping Up is a national initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails. Led by the National Association of Counties, the American Psychiatric Association Foundation, and The Council of State Governments Justice Center, Stepping Up provides counties with a framework and tools for creating a collaborative, system-wide plan to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in the county jail in ways that not only improve public safety but promote positive outcomes for individuals with mental illnesses, their families and their communities.

More than 415 counties across the country have passed a resolution or proclamation to join Stepping Up. Lewis and Clark County is one of two Montana counties to have passed such a resolution.

The Behavioral Health Team includes two Therapists and one Case Manager. Together the Team works collaboratively with Detention Center staff to address mental health, suicide, and addiction issues experienced by a high number of those incarcerated in our jail.

Jillian Danesi - Behavioral Health Coordinator,   jdanesi@lccountymt.gov 

Mikael Lindquist - Case Manager,   mlindquist@lccountymt.gov 

Kristie Stephenson - Behavioral Health Therapist,  KStephenson@lccountymt.gov 

Chloe Smith - Behavioral Health Therapist,  chsmith@lccountymt.gov 

The Post Adjudication Supervision Services (PASS) Program was implemented May 2019 to provide supportive supervision for individuals with severe disabling mental illness (SDMI) who are found guilty of their misdemeanor charge(s). The CJS Budget allocates Pretrial Services and Stepping Up Behavioral Health funding to this Program.

For offenders with SDMI, the PASS Program provides an incentive for ongoing therapeutic treatment and aims to reduce recidivism, reduce warrants issued for failure to pay court ordered fines and fees, reduce strain on the Detention Center, reduce crisis health care costs, reduce calls for service to law enforcement, and establish stable and supported living connections for this vulnerable population

1. An individual with SDMI is found guilty of their misdemeanor charge or charges.
2. The court agrees that for every hour engaged in behavioral health services, $10.00 will be deducted from the offender’s fines and fees.
3. The offender’s previous Pretrial Officer becomes their PASS Officer and continues to review needs including housing, transportation, access to food, and physical health care, and helps the offender establish goals and a schedule. The PASS Officer verifies the offender’s participation in mandated behavioral health services and communicates with the Court.

PASS Officer: Jenn Norris, 406-457-8842,  jnorris@lccountymt.gov   

In May of 2019, Lewis and Clark County was one of 15 counties selected from across the U.S. to participate in the Planning Initiative to Build Bridges Between Jail and Community-Based Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder program. This program, supported by Arnold Ventures and the US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, was a 9-month planning project designed to help communities develop a comprehensive continuum of care model that targets the jail population and builds bridges between in-custody and community-based treatment.

A multidisciplinary Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Bridges team was formed to research evidence-based practices used in existing jail-based MAT programs across the country and develop a MAT program specific to the needs of Lewis and Clark County. The team includes: a County Commissioner, the Criminal Justice Services Director and Behavioral Health Coordinator, Sherriff's Office Detention Center Captain, Physician, and Nurse Manager, and two Federally Qualified Health Centers' (FQHC) Behavioral Health Director and Behavioral Health Program Supervisor. 

In February 2020, the County was awarded a grant with the Intergovernmental Institute of Research and Bureau of Justice Assistance's Building Bridges Between Jails and Community-based Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. Through this grant, we are developing effective linkages between the County's two FQHCs' MAT programs and the Detention Center by utilizing the unique skills of Certified Peer Support Specialists (CPSS). All MAT Bridges participants will be directly connected to a CPSS upon release to ensure they are connected to their treatment and recovery supports with our FQHC partners. 

In May 2020, Lewis and Clark County requested funding through the Bureau of Justice Assistance-Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Abuse Site-based Program (COSSAP) to support he implementation of the MAT Bridges Program in the Detention Center. The County was awarded the grant in October 2020 for $600,000 over three years. This three-year grant will allow Lewis and Clark County to fully realize the research-based MAT Bridges Program.

7 Gen is a program designed for care-givers and incarcerated parents of children ages 0–3 with the intention to stop the cycle of family criminal justice involvement. Through a collaborative effort between CJS, the Detention Center, and Public Health, treatment planning, stabilization, and family support and education are provided to incarcerated parents of children ages 0–3 with the same services provided to care-givers of the children.

CJS provides annual funding for the  Drop In Center , operated by Good Samaritan Ministries. Our Place is a peer-run support program specializing in behavioral challenges and those recovering from addiction. Many of the folks utilizing services are criminal justice system involved or at risk of involvement. Connection with Our Place services provides stabilization and helps keep those involved from acting out in ways that require law enforcement.

The  Lewis and Clark County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC)  is one of 30 nationally recognized Council’s and places us on the  National Network of CJCCs . With 14 leaders from across the community, our CJCC was created in 2012 to study, identify, implement, and coordinate innovative programs that reflect our citizen’s desire for safety and cost effectiveness. The CJCC serves as the central planning body for the criminal justice system and makes recommendations to the public policy boards on behalf of the justice system. 

The CJCC is part of a three-legged stool. The CJCC is the final decision-making authority. The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is an advisory group to the CJCC. And the Department of Criminal Justice Services (CJS) is the entity tasked with carrying out the decisions of the CJCC.

Mission Statement: The CJCC exists to improve the safety of the citizens of Lewis and Clark County and ensure the equitable and efficient treatment of defendants, offenders, and victims.

The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is an advisory group to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC). The CAC solicits citizen input and makes recommendations as part of the CJCC's responsibility to study and make improvements to the local criminal justice system.

The CAC continues to provide the advice and assistance of a citizen’s voice as we move toward thoughtful criminal justice reform.

Mission Statement: The CAC exists to provide citizen input into the safety of the citizens of Lewis and Clark County and ensure the equitable and efficient treatment of defendants, offenders, and victims.

Lewis & Clark County Detention Center Dashboard will feature data related to the detention center population including admissions and releases, recidivism, and demographics.

For questions/comments related to data and analytics please contact:

Program Analyst: Bri Lake,  blake@lccountymt.gov