Uncategorized
State begins review of criminal justice system, seeks cuts
Published
8 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Amy Beth Hanson Associated Press
HELENA (AP) – The state of Montana is reviewing its criminal justice system with the goal of reducing spending and lowering recidivism rates while improving public safety.
State officials say despite a general decline in the crime and arrest rates between 2008 and 2014, the state prison population and corrections spending have increased.
“A thorough examination of our criminal justice system is long overdue,” Gov. Steve Bullock said Wednesday. “We must determine what is driving the growth in our prison population. We’re at a pivotal moment as our prison population nears capacity, and we must take a proactive and collaborative approach to establishing a more effective system that bolsters public safety.”
The state’s total crime rate decreased by 7 percent from 2008 to 2014, while the prison population increased by 7 percent. Total corrections spending over that same period of time has increased 16 percent, from $157 million to $182 million, officials said.
Bullock, Sen. Cynthia Wolken of Missoula and District Judge Ingrid Gustafson of Billings announced the start of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative in Montana. The Justice Center of The Council of State Governments along with the state Commission on Sentencing will examine the state’s crime and arrest trends, sentencing laws, types of supervision and the effectiveness of its rehabilitation programs and recommend improvements.
“We’re eager to get to work exploring potential changes in our criminal justice system and how we can reinvest in programs that are proven to work,” said Wolken, chair of the 15-member commission. “Everything’s on the table,” she said, including possible sentencing reductions.
The commission – which includes members from the legislative and judicial branches along with the governor’s administration – will recommend legislation based on the results of the study.
The CSG Justice Center is a national nonprofit organization that has conducted the Justice Reinvestment program in 21 other states. It will seek input from judges, prosecutors, public defenders, probation officers, parole board members, law enforcement officers and victim advocates, officials said.
Carl Reynolds, the senior legal and policy adviser to CSG’s Justice Center, said he’s impressed with Montana’s drug courts and that offenders can be sentenced to the Department of Corrections, which determines the best placement in an array of options from probation to pre-release to treatment programs to prison. But he said 85 percent of people on parole or probation are violating the terms of their release and the state needs find a way to make its supervision more effective
Copyright 2015 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
Time
(Sunday) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Cowboy Coffee
25 Town Center Ave. Big Sky, MT 59716