“Busting at the seams” County Jails Could See Relief from $150 Million State Prison Expansion

BILLINGS, Mont. — In response to rising crime and persistent overcrowding in county jails, Governor Greg Gianforte and local law enforcement officials announced Wednesday a significant $150 million investment to expand the Montana State Prison. This funding is a major component of the governor’s “Path to Security and Prosperity” plan which allocates a total of $400 million to enhance public safety statewide.

Governor Gianforte criticized current open border policies for contributing to the crime surge, emphasizing law enforcement’s need for adequate resources to confront these challenges. “The reality is rising crime is impacting our communities, and there’s a direct correlation to the open border policies championed by Joe Biden,” Gianforte stated at a press conference.

The expansion of the state prison, intended to increase capacity by 500 beds, is part of a broader $250 million long-term plan aimed at bolstering public safety and reducing crime rates throughout the state.

Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Lender underscored the desperate need for this expansion: “All county jails are busting at the seams. And a lot of it has to do with the capacity at the state prison because many of the people that we are holding would otherwise be at the State.” Additionally, Billings Police Chief Rich St. John elaborated on the broad impact, noting that while local forces won’t see the funds directly, the ripple effects across local, state, and federal levels will be “profound.”

St. John highlighted that, in Billings alone, 60 percent of arrests in 2024 were of repeat offenders, thus exacerbating system pressures. “These are the individuals that are tying up the system, reoffending, causing issues — if we can increase capacity at all levels, it will certainly benefit the community.”

The governor’s budget also earmarks funds to increase pay, training, and resources for corrections officers, alongside salary boosts for Montana Highway Patrol officers, which aims to enhance safety and increase operational efficiency within law enforcement departments.