Criminal Justice Services

Overview

law-and-justice-center-1.jpgWelcome to the Department of Criminal Justice Services! Our mission is to improve the safety of the citizens of Lewis and Clark County and ensure the equitable and efficient treatment of defendants, offenders, and victims.

Through a holistic and collaborative approach, we aim to continually improve our county’s criminal justice system by providing effective community alternatives, solutions, and services to increase community safety, reduce crime, and assist defendants in finding success.

Reports and Dashboards

Contact Us

Phone: 406-457-8845

Email: rjcs@lccountymt.gov

Location:

Law and Justice Center
406 Fuller Avenue
Helena, MT 59623

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Hours

  • Monday                           07:30 AM–03:00 PM
  • Tuesday                          07:30 AM–03:00 PM
  • Wednesday                    07:30 AM–03:00 PM
  • Thursday                         07:30 AM–03:00 PM
  • Friday                               07:30 AM–12:00 PM
  • Sunday/Saturday         Closed

Pretrial Services

Communities across the United States utilize pretrial service programs to reduce their number of incarcerated individuals. Lewis and Clark County defendants sit in detention awaiting trial an average of nine months—our program aims to bring that number to zero. We save our county $120 per day*, per defendant; improve the rate of court appearances; and enhance overall public safety. More importantly, we ensure that our clients are in the community with their families, keeping their jobs, getting and/or maintaining shelter, and successfully navigating the justice system.

We use the Arnold Ventures Public Safety Assessment (PSA) to determine the likelihood a defendant will both make it to their court dates and remain law-abiding. Our judges use the PSA when deciding whether to release individuals from detention while awaiting trial. A combination of judiciary discretion and the PSA tool determines whether to assign an individual to pretrial services. 

 

Pretrial Services Data

 

Post Adjudication Supervision Services Program

Judge Anne Peterson introduced the Post-Adjudication Supervision Services (PASS) program in 2019. The program provides supportive supervision to individuals with behavioral health disorders who have been found guilty of their misdemeanor charge(s). Our PASS officer verifies the client’s participation in behavioral health services and communicates completed check-ins to the court. The Courts can apply PASS check-ins as monetary credit toward fines and fees. Jenn, our PASS officer, continuously reviews client needs for housing, transportation, access to food, health care, and goal setting.

PASS Officer:  Officer Jenn Norris, 406-457-8842

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Behavioral Health Services

The Criminal Justice Services Behavioral Health Team includes Program Supervisor, a Behavioral Health Therapist, a Behavioral Health Case Manager, a Licensed Addiction Counselor, and an Education/Transition Coordinator. They provide mental health care, including support for suicide and addiction, to a high number of incarcerated individuals, mitigating the challenges of reentry into our community.

As a Stepping Up County, CJS supports programs and services in our community that assist in reducing the incarceration of individuals with mental illness. The programs promote positive outcomes for individuals, their families, and their communities. The behavioral health team works closely with Lewis & Clark County Public Health, Good Samaritan Ministries, and others on behalf of justice-involved individuals.

Learn more about each program/service below:

Medical-Assisted Treatment Bridges Program

The Detention Center introduced the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Bridges program to address individuals with opioid use disorders. The MAT program combines medication and counseling to reduce cravings, treat withdrawals, and return patients to pre-substance function. Goals of the program include:

  • Treat those with opioid use disorder (OUD) utilizing effective MAT programs.
  • Encourage participation in counseling and behavioral therapies.
  • Build bridges between the Detention Center and community-based treatment providers.
  • Reduce recidivism and reduce the return to opioid use within the first 90 days of exiting incarceration.
  • Increase public safety. 

Narcan Vending Machines

Narcan boxes in vending machine Three vending machines dispensing Narcan, an FDA-approved "miracle drug" with the ability to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose, have been made available at no-cost to the public, in an effort to increase community access to a life-saving medication. The vending machines can be found on the first floor of the Law and Justice Center, the Our Place Drop-In Center, and the CJS reception area. Narcan works by binding with opioid receptors in the brain and blocking the effects of opioids for 30 to 90 minutes, reversing respiratory depression. Narcan is considered safe, non-addictive and effective at restoring normal breathing. The machines were paid for through the IIR grant, and the Narcan is provided by the State of Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.
 
"Our primary goal is to eliminate opioid use in our community. The unfortunate reality is, many of us have neighbors, family, or friends that are struggling with opioid addiction. My hope is that these machines will be a resource for people who are trying to avoid losing their loved ones to addiction." - Chief Brett Petty, Helena Police Department

In the first six months since the vending machines were introduced, 581 boxes of Narcan have been distributed.

Criminal Justice Coordinating Council

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 15 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.

LEARN MORE

Citizens' Advisory Committee

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.

LEARN MORE

 


Find Resources or Get Connected

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Search Lewis & Clark County's, or another Montana region's, non-profit and government services by organization name, keyword, or based on the services you need at Montana211.org.

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If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call 988 to be connected to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or 911 if a person is in immediate danger. To learn more about Montana 988, click here.

 


Latest News & Events

 

July 2024 Montana Free Press article "Montana's Plan to Curb Opioid Overdoses" featuring work by Lewis and Clark's department of Criminal Justice Services. Read the article hereMT-Free-Press-Article-Photo.png

CJS-Quarterly-Newsletter-4.2024.png April 2024 Quarterly Newsletter now available for download(PDF, 524KB)

PASS-Infographic.png February 2024 Program Insights Infographic highlighting the PASS Program now available for download(PDF, 96KB)

 

CJS-Quarterly-Newsletter-1.2024-Image.jpg January 2024  Quarterly Newsletter now available for download(PDF, 4MB)

CJS-Report-Cover-Page.png July 2023  Criminal Justice Services - 5-Year Report is now available for download(PDF, 21MB)!

NarcanVending.png March 2023  Vending machines dispensing free Narcan have been implemented in the Criminal Justice Services lobby and the Our Place Drop-In Center.


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Data and Insights