Welcome 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
Phone: 406-457-8845
Email: rjcs@lccountymt.gov
Location:
Law and Justice Center
406 Fuller Avenue
Helena, MT 59623
View Map
- Tuesday 07:30 AM–03:00 PM
- Wednesday 07:30 AM–03:00 PM
- Thursday 07:30 AM–03:00 PM
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.
- Officer Keaton Welch, 406-457-8841
- Officer Jenn Norris, 406-457-8842
- Officer Tiffany Mowery, 406-457-8843
- Officer Robert Bussey, 406-457-8847
- Court Services Assistant, Jess McDonald, 406-457-8849
Pretrial Services Data
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
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:
One third of bookings at Lewis and Clark County Detention center involve an individual with self-disclosed mental illness. Our counselors and therapists work directly with detention staff to aid these individuals.
Incarcerated individuals may request to meet with behavioral health staff using the inmate communication system. They can also be referred by officers, who are trained to identify individuals in crisis. Behavioral health therapists are available during business hours. For after-hours crisis, our partners at St. Peter’s Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) fill in.
From 2020-2022 the detention center managed approximately 6,500 bookings. Our therapists, case managers, and counselors conducted nearly 4,000 interventions across 900 individuals in this time period.
Detention center volunteer programs and additional case management fall under the Education and Transition Coordinator.
Volunteers from the community are trained to lead programs and create curriculum for incarcerated individuals. The programs foster connections between the community and incarcerated individuals, as well as creating support systems prior to release. All classes are voluntary.
Our Transition coordinator also assists individuals with benefit eligibility, housing applications, and referrals to other community resources upon release.
Current & Upcoming Programs in the Detention Center
- Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) & Narcotics Anonymous (N.A) are 12-step programs providing a group setting for participants to address addiction issues and provide support for pursuing and maintaining substance-free lifestyles. Participants may meet weekly with a sponsor to provide additional resources.
- Living Well in the Community (LWC) is a program through Ability Montana that helps individuals set quality of life goals. The sessions include education on problem-solving skills, managing emotions, improving health by changing habits, discovering tools that make achievement easier, and practicing self-advocacy.
- Spiritual Services include weekly church services, Saturday smudging ceremonies, and one-on-one meetings with a chaplain by request.
- Veteran Resource Groups connect incarcerated veterans with resources and services available through the VA.
- NCIC Schoolhouse Tablets are available to every inmate and offer hundreds of educational courses on life-skills, work training, anger-management, mindfulness, and academics such as math and science.
- (New) Tutoring Services are offered through the Lewis and Clark Literacy Council. Inmates are offered hour-long tutoring sessions once a week. Tutors can work on GED/HiSET preparation, math, and literacy.
- (New) Reflections in Writing is a literacy course inspired by Native poems and short stories with a focus on free-writing. It offers participants an opportunity to reflect on their lives and experiences.
- (New) Voter Registration is available thanks to the League of Women Voters, this program is offered to everyone, regardless of political affiliation. Inmates are provided education on the basics of voting and the voting process. If eligible, participants can register to vote.
- (New) Nutrition 101 teaches the basics of nutrition and its effects on the mind and body; macro vs. micronutrients; the importance of drinking water; how to read labels; and healthy food swap options.
- (Upcoming) High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) preparation will also be made available on the Schoolhouse tablets. Individuals who begin the HiSET program while incarcerated will have access to their progress through EdReady Montana after their release.
- (Upcoming) St. Peter’s Addiction Medicine Clinic will present educational topics focusing on addiction, what it looks like in the brain and body, effects of short-term long-term use, and changes that take place during recovery.
Interested in becoming a volunteer?
If you're interested in becoming a volunteer at the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center, please fill out the application below. If you have any questions, please contact the
Education and Transition Coordinator,
Alexia Clark.
Our Place Drop-In Center is a peer-run support program specializing in behavioral challenges and those recovering from addiction. Many of the individuals utilizing services are criminal justice system involved or at risk of involvement. Connection with Our Place provides stabilization and helps keep those involved from law enforcement involvement. CJS provides $40,000 in operational grant funding annually to Good Samaritan Ministries for the Drop-In Center, and an additional $20,000 is set aside for minor facility improvements. Our Place Drop-In Center services includes:
Outreach and Engagement |
Housing Assistance |
Peer Recovery Services |
Transportation Assistance |
Socialization |
Job Application Assistance |
Crisis Mitigation |
Medication Referrals |
Quality of Life Improvement |
Mental Health Services Referrals |
Community Groups |
Food and Food Packets |
Volunteer Work |
|
Monthly Reports:
November 2024(PDF, 96KB)
October 2024(PDF, 105KB)
September 2024(PDF, 95KB)
August 2024(PDF, 246KB)
June 2024(PDF, 67KB)
March 2023(PDF, 290KB)
February 2023(PDF, 184KB)
January 2023(PDF, 181KB)
December 2022(PDF, 142KB)
November 2022(PDF, 206KB)
September 2022(PDF, 229KB)
August 2022(PDF, 138KB)
June & July 2022(PDF, 138KB)
April 2022(PDF, 134KB)
March 2022(PDF, 230KB)
Location & Contact:
Our Place Drop-In Center
631 North Last Chance Gulch
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: (406) 389-0223
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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 here.
April 2024 Quarterly Newsletter now available for download(PDF, 524KB)!
February 2024 Program Insights Infographic highlighting the PASS Program now available for download(PDF, 96KB)!
January 2024 Quarterly Newsletter now available for download(PDF, 4MB)!
July 2023 Criminal Justice Services - 5-Year Report is now available for download(PDF, 21MB)!
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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