Smart Probation in Montana

The Second Chance Act of 2007 provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of people who are released from prison and jail and returning to communities, including resources to address the myriad needs of these offenders to achieve a successful return to their communities. The FY 2012 appropriations under the Second Chance Act made funding available for Smart Probation projects, in addition to providing federal awards to state and local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes for demonstration reentry projects. The goal of the Smart Probation Program is to improve probation success rates, which will improve public safety, reduce returns to prisons and jails, and save taxpayer dollars. Grant funds can be used to implement evidence-based supervision strategies to improve outcomes for probationers.

The goal of Montana's Smart Probation program is to expand its probation program in order to effectively address offender's needs and reduce revocation rates. The Montana Department of Corrections will accomplish this goal by utilizing best case practices, increasing collaborations, as well as increasing capacity through training within the department's probation program. The Montana Department of Corrections will: hire resource officers to develop community collaborations within the three communities with the largest number of probationers; complete a work-load study; train probation officers, supervisors, and other resources providers, who oversee sex offenders, on specific assessment tools; offer a cognitive behavioral program for probationers; and hire a third party evaluator to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of programs and revocation rates of probationers.

CA/NCF