The Montana Department of Corrections on Monday moved 50 female inmates from the state’s main women’s prison in Billings to Boulder’s Riverside facility as part of its campaign to reduce overcrowding in state prisons.
Corrections’ Director Brian Gootkin said the Montana Women’s Prison is over capacity and county detention centers are over-taxed temporarily housing inmates for the state. “Repurposing Riverside allows for some relief in both of those areas,” he said in a statement.
In county jails, 47 female inmates have been awaiting transfer to a state prison for more than 30 days. Corrections expects to move many of them to Billings’ women’s prison this month.
