The people's voice., 1959-01-09

you do this.
CORRECTIONS
We must all be fully aware that,
while much has been done at the State
Prison at Deer Lodge in the past
few years, a big job still remains.
We have a long-range building pro-
gram, which needs and merits your
support. The goal will be new State
| Prison, located on the present Prison
ranch, away from the U. S. Highway.
I am proud that this program is
under way. The first step-the me-
dunn security buildings over half
finished.
This long-range building program
must be matched with equally ade-
quate personnel. This will result in
the best possible rehabilitation. In
this rehabilitation Montana will not
only find a great saving in dollars,
but will also save in our human re-
sources. This can amount to millions
of dollars over few years. There
fore, urge your utmost cooperation
in meeting the problems surrounding
our prison population. We need far
sighted planning, equivalent to that
when the present prison ranch was
purchased for the State of Montana.
This was the result of cooperation
between the Legislature, myself and
others. l hope we will see more ex-
amples of this in the future.
This Legislature will receive copies
of a proposed Western Interstate Cor
rections Compact. This grew out of
discussions started at one Western
Governors Conference and was COM
pleted at another such meeting in
November. | attended both of these
meetings and made several sugges-
tions, which are included in the pro-
posed Compact. In such a Compact
you have an opportunity to take one
of the greatest forward steps in the
history of corrections in Montana.
First, there will be a great savings
through sharing of institutions.
Second, better and more specialized
care of certain types of Institutional
cases will result. Third, better re-
mobilization will bring about a human
saving by returning sound individuals
20 society. Full protection of the
lights of Montanans is provided.
There are no constitutional problems.
urge your recognition of the now
existing problems, such as our women
prisoners at Deer Lodge. Approval
# such Corrections Compact is es-
entlal to progress in corrections. The
way will then be open for specific
ontracts to be made. In other words,
his is enabling legislation.
Montana can be proud of the prog
ess which has been made in the field
f pardons and paroles of state pris-
ners.
However, there are two major
eeds. One is for an expanded staff
0 supplement the present three field
fficers. At least five more are needed
, cover state as large as ours. AS
stance in placement of the persons
andled by our courts and penal in
5itutions is needed. Finding jobs for
lese persons is the biggest item
locking the smooth operation of re-
ase of inmates from the State Pris-
n. This is major cause of parole
nd probation violations also. The
eneral public can assist, as well,
trough their acceptance of these in
A work-release plan for those in
'unty jails is worthy of study, not
lily as a corrections measure, but
so as an economy move.
1t will keep man active as a fam
breadwinner, cut welfare costs
i'd help pay Jail costs.
You may also want to consider the
lssage of an effective habitual Grim
al act. Certainly we must realize
at the laws of our State should take
to consideration the difference be-
'een first-time offender and a
ree-or-more-time loser.
ATER RESOURCES
Water is undoubtedly one of the
ost important, if not the most i'm
rtant, natural resource to all Mon
mans. 1t is definitely the limiting
ctor in our development.
Therefore, l believe it is important
tell you about developments in this
Id. This merely touches the high
hts, so | commend the report of
\ 4o4o