DEER LODGE, MT – Governor Greg Gianforte on April 29th, joined Montana Department of Corrections (DOC) Director Brian Gootkin to break ground on a $156 million infrastructure investment at the Montana State Prison (MSP).

“After decades of previous administrations applying Band-Aids and kicking the can down the road, we knew it was long overdue to invest in needed repairs at our state prison,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Standing alongside our partners, on April 29th, we break ground on our investments from last legislative session and start a historic $156 million project for more housing units at the prison.”

In 2023, Gov. Gianforte signed into law House Bill 817, carried by Rep. John Fitzpatrick, R-Anaconda. House Bill 817 allocated a historic $156 million investment to expedite the construction of new low-side housing units at the prison. The project, part of a larger $211 million infrastructure improvement plan, will replace three of the four existing low-security housing buildings with larger, more efficient facilities.

Director of the Montana Department of Corrections Brian Gootkin praised the investments, saying, “We are extremely grateful for these generational investments in the DOC by Governor Gianforte and Montana legislators to ensure public safety, along with that of our staff members and the inmates under our care.”

Highlighting the need to increase capacity at the state prison, the governor indicated this investment would help address overcrowding at city and county detention centers.

“The reality is, we need more beds. Montana’s prison system is facing critical overcrowding, with men’s facilities 5% over capacity and women’s facilities 14% over capacity. Once today’s expansion is finished, we’ll have another 117 beds right here. A step in the right direction, this new project will help get us closer to our goal of expanding capacity,” the governor said.

In his State of the State address in January, the governor highlighted the need for more beds in Montana prisons, noting criminals who should be housed at the state prison are filling up city and county jails. In his budget, the Path to Security and Prosperity, released in November 2023, the governor called for the legislature to consider a historic $150 million investment to expand the state prison to accommodate more beds.

House Bill 5, sponsored by Rep. Fitzpatrick, includes the governor’s investment which would fund the construction of additional capacity at the Montana State Prison.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Gov. Gianforte added, “Thanks to the work of the legislature, I am looking forward to seeing what greater impact we can have before the end of the session.”