State of Montana Newsroom
Pine Hills Correctional Facility resumes use as a juvenile-only facility; juvenile females returned to Montana from Idaho facility
This week, five female juvenile offenders under the supervision of the Montana Department of Corrections returned to Big Sky Country from Idaho where the DOC has been housing its juvenile female population for approximately nine years.
Moving the female juvenile offenders to Pine Hills Correctional Facility in Miles City is possible thanks to Governor Gianforte and the legislature funding out-of-state beds for male adult inmates.
“The DOC has seen significant changes in its juvenile population over the past few years,” said DOC Director Brian Gootkin. “Our juvenile offenders are more violent than ever. Approximately 42% of our population are affiliated with two gangs. This is incredibly challenging for our workforce because the offenders must be separated. This creates another challenge with the offenders that are not gang members.”
To meet these challenges, the department has restored Pine Hills to its previous status as a juvenile-only facility. By moving 600 inmates out of state, the department has the capacity to move the adult offenders to other facilities throughout the state.
“By moving the adult males out of Pine Hills, we created a great opportunity to get these female juveniles back to Montana,” Director Gootkin said.
Renovations made to Pine Hills to accommodate adult and juvenile populations several years ago also allow the sight and sound separation required to keep the male and female juvenile populations separated within the facility.