Governor Gianforte Celebrates Recruitment and Retention at Montana State Prison

Historic effort by MSP reduced 40% vacancy rate to 3.1%

• January 29 2024

DEER LODGE, Mont. – Joining correctional officers and staff at the Montana State Prison (MSP), Governor Greg Gianforte today celebrated a near historic low officer vacancy rate at 3.1% and awarded the Recruitment and Retention team with his Outstanding Service Award.

“By investing in the hardworking employees who serve in our correctional facilities, we’re creating more good-paying jobs and building safer, stronger communities,” Gov. Gianforte said. “I’ve heard loud and clear that repairing the state prison and increasing correctional officer wages are priorities. It’s great to be back at Deer Lodge to celebrate our progress and thank recruitment officers for their commitment to achieving a near historic low vacancy rate.”

Gov. Gianforte awarding Capt. Wigert and the MSP Recruitment and Retention Team with his Outstanding Service Award

Established in December of 2022, the MSP recruitment team worked to transform the recruitment process to address the 40% vacancy rate among correctional officers.

Led by Captain Howard Wigert, the group of correctional officers, prison administrators, human resource officers, and executive leadership streamlined and expedited the hiring process from taking more than a month to now, a matter of days. The team also improved outreach and instituted job shadowing programs for recruits.

Speaking to the success of his team, Capt. Wigert shared, “There’s a whole bunch of people to thank. The biggest part was the Director giving me free range, allowing us to think outside of the box and do things that had never been done before. Now, our biggest thing is retention, we’ve got to keep them here.”

During the lunch, the governor awarded Capt. Wigert and his team with his Outstanding Service Award, as well as recognized the maintenance team for their swift response to repair a burst pipe in the facility earlier this month.

“We’ve made it a priority to celebrate success when we see it. That’s why we created the Outstanding Service Award, to recognize state employees who go above and beyond in their line of work. Thanks to hardworking Montanans like you, our communities are stronger and safer,” the governor said.

To bolster recruitment and retention across state-run corrections facilities, Gov. Gianforte proposed significant pay increases for correctional officers in his Budget for Montana Families.

Last year joining officers at MSP, the governor signed into law House Bill 3 to boost correctional officer wages by $2 per hour at MSP and $3 per hour at the Montana Women’s Prison and Pine Hills Correctional Facility.

Under Gov. Gianforte’s leadership, the state has increased starting pay for correctional officers by over 45% since the start of 2022. On July 1, 2024, the starting wage for correctional officers at MSP will have increased from $16.46 to $24.01 per hour.

Joining the governor at the lunch was Department of Corrections Director Brian Gootkin.

“It’s been an incredible year at Montana State Prison with the Governor and legislature’s support,” Dir. Gootkin said. “We appreciate the numerous trips the governor has made out to Montana State Prison and all of our other facilities to show his support for the work our staff does. It’s nice to have these employees and teams receive the support and acknowledgement they’ve earned and deserve.”

In addition to investing in employees who serve in correctional facilities, the governor proposed and secured over $200 million to improve conditions at the State Prison, expand its capacity, and improve safety.

“After decades of previous administrations applying Band-Aids, at best, and kicking the can down the road, at worst, the state prison has been left in disrepair – a disrepair that threatens the safety of correctional officers and inmates alike. I’m proud to report the time for kicking the can down the road is over,” the governor concluded.

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