Montana’s billion-dollar addiction — prisons

By: Doug James

Outlets: Daily Montanan

Published: March 19, 2026

Words: 741

Last Updated: 2 days, 2 hours ago

Montana has a problem.

Not crime.

A prison addiction.

We can’t stop building them, investing in them, funding them.

A new women’s prison – $250 million.

An expanded Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge – $150 million.

A new forensic mental health facility in Laurel – $26.5 million.

A new Yellowstone County jail – $375 million.

Jail expansions in Flathead County – $105 million.

Smaller …

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