Montana State Prison

Starting Oct. 31, all in-person visitation to the State Prison will be suspended until further notice.

According to the department, corrections officers at the state prison in Deer Lodge will see a $2 an hour raise and changes to the prison’s employee grievance procedure as a result of union negotiations.

Montana Department of Corrections Director Brian Gootkin told lawmakers this week that 59 correctional officer positions — almost 18% — are unfilled at the state prison in Deer Lodge.

Two inmates at Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge died by suicide last month. Both suicides occurred within the span of two weeks, according to the Montana Department of Corrections. Montana DOC Director Brian Gootkin announced the deaths Wednesday.

The Montana Department of Corrections announced last week six new coronavirus cases among inmates at Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge.

The Montana Department of Corrections announced Monday it’s upgrading technology at its facilities using funds from its annual budget and COVID relief money.

The pandemic has made keeping in touch with loved ones difficult for everyone. COVID-19 precautions have halted in person visitation at Montana’s prisons, straining communication between inmates and their families.

The Montana National Guard on Nov. 18 withdrew from Montana State Prison after assisting the facility, strained by an outbreak of COVID-19 among inmates and staff. Eleven soldiers tested positive for the virus prior to and during the roughly three week mission.

The Montana Department of Corrections confirmed Friday two inmates in state custody died due to COVID-19 last month. The announcement came nearly two weeks after the first inmate’s death.

A man listed as an inmate in Montana State Prison custody died due to COVID-19 pneumonia in Deer Lodge on Oct. 24, according to his death certificate.