20.1.101    ORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT

(1) The history, organization, and functions of the Department of Corrections and its attached board are described in this rule. 

(a) History. The Department of Institutions was established pursuant to the Executive Reorganization Act of 1971 by order of the Governor on December 19, 1973. The Department of Institutions was renamed the Department of Corrections and Human Services by the 1991 Legislature. The Department of Corrections and Human Services was renamed the Department of Corrections, and extensively reorganized by the 1995 Legislature. 

(b) Organization of the department.

(i) Director. The director of the department is appointed by the Governor with the approval of the Montana Senate, and is responsible for the overall policy development, management direction, planning, and administration of the department's major program responsibilities. The Director's Office is comprised of:

(A) the deputy director;

(B) the chief financial officer;

(C) the Legal Services Bureau;

(D) the American Indian liaison; and

(E) the Communications Bureau.

(ii) Divisions and bureaus. Organized under the Director's Office are three divisions which provide technical advice and assistance to the director and deputy director. The divisions and bureaus under them are:

(A) Central Services Division:

(I) Research, Analytics, and Planning Bureau;

(II) Human Resources Bureau;

(III) Information Technology Bureau;

(IV) Project Management Bureau;

(V) Operations Bureau;

(VI) Records Management Bureau. 

(B) Public Safety Division:

(I) Montana State Prison Bureau;

(II) Montana Women's Prison Bureau;

(III) Pine Hills Correctional Facility Bureau;

(IV) Secure Contract Facilities Bureau;

(V) Investigations Bureau;

(VI) Probation and Parole Bureau;

(VII) Public Safety Support Services Bureau.

(C) Rehabilitations and Programs Division:

(I) Montana Correctional Enterprises Bureau;

(II) Community Corrections Facilities and Programs Bureau;

(III) Health Services Bureau;

(IV) Evidence Based Programming and Practices Quality Assurance Bureau;

(V) Victim Services Bureau;

(VI) Education Bureau.

(c) Board of Pardons and Parole.  The Board of Pardons and Parole is allocated to the department for administrative purposes only.

(i) The board is a quasi-judicial body that consists of five members appointed by the Governor. The board is responsible for the oversight of Montana's inmate parole and furlough programs. In addition, the board reviews requests for executive clemency and makes recommendations to the Governor concerning those requests. The board has rulemaking authority as stated in Title 46, chapter 23, MCA, and adopts administrative rules separately from the Department of Corrections.

(2) Functions of the department divisions.

(a) Central Services Division. The division is responsible for the operational and planning functions of the department, including budgeting, financial operations, information technology, human resources, research, planning and analysis, and project management.

(b) Public Safety Division. The division is responsible for oversight of the prisons, Pine Hills Correctional Facility, and secure contract facilities, probation and parole, and public safety support services.

(c) Rehabilitation and Programs Division. The division is responsible for oversight of offender rehabilitation, education, and training; facility-based and community-based programming services; in-custody offender health care services; evidence-based offender programming and quality assurance; and victim services.

(3) Information or Submissions. Information regarding the department may be found at the department's web site at https://cor.mt.gov. Specific inquiries regarding the functions of each division may be addressed to the head of that division or to the director. All requests for hearings, declaratory rulings, and for participation in rulemaking may be addressed to the director unless the notice in the Montana Administrative Register makes specific provisions for submissions.

(4) Personnel Roster. Addresses of the director, each division, and attached board are as follows:

            Director's Office, Department of Corrections, P.O. Box 201301, Helena, MT 59620-1301.

            Central Services Division, P.O. Box 201301, Helena, MT 59620-1301.

            Public Safety Division, P.O. Box 201301, Helena, MT 59620-1301.

            Rehabilitation and Programs Division, P.O. Box 201301, Helena, MT 59620-1301.

(5) Chart of Agency Organization. The organizational chart of the Department of Corrections is attached on the following page and is incorporated into this rule. 

 

 

 

History: 2-4-201, MCA; IMP, 2-4-201, MCA; NEW, Eff. 12/4/76; AMD, Eff. 10/19/78; AMD, Eff. 7/16/79; AMD, Eff. 6/30/85; AMD, Eff. 9/30/85; AMD, Eff. 9/30/87; AMD, Eff. 10/1/90; AMD, Eff. 7/1/91; AMD, Eff. 6/30/96; AMD, Eff. 10/31/01; AMD, Eff. 9/30/04; AMD, Eff. 9/30/08; AMD, Eff. 9/30/15; AMD, Eff. 11/1/21; AMD, 2/12/24.