New Jail Will Come With New Policy Manual

Local enforcement officials are planning a clean sweep when they move over to the new Valley County jail. In addition to a $3 million modern building that is up to the latest standards, they will have an updated policy and procedures manual that leads the state.

The manual in use right now is way ahead of many in Montana, according to a report issued by representatives of the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. The association decided to conduct peer reviews of jails themselves, rather than wait for state or federal legislation to be involved. Sheriff Glen Meier asked them to review the Valley County facility first, because of the new jail that is being built next to the courthouse, replacing the 1978 facility in the basement. 

Representatives of detention centers in Yellowstone, Madison and Flathead counties formed a Jail Standards Review Committee that spent four days in Glasgow in May touring the old jail, looking over the plans for the new one and picking apart the policy manual. They gave the sheriff's office a three-ring binder detailing what Valley County is compliant on and where it needs improvement. Members of the public can get a copy of the report for $12.

"Other than the actual physical location, which is somewhat unusual, being a bomb shelter, the Valley County jail is run very well," said Kathy Frame, a member of the Jail Standards Review Committee. Frame is the adult jail commander in the Flathead County Sheriff's Office. "In 20-plus years, I've never seen one like that. With what they have to work with, they do an amazing job."

The standards review committee was a balanced mix from large, medium and small jail facilities, Frame said. Sgt. Steve Metzger represented Yellowstone, the largest facility in Montana. Frame's Flathead jail is medium, at 100 beds, and Carmen Hill's jail in Madison County is a small, 72-hour-hold facility.

Jail standards are described by law in many states, Frame said, but in Montana the standards adopted by the MSPOA and the Montana Association of Counties are voluntary. They were written after consulting existing programs and reviewing standards published by the American Correctional Association and the American Jail Association. 

One-size-fits-all is difficult to apply in Montana, because some very small facilities would be shut down. Counties with jails that are only used for 72-hour holds don't need elaborate rules such as a clothing change twice a week, having a doctor available, and strict food requirements, Frame said.

Frame was especially impressed with the Valley County staff's handling of mental health problems and suicide prevention, where trained mental health professionals and the hospital get involved promptly. This is not the case in most counties, she said, where many hospitals don't have a secure bed or room.

Also, the new facility will be fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Frame said the committee made a couple of recommendations that were already in the works. Valley County must make the transition to a computerized jail management program and they were very much open to that, she said.

They are doing some things by hand, but some record-keeping areas need improvement. There must to be a physical count of prisoners every day, and jailers must document every activity.

As an example, Meier showed something seized from a prisoner: very realistic dice molded out of toilet paper and marked with the correct pattern of dots. Those are contraband items in a jail. With strict record-keeping, if an inmate asked for a roll of toilet paper two days in a row, the jailer would check the computer, see the last roll given the day before, and ask what he did with the last one.

Some of the areas where improvements need to be made include local staff training, yearly reviews of policies and procedures and some safety and security measures, such as key control, cell searches and belt radios for jailers.

Although the Valley County jail is actually noted for its food, at least among inmates who have comparative experience, the meals tend to be starchy. For the new jail, the Senior Center will deliver warm noon meals planned by a nutritionist.

Additional minor issues will be addressed in the new facility, Frame said. 

The policies for treatment of female prisoners are ahead of most places, the report said. When the new jail is ready, this should help the county rent space for females to other counties that don't have the proper facilities or training to handle them.

The jail is very good at doing criminal record checks on new prisoners, Meier said. They often find outstanding warrants in other states and jurisdictions. They have ordered a new fingerprint machine to help with this.

"This jail is even ahead of Yellowstone County's," Meier said after the review. "We are doing a very good job, but we need to do better. What we were found non-compliant on, we will be complaint with in the new jail."

The policy and procedures handbook was written by Meier and head jailer Bob Baillargeon and sent to the county attorney for double-checking. Baillargeon said he has invited the review committee to return for a follow-up inspection after they move to the new jail, and Frame said she would be happy to come back.

"Things are going to change drastically in the new facility," Meier said. "We want to be prepared and do things right."