(Billings, MT) — Law enforcement leaders are showing support for expanding the Montana State Prison. The Yellowstone County Sheriff and Chief of Billings police joined Governor Greg Gianforte yesterday to highlight a call for funding a capacity expansion at the prison. It is one of the tenants of Gianforte’s budget proposal, which includes 150-million dollars in one-time funding for more beds at the prison. Sheriff Mike Lender said “county jails are busting at the seams” because people they are holding would be at the state prison if there was space. Billings Chief Rich St. John added that local authorities wouldn’t see the money, but the impacts would benefit all levels of government.
