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Law‑enforcement and mental‑health advocates push for new eastern Montana forensic facility; questions remain on size and cost
Summary
Representative Kelly's House Bill 912 directs construction of a minimum 70‑bed forensic facility east of Big Timber with an appropriation of $60 million drawn from an identified state account. County attorneys, sheriffs and jail commanders testified that long waits for beds at Galen and transports to state hospitals create jail backlogs and speedy‑trial problems; witnesses debated whether 70 beds will be enough and flagged fiscal and allocation details for implementation.
Representative Kelly opened the House Health and Human Services hearing on House Bill 912, which would direct development of a forensic facility in the eastern half of Montana (east of the North‑South line at Big Timber) with a minimum of 70 beds and an appropriation of $60,000,000 from an identified state account.
Multiple law‑enforcement and criminal‑justice witnesses described severe local backlogs for court‑ordered forensic evaluations, restoration of competency and transport burdens to the state hospital at Warm Springs or Galen. Matt Jennings (Missoula County attorney) and county jail commanders described correlations…
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