MT DOC - Montana State Prison

State Prison

Last Updated: October 26, 2024
Address
700 Conley Lake Rd, Deer Lodge, MT 59722
Beds
1495
County
Powell
Phone
406-846-1320
Fax
406-846-2950
Email
lkirkegard@mt.gov

MSP is for State Prison offenders sentenced anywhere from one year to life by the State Court in the county where the charges were filed

All prisons and jails have Security or Custody levels depending on the inmate’s classification, sentence, and criminal history. Please review the rules and regulations for State - medium facility.

The phone carrier is IC Solutions, to see their rates and best-calling plans for your inmate to call you.

If you are unsure of your inmate's location, you can search and locate your inmate by typing in their last name, first name or first initial, and/or the offender ID number to get their accurate information immediately Registered Offenders

Satellite View of MT DOC - Montana State Prison

You can support your loved ones at MSP on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 406-846-1320.

Located at 700 Conley Lake Rd in Deer Lodge, MT, MSP carefully assigns inmates based on their custody level, considering factors like criminal history. MSP offers diverse educational and vocational programs aimed at equipping offenders for successful reintegration into society and reducing recidivism. Through these initiatives, inmates gain skills and confidence, fostering personal growth and resilience.

When someone you care about ends up in a state prison, it can be tough to navigate the ins and outs of the system. From figuring out how to stay in touch to understanding what you can do to make their time easier, it can feel overwhelming. That's where this webpage comes in handy. It's here to help you get the lowdown on MT DOC - Montana State Prison so you can stay connected and support your loved one during their time inside.

Communication is important, the prison offers a phone program for outbound calls only, with inmates unable to receive incoming calls. Accepting collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, especially if the communication with your inmate is frequent. It's important to remember that all phone calls are recorded, and discussing sensitive legal matters over these lines is discouraged.

While incarcerated, reading is often the best use of time. Please note that books and magazines, puzzles, and word searches ordered for inmates must come directly from the publisher. This policy ensures that the items are new, untampered, and comply with the facility's regulations. Prisons and jails enforce this rule to prevent the introduction of contraband or prohibited materials. By restricting orders to publishers, the facility can better maintain security and control over the content entering the institution. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected and not delivered to the inmate. You may, however, send letters and selfies to inmates with this easy-to-use app, packages starting at only $8.00.

MSP is the state's largest correctional facility, accommodating nearly 1,500 male inmates across a 68-acre compound designed for all custody levels. The facility manages six custody levels, ranging from minimum I to closed custody, with inmates assigned to one of three compounds based on their security level. Security measures include two fences and a fortified wall topped with razor wire. Additionally, MSP oversees a 192-bed work and re-entry center located outside the main perimeter fence, where minimum custody inmates participate in ranch and dairy farm work under Montana Correctional Enterprises (MCE).

With approximately 640 uniformed and non-uniformed staff, MSP plays a vital role in maintaining public safety and supporting positive offender change. The prison's operation involves three main compounds: low side, high side, and locked housing, each catering to different custody levels and supervision requirements. Inmates encompass a diverse range, from general and special management populations to those with serious mental illness, pre-hearing detainees, or individuals in locked housing due to behavioral issues.

MSP adopts a unit management structure, overseen by a warden, four associate wardens, and three bureau chiefs, to ensure effective administration and inmate management. Beyond the fenced perimeter lies the Work and Reentry Center, providing housing for minimum-custody inmates involved in the ranch and dairy program operated by MCE. This collaborative effort between the prison and MCE offers employment opportunities for around 70 percent of the inmate population, alongside educational, treatment, recreational, religious, and clinical services aimed at fostering self-esteem, personal growth, and a strong work ethic essential for successful reintegration into society post-incarceration.

Inmate Locator

MSP maintains a database of current inmates and their locations within the system. To locate an inmate, begin by using the DOC locator tool, which requires entering the first three letters of the inmate's first and last name, allowing for variations in spelling.

If unable to locate the desired information through free resources, users may opt to use the Arrest Record Search, which requires payment. While this option incurs a small fee, it provides access to the most up-to-date data available.

Get an Arrest Record immediately.

Visitation Information

Approval process – Family and friends who wish to visit an inmate must first complete a visiting questionnaire and be added to the inmate’s approved visitor list.

  • The visiting form must be filled out completely and accurately.
  • Applicants 18 years and older must submit separate questionnaires.
  • Children less than 18 years of age must be included on the same questionnaire as their parent applicant or court-appointed legal guardian. The applicant must answer all questions for each person on the questionnaire. Once approved, the inmate’s children may visit if they are accompanied by any adult family member on the inmate’s visiting list.
  • Mail completed forms to:
    Mail Technicians
    400 Conley Lake Road
    Deer Lodge, MT 59722
  • All visitors are subject to criminal background checks.
  • Visitors may be on only one inmate’s visiting list at a time, unless an exception is granted because both inmates are members of the same immediate family.
  • Within 30 days of receiving a questionnaire, a staff member contacts the inmate in writing to let him know whether a prospective visitor’s application has been approved. A disapproved applicant may appeal the decision by:
    • filling out the appeal section on the disapproval form they receive from the inmate
    • mailing it to the second shift captain within 14 days of the postmark on the notice.
  • Approved visitors must notify MSP of any changes to their name or address. Visitors must notify MSP visiting staff of their updated information at their first visit following the change.

Conditions of visiting

  • Work crews – Inmates on work crews are expected to arrange their visits after work hours.
  • Number of visits – Inmates in the general prison population may have four visits each week.
  • Number of visitors – No more than five people (including children) may visit each inmate at one time. A visitor may visit no more than one inmate at a time unless the visitor has the prior approval of the second shift captain.

Visiting room capacity – When a visiting room is at maximum capacity, no more visitors are allowed in.

  • As more visitors arrive at the Wallace Building, those in the visiting room are allowed one hour and then visits are terminated for local visitors (those within 45 minutes driving time of MSP).
  • If this fails to address the waiting list in the Wallace Building, ongoing visits for visitors from further away are terminated.
  • Visits will not be terminated less than one hour from the start of the visit because of the overcrowding of a visiting room.

Ask The Inmate

Connect directly with former inmates and get your questions answered for free. Gain valuable insights from individuals with firsthand experience in the federal prison system, state and county jails, and GEO and CoreCivic-run private prisons. Whether you're seeking advice, clarification, or just curious about life behind bars, this unique opportunity allows you to ask questions or explore answers to previous inquiries from the InmateAid community. Engage in meaningful discussions and get informed perspectives from those who truly understand the system.