Montana
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Contact:
Montana Department of Labor and Industry
P.O. Box 1728
Helena, MT 59624
406-444-2840
406-444-1394 fax
Web Site: dli.mt.gov/
Information about State Department of Labor resources may be of interest to:
• potential employers looking for incentives to hire individuals with criminal histories;
• service providers and individuals with criminal histories who are looking for assistance in finding employment; and
• researchers and policy makers looking at current programs to ascertain what programs are effective and serve their intended purpose.
A. Federal Bonding Program
The Federal Bonding Program provides fidelity bonding insurance coverage to individuals with criminal histories and other high-risk job applicants who are qualified, but fail to get jobs because regular commercial bonding is denied due to their backgrounds.
Contact:
Job Service Division
Montana Department of Labor and Industry
P.O. Box 1728
Helena, MT 59624
406-444-3480
406-444-3037 fax
B. Tax Credits
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit to reduce the federal tax liability of private for profit employers to be used as an incentive for employers to hire individuals from eight different targeted groups: TANF recipients, veterans, ex-felons, high risk youth, summer youth, Food Stamp recipients, SSI recipients, and vocational rehabilitation referrals.
Contact:
Montana Department of Labor and Industry
Job Service Division
P.O. Box 1728
Helena, MT 59604
406-444-9046
406-444-3037 fax
C. Unemployment Insurance Office
Unemployment compensation is a social insurance program designed to provide benefits to most individuals out of work, generally through no fault of their own, for periods between jobs. In order to be eligible for benefits, jobless workers must demonstrate that they have worked, usually measured by amount of wages and/or weeks of work, and must be able and available for work.
The unemployment compensation program is based upon federal law, but administered by states under state law.
All unemployment insurance services in Montana are provided by phone through local Unemployment Insurance Centers.
Contact:
Billings Telephone Center
406-247-1000
Contact:
Helena Telephone Center
406-444-2545
Contact:
Unemployment Insurance Division
Montana Department of Labor and Industry
P.O. Box 1728
Helena, MT 59604
406-444-2749
Web Site: uid.dli.mt.gov/
This is the agency individuals may contact to obtain a copy of their state rap sheet. The criminal record repository can also tell the individual who else is legally entitled to have access to his or her record.
The requestor must send an $8 check or money order, payable to “Montana Criminal Record,” along with a self-addressed envelope. The request should include the person’s full name, aliases or maiden name, date of birth, and social security number. No release authorization is required.
Contact:
Criminal Justice Information Services Bureau
Information Technology Services Division
Montana Department of Justice
303 North Roberts, Rm. 374
P.O. Box 201406
Helena, MT 59620
406-444-3625
Employers and service providers may obtain information from the state attorney general regarding occupational bars, the licensing of individuals with criminal records in certain jobs, and whether the state has laws that limit what employers may ask job applicants or protections against employment discrimination based on a criminal record.
Contact:
Office of the Attorney General
Montana Attorney General
Justice Building
215 N. Sanders
Helena, MT 59601
406-444-2026
406-444-3549 fax
Web Site: https://doj.mt.gov
Prison Industry Program
Montana Correctional Enterprises (MCE) provides work and training, through vocational education classes, for more than 325 eligible inmates. MCE operates four programs, including employment in ranch industries, dairy industries, canning industries and the production of license plates, signs, furniture and upholstery manufacturing, as well as telemarketing, printing, and laundry services.
Contact:
Montana Correctional Enterprises
Montana Department of Corrections
3050 Conley Rd.
Deer Lodge, MT 59722
406-846-1320 ext 2324
406-846-2957 fax
Web Site: www.cor.mt.gov/default.mcpx
Work Release Program/Pre-Release Program
The Adult Pre-release Unit is under the supervision of Adult Community Corrections which is one division of the Montana Department of Corrections. The unit contracts with five non-profit pre-release centers for housing, treatment and supervision of both male and female inmates. Inmates are expected to work in the community after their transfer to this unit. The Montana Department of Corrections has the authority to assign any inmate to community supervision, including placement in a pre-release center, after an administrative review by the department.
Contact:
Adult Community Corrections
Montana Department of Corrections
5 South Last Chance Gulch
Helena, MT 59620
406-444-4913
Web Site: www.cor.mt.gov/default.mcpx
Montana Department of Corrections
Contact:
Montana Department of Corrections
5 South Last Chance Gulch
Helena, MT 59620
406-444-3930
406-444-4920 fax
Web Site: www.cor.mt.gov/default.mcpx
Division of Adult Community Corrections
The Probation and Parole Bureau is under the auspices of Adult Community Corrections, a division of the Montana Department of Corrections. The Bureau supervises more than 6,200 adult probationers and parolees. Adult Community Corrections also administers the Intensive Supervision Program (ISP), a specialized form of adult probation and parole lasting nine to 18 months. ISP uses a heightened level of supervision, monitoring devices and close scheduling. ISP offenders live at home, hold or seek jobs, and are under greater supervision than other probationers and parolees.
Contact:
Division of Adult Community Corrections
Montana Department of Corrections
5 South Last Chance Gulch
Helena, MT 59620
406-444-9529
Free or low-cost legal resources, both in civil and criminal law, are helpful to individuals with criminal histories in learning about relevant state laws governing the expungement or sealing of criminal histories or addressing other legal issues resulting from having a criminal history.
A. State Public Defender
Contact:
Montana Appellate Defender Office
555 Fuller
P.O. Box 200147
Helena, MT 59620
406-444-4122
B. Legal Services
A statewide web site is under development in Montana to help citizens needing free or low-cost legal assistance and the lawyers who provide such aid. The site is an effort by the Montana Legal Services Association with the aid of the staff of the State Bar of Montana. Until the web site is available, anyone needing assistance should contact the State Bar of Montana.
Contact:
The State Bar of Montana
P.O. Box 577
Helena, MT 59624
406-442-7660
406-442-7763 fax
Web Site: www.montanabar.org
C. State Bar Association
Contact:
The State Bar of Montana
P.O. Box 577
Helena, MT 59624
406-442-7660
406-442-7763 fax
Web Site: www.montanabar.org
Community agencies are available to assist individuals with criminal records find employment. This information will inform individuals with criminal records about government agencies and community-based organizations that assist with employment, education or vocational training. Researchers and policy makers may find this information useful in identifying agencies and service providers in order to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs.