53-1-203. Powers and duties of department of corrections. (1) The department of corrections shall:
     (a) adopt rules necessary to carry out the purposes of 41-5-123 through 41-5-125, rules necessary for the siting, establishment, and expansion of prerelease centers, and rules for the admission, custody, transfer, and release of persons in department programs except as otherwise provided by law. However, rules adopted by the department may not amend or alter the statutory powers and duties of the state board of pardons and parole. The rules for the siting, establishment, and expansion of prerelease centers must state that the siting is subject to any existing conditions, covenants, restrictions of record, and zoning regulations. The rules must provide that a prerelease center may not be sited at any location without community support. The prerelease siting, establishment, and expansion must be subject to, and the rules must include, a reasonable mechanism for a determination of community support or objection to the siting of a prerelease center in the area determined to be impacted. The prerelease siting, establishment, and expansion rules must provide for a public hearing conducted pursuant to Title 2, chapter 3.
     (b) subject to the functions of the department of administration, lease or purchase lands for use by correctional facilities and classify those lands to determine those that may be most profitably used for agricultural purposes, taking into consideration the needs of all correctional facilities for the food products that can be grown or produced on the lands and the relative value of agricultural programs in the treatment or rehabilitation of the persons confined in correctional facilities;
     (c) contract with private, nonprofit Montana corporations to establish and maintain prerelease centers for purposes of preparing inmates of a Montana prison who are approaching parole eligibility or discharge for release into the community, providing an alternative placement for offenders who have violated parole, and providing a sentencing option for felony offenders pursuant to 46-18-201. The centers shall provide a less restrictive environment than the prison while maintaining adequate security. The centers must be operated in coordination with other department correctional programs. This subsection does not affect the department's authority to operate and maintain prerelease centers.
     (d) utilize the staff and services of other state agencies and units of the Montana university system, within their respective statutory functions, to carry out its functions under this title;
     (e) propose programs to the legislature to meet the projected long-range needs of corrections, including programs and facilities for the custody, supervision, treatment, parole, and skill development of persons placed in correctional facilities or programs;
     (f) encourage the establishment of programs at the local and state level for the rehabilitation and education of felony offenders;
     (g) administer all state and federal funds allocated to the department for youth in need of intervention and delinquent youth, as defined in 41-5-103;
     (h) collect and disseminate information relating to youth in need of intervention and delinquent youth;
     (i) maintain adequate data on placements that it funds in order to keep the legislature properly informed of the specific information, by category, related to youth in need of intervention and delinquent youth in out-of-home care facilities;
     (j) provide funding for and place youth who are adjudicated to be delinquent or in need of intervention and who are committed to the department;
     (k) administer youth correctional facilities;
     (l) provide supervision, care, and control of youth released from a state youth correctional facility; and
     (m) use to maximum efficiency the resources of state government in a coordinated effort to:
     (i) provide for delinquent youth committed to the department; and
     (ii) coordinate and apply the principles of modern correctional administration to the facilities and programs administered by the department.
     (2) The department and a private, nonprofit Montana corporation may not enter into a contract under subsection (1)(c) for a period that exceeds 10 years. The provisions of 18-4-313 that limit the term of a contract do not apply to a contract authorized by subsection (1)(c). Prior to entering into a contract for a period of 10 years, the department shall submit the proposed contract to the legislative audit committee. The legislative audit division shall review the contract and make recommendations or comments to the legislative audit committee. The committee may make recommendations or comments to the department. The department shall respond to the committee, accepting or rejecting the committee recommendations or comments prior to entering into the contract.
     (3) The department of corrections may enter into contracts with nonprofit corporations or associations or private organizations to provide substitute care for youth in need of intervention and delinquent youth in youth correctional facilities.

     History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 199, L. 1965; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 320, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 33, Ch. 93, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 41, Ch. 120, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 43, Ch. 37, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 80-1405; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 4, Sp. L. 1982; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 262, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 316, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 395, Ch. 546, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 22, Ch. 189, L. 1997; amd. Secs. 5, 16, Ch. 322, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 455, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 70, Ch. 550, L. 1997.