Administrative Rules of Montana Department 20 - CORRECTIONS
Here’s a detailed breakdown of Montana Administrative Rules (ARM) Department 20 – Corrections:
📂 Title & Organization
Department 20 – Corrections is the section of the ARM covering Montana’s Department of Corrections. It’s organized into the following chapters (regulations.justia.com):
Chapter 20.1 – Organizational Rule
Chapter 20.2 – Overall Department Rules
Chapter 20.3 – Chemical Dependency Rules (transferred to Public Health & Human Services Title 37)
Chapter 20.4 – Management of Offenders
5–6. Chapters 20.5–20.6 – Reserved
Chapter 20.7 – Community Corrections Division
Chapter 20.8 – Reserved
Chapter 20.9 – Youth Services
10–11. Chapters 20.10–20.11 – One transferred to Title 37, one reserved
Chapter 20.12 – Restitution
Chapter 20.13 – Offender Financial Transactions
Chapter 20.14 – Mental Health Division (transferred)
Chapter 20.15 – Clinical Services
16–23. Chapters 20.16–20.23 – Reserved
20.24 – Board of Crime Control (transferred)
Chapter 20.25 – Board of Pardons & Parole
Chapter 20.26 – Education of Exonerated Persons
Chapter 20.27 – Private Correctional Facilities
Chapter 20.28 – Regional Correctional Facilities (regulations.justia.com)
🔍 Selected Chapters & Rules
Chapter 20.1 – Organizational Rule
Rule 20.1.101 outlines the Department’s history, structure, and divisions, including Central Services, Public Safety, and Rehabilitation & Programs .
Chapter 20.2 – Overall Department Rules
Rule 20.2.101 formally adopts the Attorney General's Model Procedural Rules (ARM Title 1, Chapter 3), with specified exemptions related to penal institution operations .
Chapter 20.7 – Community Corrections Division
Covers a range of subchapters including supervision programs, satellite monitoring, youth-related services, probation and parole, and treatment facilities (regulations.justia.com).
Example:
Rule 20.7.1302 — authorizes probation/parole officers to carry firearms (§1), requires POST-certified training and proficiency (§2), and details department policies on use, storage, and oversight of firearms .
Chapter 20.9 – Youth Services
Includes subchapters governing youth detention facility licensure, electronic records security, etc.
For instance, Rule 20.9.618 pertains to licensure standards for youth detention facilities (rules.mt.gov).
Chapter 20.25 – Board of Pardons & Parole
Governs the board's structure, rulemaking authority, and duties regarding parole, furlough, and clemency decisions (law.cornell.edu).
📄 Statutory Foundations
ARM rules stem from statutory authority under the Montana Code Annotated.
E.g., § 53-1-203 MCA requires the Department to adopt rules for siting prerelease centers, offender admissions, treatment programs, and more (archive.legmt.gov).
🛠️ What This Means
ARM Department 20 is comprehensive, regulating departmental structure, offender management, probation/parole, youth services, restitution, treatment programs, facility standards, and more.
Some chapters have moved to Title 37 (Public Health & Human Services), but ARM retains oversight authority where applicable.
Rules are periodically updated (likely quarterly), with official rulemaking notices filed through Montana’s Secretary of State and Administrative Register (law.cornell.edu).
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