The Transition Center is designed as a structured pre-release
program for adult male and female offenders who are within 24
months of parole eligibility or one year of discharge date. It
allows residents participating in the program to re-integrate
into the community while learning necessary life skills to
maintain a crime-free lifestyle. The Center allows residents a
period of time to establish employment and/or training,
establish budgeting and money management skills, begin a savings
plan, find housing and participate in counseling relevant to
specific areas to aid in their transition into the community.
The Transition Center has a five-phase program beginning at
the orientation level. Each phase has a minimum time frame of
participation with graduated levels of responsibility. The
resident assumes his/her own case goals as they progress through
the program.
The Transition Center opened its doors as a male pre-release facility
in March of 1984. At that time, the Center utilized the main floor for
office space, kitchen and dining facilities, and a lounge area. the
upper floor was used for living quarters. In 1990 the basement of the
original facility was remodeled into office space, a conference room, TV
room, hobby room and additional restroom facilities. In 1993 the
Center undertook a major expansion which more than doubled the capacity
and usable space in the Center. A women's program was added in October
of 1996 with the purchase and renovation of building adjacent to the
existing facility. In 1997 an expansion project involving the women's
facility provided for an increase in service rooms and greater
flexibility in programming. In 1998 the men's facility added to the
wing completed in 1993 by extending that area to the South and
increasing the Center by another 7500 square feet.
Throughout the years, the Transition Center has taken pride in
its visual improvements to the building and grounds. Landscaping efforts
are ongoing as we endeavor to become an appealing addition to the
neighborhood.
Today the men's Center is a two-story 37,500 square foot
facility, serving a maximum of 110 residents in the different programs.
The main floor consists of a kitchen, dining areas, lounge areas,
administrative offices, COMPLIANCE OFFICER office, a handicapped
accessible restroom, urinalysis testing office, Jail Alternatives
facilities for men and women and a separate area for booters. The
basement consists of a hobby room, recreation area, two TV rooms, two
conference rooms, counseling offices, two classrooms, laundry
facilities, storage areas and three restrooms with additional showers.
The upper floors contain a dormitory, 33 resident rooms, showers and
restrooms.
The women's Center is a one level 10,340 square foot facility,
serving a maximum of 40 females. In addition to resident rooms, the
facility consists of a kitchen, dining area, TV room, restroom with
tub/showers, laundry and exercise area, education room, library, hobby
room, nursery, lounge and storage area. Staff areas consist of
counseling offices, COMPLIANCE OFFICER office and a large group meeting
room.
In 2005, the Montana Department of Corrections authorized another expansion for housing of 40 male offenders in the Great Falls Pre-Release Program. The Center was able to secure funding through the Montana Facility Finance Authority and construction of the new East Campus facility began in January of 2006. One year later, the new three-story East Campus opened with 37,428 square feet and a capacity to house 106 residents. This facility utilizes the latest innovations in surveillance features and design to provide optimal functionality.
MAP
