Resource: Fish v. Acton

The American Civil Liberties Union sued the Montana Department of Corrections and officials at the Montana Women’s Prison in September 2012 over illegal and discriminatory treatment of women’s prisoners. Unlike male prisoners at Montana State Prison, female prisoners are forced to participate in a mandatory “treatment” program entitled “Right Living Community” or to serve their time in solitary confinement. In addition, female prisoners are deprived of the opportunity to attend boot camp, an intensive program that provides male prisoners with educational and training opportunities and the chance for a reduced sentence. An October 2013 settlement both secured women prisoners access to boot camp and ended the Right Living Community at Montana Women’s Prison.