Message from the Executive Director

In 1968, the United States Congress created the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act.  One element of this Act was the creation of the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, designed to provide funding to states through planning, action, education, and research grants.  Montana’s State Administering Agency (SAA) is the Board of Crime Control – Department of Justice, also known as Montana Board of Crime Control (MBCC).

As the seventh executive director of MBCC since 1968, I pledge to provide leadership and support to criminal and juvenile justice system stakeholders statewide, whether law enforcement agencies, tribes, or non-profit community organizations.  Working together with MBCC Board Members and staff, one of my top priorities is to help improve the safety and welfare of Montana’s citizens.  Several of the ways MBCC can achieve this is through the continued, efficient and careful administration of funds; collection of crime data for use in analyzing crime trends; and the choice to utilize evidence-based, culturally competent programs.

Before assuming the Executive Director position, I spent eight years in court administration in Lane County, Oregon, where I was responsible for leading a multi-agency team made up of court, law enforcement, and parole and probation staff to design and implement an evidence-based risk assessment tool used to assess and decrease recidivism; reduce failure to appear rates; and protect victims and communities from violent offenders.  While working for the state circuit court system, I oversaw Pretrial Services, Criminal and Juvenile Operations and helped to secure a Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) federal grant to assist victims of domestic violence.  In addition, I spent four years working with school districts, law enforcement agencies, mental health agencies and community organizations in administering a Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative after a tragic school shooting.

The Montana Board of Crime Control is in the unique position to act as the fulcrum between agencies and organizations working on issues of victim assistance; domestic violence; disproportionate minority contact; youth violence reduction, alcohol and substance abuse prevention and reduction of DUI rates; drug trafficking prevention, intervention and suppression; and other efforts to improve the safety and well-being of Montanans.  MBCC facilitates collaboration and data sharing; assists in the collection of uniform crime reporting data; provides technical assistance and expertise in the areas of grant writing and public safety planning; and facilitates communication between the hundreds of agencies and organizations working statewide to make Montana a better place to live.

It is my hope that the Montana Board of Crime Control provides access to resources, technical assistance and other tools for use by stakeholder agencies, citizens and legislators throughout the state to help make Montana a safer place to live.

Brooke Marshall
Executive Director
Montana Board of Crime Control

Contacts:

• Executive Director Brooke Marshall: (406) 444-3615; brookemarshall@mt.gov

° Executive Assistant Claudia Weiss: (406) 444-4244; cweiss@mt.gov
° Administrative Support Kristel Matchett: (406) 444-3604; kmatchett@mt.gov