2023 Montana Crime Prevention Conference

Opening Remarks

Sheriff Leo Dutton

Chair, Montana Board of Crime Control

Presentation of Colors

Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association Honor Guard

National Anthem

Anaconda Schools Choir.

Blessings

Sheriff Leo Dutton

Chair, Montana Board of Crime Control

Welcome

Sheriff Leo Dutton

Chair, Montana Board of Crime Control

Justice system professionals are burning out at unprecedented rates post-pandemic. As a 20 year supervisory special agent and military officer, Alani Bankhead has led and trained thousands of law enforcement officers, intelligence analysts, victim services, prosecutors, and support staff in protecting and uplifting life all over the world. Having led multi-disciplinary and trauma-informed teams in multiple jurisdictions, she sees the same themes happening over and over again. Justice system professionals are well-intended, hard-working, and want to be a part of the solution. But the majority of them come up against the same enemies: imposter syndrome and burnout. In this talk, she discussed underlying causes and provided strategies to mitigate the effects to help team members become more resilient and fulfilled which, in turn, creates better mission outcomes.

MBCC Chairman Leo Dutton and Nanette Gilbertson, Executive Director of the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association and the Montana County Attorneys' Association, discussed criminal justice issues in Montana.

Victims Track
An Overview of Victim’s Rights Law and Working with a Victim’s Rights Attorney

Alexandra House

Victim's Rights Attorney, Montana Legal Services

Jain Walsh

Victim's Rights Attorney, Montana Legal Services

Alix and Jain presented an overview of victim’s rights law in Montana at all stages of a criminal case, from Pre-Trial to the Trial itself and Post Trial. They provided an overview on what work a victim’s rights attorney does, how to work with a victim’s rights attorney, and how to access those services on behalf of victims. Participants learned about how to use the toolkit provided by the National Crime Victims Law Institute.

Law Enforcement Track
Use of Force

David Ortley

Deputy Attorney General, Montana Department of Justice

David Ortley provided information on the greatly misunderstood subject of qualified immunity and the “reasonable use of force” in Montana, briefly discussed mental health response, and led a panel discussion with stakeholders.

General Track
Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention

Tracy Rassley

Program Manager, Montana and Wyoming Chapters of the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention

Talk Saves Lives provided participants with a clear understanding of suicide as a leading cause of death, including the most up-to-date research on suicide prevention and what individuals can do in their homes, jobs, and communities to save lives. Topics covered included:

• Scope of the Problem: The latest data on suicide worldwide, the U.S., and Montana.
• Research: Information from research on what causes people to consider suicide; as well what health, historical, and environmental factors put individuals at risk; and how we should talk about suicide.
• Prevention: An understanding of the protective factors that lower suicide risk and strategies for managing mental health and being proactive about self-care.
• What You Can Do: Guidance on what to look for in individuals, and what resources are available to help someone in a suicidal crisis, or those left behind after a suicide has occurred.

Community Corrections Track
Evidence-Based Practices in Corrections, Part 1

Erika Wimmer

Quality Assurance of Evidence-Based Practices and Programs (QAEBPP) Bureau Chief, Montana Department of Corrections

Michelle Stokes

Probation and Parole Officer, Montana Department of Corrections

Evidence-based practices are the fair and responsible use of research and data with the goal to help guide policies and practices to improve outcomes, increase client success on supervision, and reduce recidivism.

This training included the Principles of Effective Intervention, how MT DOC is currently integrating these principles into practice, and where there is room for improvement. Through a series of discussion questions and activities, staff will:

• Better understand the eight principles of effective intervention
• Review some of the research supporting evidence-based practices
• Enhance their understanding of how DOC policies and tools connect to effective interventions. 

Thank you to Community Corrections for providing this session!

Congratulations to our 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Barbara Monaco and the 2023 Innovative Community Improvement Award recipient, Center for Restorative Youth Justice (CRYJ)!

Find out more about this years winners on the MBCC Recognition Awards page.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a deserving individual (or group of individuals) who has achieved professional excellence and made lasting contributions to improve Montana’s justice system throughout their career. The award honors an individual’s proven leadership, vision, and innovation in their field.

The Innovative Community Improvement Award is presented to a deserving individual (or group of individuals) who has, through a specific campaign or program, made lasting contributions to promote public safety and crime prevention within their community. The award honors an individual’s proven leadership, vision, and innovation resulting in lasting contributions and significant improvements to their community.

Victims Track
When Worlds Collide: Working in the Professional World with a Personal Trauma History

Starr Brown

Chief Juvenile Probation Officer & Victim Impact Speaker

Professionals working in fields such as victim services, law enforcement, medical services/emergency services, crisis management, the criminal justice system, mental health/therapy, etc. are continuously exposed to cases that involve violence, neglect, torture, force, death or serious bodily harm, sexual/physical/mental/emotional abuse. Exposure to these types of cases can be extremely detrimental for professionals, especially without the proper coping skills or support network to address the negative effects that these types of cases can have. In this session, Officer Brown discussed how these cases became increasingly more difficult for her as a professional, because of her own unresolved trauma. Officer Brown openly discussed when her professional and personal worlds collided and the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects that have come along the way. She discussed her 10-year experience of working in the system, as she began to heal from her own past trauma including her experience in the foster care system, being a childhood sexual abuse survivor, disclosing her abuse at the age of 27, and simultaneously navigating the legal system as a professional and a victim. She discussed what worked well and what did not work well, as she navigated through these situations and offered resources that aided her healing journey, both personally and professionally.

Law Enforcement Track
Trauma Informed Policing

Sherrie Allsup

CEO/Founder of Courage Starts with You

This course was taught by a long-term sexual assault, trauma, and suicide attempt survivor. She educated officers on understanding trauma from a victim’s point of view and how trauma victims present differently than victims of other crimes. Attendees examined current issues and responses to the growing epidemic of sexual assault and abuse. Sherrie focused on understanding these crimes from a victim’s point of view, understanding how and why the body and the brain respond during a traumatic event. She discussed the legal definition of sexual assault, examples of sexual assault, statistics regarding sexual violence, and the percentage of victims who know their abuser. Attendees explored common myths surrounding sexual assault, examined the rape kit backlog for the state of Montana and discussed how we can link sexual violence to suicide. The class discussed sexual assault investigations and trauma-informed investigations. Students then had an open discussion during the presentation and a question-and-answer session at the end.

General Track
North Central Montana Human Trafficking and MMIP Task Force: Awareness of the Crisis

Lea Wetzel

CBHPSS, Executive Director of North Central MT HT & MMIP Task Force

Kathy Hankes

Case Manager, 8^th Judicial District Veterans Treatment Court

This presentation revealed the intersections of missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples, and Intergenerational and historical trauma, in the American Indian dynamics. Revealing the true history of the Indigenous to this state, and how it’s effected the outcomes of post colonialism.

Lea and Kathy shared lived experiences of sixth generation healing from this era, and how positive outcomes comes from integrating culture into the re-entry system across the state. This was a great discussion about the movement of Intergenerational healing, seven generations.

Community Corrections Track
Evidence-Based Practices in Corrections, Part 2

Erika Wimmer

Quality Assurance of Evidence-Based Practices and Programs (QAEBPP) Bureau Chief, Montana Department of Corrections

Michelle Stokes

Probation and Parole Officer, Montana Department of Corrections

Evidence-based practices are the fair and responsible use of research and data with the goal to help guide policies and practices to improve outcomes, increase client success on supervision, and reduce recidivism.

This training included the Principles of Effective Intervention, how MT DOC is currently integrating these principles into practice, and where there is room for improvement. Through a series of discussion questions and activities, staff will:

• Better understand the eight principles of effective intervention
• Review some of the research supporting evidence-based practices
• Enhance their understanding of how DOC policies and tools connect to effective interventions. 

Thank you to Community Corrections for providing this session!

MBCC Board members and staff hosted a networking event with hours d’oeuvres and corn hole.

Victims Track
The Harder Side of Helping

Daniel Champer

LCPC Florence Crittenton Family Service

Interacting with individuals whose lives have been affected by trauma often has unintended consequences for the individual trying to help. The concepts of "big t" and "little t" trauma, attachment and human development will be explored. These ideas were used to explain the concept of secondary trauma and why it affects us as helpers and first responders. The four types of secondary trauma were introduced in order to better understand the specific ways that helping can impact our lives outside of our work. This training included an introduction of reciprocal restoration and resilience building as an alternative framework for the imperfect term "self-care." Participants learned to develop an R&R plan that is individualized and addresses the affects of secondary trauma in a fluid and holistic manner. The content was delivered using stories and real life scenarios in a straightforward manner that addressed the serious and raw consequences that are being felt in all helping professions.

Law Enforcement Track
Trial and Testimony: Data Driven Dos and Don'ts 

Ed Hirsch

Assistant Attorney General, Montana Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, Prosecution Services Bureau

This presentation examined the difficulties of testifying, the science behind how audiences form opinions, and best practices for more effective testimony. Methods of information delivery included interactive thought experiments, lecture, visual aids, and audience participation, according to currently accepted best pedagogical practices. The underlying data is derived from published scientific papers, while the suggested application of that data is derived from the combined experiences of judges, prosecutors, and experienced law enforcement.

General Track
Supporting the Whole Child 

Christy Hendricks

Federal Grants Coordinator and state Foster Care Point of Contact 

Serena Wright

State Coordinator of Homelss Education and Family Engagement Coordinator 

Educating Montana’s children in foster care and/or experiencing homelessness is a collaborative effort between school districts, SROs, Probation Officers and community members. This session provided a brief overview of the identification, challenges faced by these students, available resources, and interventions to provide foster care students and/or students experiencing homelessness with the support they need to succeed in school.

Community Corrections Track
Medication-Assisted Treatment

Bob Sise, MD

Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder

Ty Reidenbaugh, MD

Chief Medical Officer

Boyd Andrew Community Services (BACS) sponsored this event based upon the recognition that SAMHSA, NIDA, and other science-based institutions recognize Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) as evidence-based practice or the standard of care.  Montana’s Department of Corrections supports the use MAT and providers need real information to meander the challenge of braiding MAT with traditional behavioral health treatment. The content of this training was designed to help attendees better understand MAT, dispel myths surrounding MAT, learn from experts who provide this care and to allow time to ask questions regarding the use of MAT.

Thank you to Community Corrections for providing this session!

Breakout Session 4

General Track
Human Trafficking: Victim Intersect

Britney Higgs

Co-Founder/Executive Director, HER Campaign

Sammy Higgs

Co-Founder/Operations Director, HER Campaign

Lowell Hochhalter

Executive Director, Lifeguard Group

A discussion of encounters with victims of human trafficking and the best response.

Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

This training was designed to help subgrantees get acquainted with the staff of MBCC. MBCC staff guided current subgrantees through the finer points of successfully managing funds from MBCC. Topics included how to navigate and utilize MBCC’s application and grant management system, AmpliFund, special conditions, changes to reporting requirements and timelines, risk assessment and monitoring, how to calculate match, projected funding opportunity, board meetings, and funding decision dates, and more. The Statistical Analysis Center provided a demo of MBCC’s grant specific dashboards and discussed how subgrantees can cite data to strengthen their funding applications.

Session Materials

• Power Point slides

Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Moisés Próspero, Ph.D

Executive Director, iCHAMPS

Steve Anjewierden

Training Director, iCHAMPS

Kent Anderson

Detective, Helena Police Department

Training topics include:

• Roles of SRO & School Administrator
• Written Agreements/Memorandum of Understanding
• Student Rights – Questioning & Search/Seizure
• The SRO within the Multi-Tier Support System
• The Juvenile Court Process – Appropriate Referrals
• Adolescent Development & Interacting with Youth Experience Trauma
• Mental Health Conditions
• Alternatives to Juvenile Justice System; Restorative Practices

Wednesday, October 4 - Friday, October 6

Registration is open.

This three-day training taught attendees how to provide restorative practices training to others. There were only 10 slots available and attendees were required to apply and receive prior approval to participate in this training. Attendance for approved attendees was free.

If you have any quetsions, please email Rachel Gemar at rachel.gemar@mt.gov.