Montana Innocence Project

On January 1, 2023, California joined a small but growing movement of prison systems that have made prison calls free. Since then, families have collectively saved millions of dollars and been able to maintain stronger family ties with incarcerated loved ones. This article explores the positive impact of offering free communication in prisons and jails and why advocates in California want to see efforts go even further.

Read more at:

Free prison calls are improving lives and saving families millions – MindSite News Advocates want to see more state and municipal free-calling mandates so families can reconnect while saving money.

📞 MTIP PAROLE HOTLINE: (406) 290-9535

To better understand people's experiences with the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole, the Montana Innocence Project has launched a Parole Hotline.

We are particularly interested in hearing from:

• Individuals with an ADA-recognized disability who were not provided accommodations during either a parole application hearing or a parole revocation hearing.

• Individuals whose parole was revoked and who were denied legal counsel despite having mitigating circumstances, a legitimate dispute regarding the alleged violation, or another meaningful defense to revocation.

If you'd like to share your experience, call our hotline and leave a message with your name, phone number, who you're calling about, and a brief description of what happened and why you believe it was unjust.

Your story matters. The information you share may help us better understand potential systemic issues within Montana's parole system.

This is a monitored and recorded line. All information shared through this hotline will be kept anonymous unless we identify a reason to share specific details and obtain your permission to do so. If we are interested in learning more, a member of our team may contact you.

⚾ Only 2 weeks left to support Montana Innocence Project through the Missoula PaddleHeads Community Tuesday fundraiser!

When you purchase tickets through our fundraising link, the proceeds support MTIP. We're hoping to sell 100+ tickets to unlock additional benefits for our work.

🎟️ Get your tickets here:https://tickets.paddleheadspost.com/c/gyv91uya

Be sure to use our fundraising link—tickets purchased elsewhere won't count toward our goal.

Cheer on the PaddleHeads while supporting justice across Montana!

In this article for The Atlantic author Elizabeth Bruenig examines why lawmakers across the country have been working to make juvenile sentencing stricter despite years of reforms, neurological studies and other research, and steep drops in crime.

The One Area Where a 14-Year-Old Is an Adult Lawmakers are finding catharsis in sending children to prison.

Advocates in California are making a compelling case on how their state can continue reducing prison populations—and carceral expenditures—safely and swiftly by prioritizing the release of elders from their women’s prisons.
Check out the post below and read more at...
Op-ed: bit.ly/sacbeejaned
Report: Bit.ly/notimereport

What does it mean to advocate for a loved one who is incarcerated?

In the latest episode of Unpacking Injustice, Amanda McKnight shares the story behind creating the powerful Facebook group 406 Revolutionized and discusses how families can navigate the criminal legal system.

Tune in for a conversation about community and the power of collective action!

Listen to the full episode here: https://rss.com/podcasts/unpacking-injustice/2902425

Difficult news from Louisiana as governor Jeff Landry vetoes Senate Bill 125, a modest, unanimous bipartisan bill that would have raised Louisiana’s wrongful conviction compensation cap from 10 years to 15 years. Read more about the devastating impact of this decision and how advocates are working to support exonerees at the link below.

SB 125 Vetoed: Louisiana Is Cutting Off Compensation for Innocent People Who Lost Decades - Innocence & Justice Louisiana On June 3, 2026, Governor Jeff Landry vetoed Senate Bill 125, a modest, unanimous bipartisan bill that would have raised Louisiana’s wrongful conviction compensation cap from 10 years to 15 years.

Check out this recent report from the The Sentencing Project that finds that the reentry experience after long prison sentences is driven less by individual choices and more by how prisons prepare—or fail to prepare—people to return home.

While innocence work is core, we are also proud of our reentry work connecting individuals who are exiting incarceration to community resources to support a successful return to society. We applaud the Sentencing Project for their work to highlight the experiences and challenges of 33 formerly incarcerated people released after decades of imprisonment.

Read the full report to learn more:

Learning life all over again: Reentry after long-term imprisonment – The Sentencing Project Reentry report highlights the experiences and challenges of 33 formerly incarcerated people released after decades of imprisonment.

What happens when one theory becomes the only theory?

Our latest blog post examines tunnel vision and the tendency for investigations to narrow around one suspect, viewing evidence through a lens that confirms a theory rather than remaining open and committed to finding the truth.

Read more: https://mtinnocenceproject.org/when-an-investigation-stops-looking-for-answers-understanding-tunnel-vision-in-wrongful-convictions/