52-5-111. Commutation of sentence to state prison facility and transfer of prisoner to correctional facility. (1) Upon the application of a person who has not attained 18 years of age who has been sentenced to a state prison facility or upon the application of the youth's parents or guardian, the governor may, after consulting with the department of corrections and with the approval of the board of pardons and parole, commute the sentence by committing the person to the department of corrections for placement in a correctional facility if the person may benefit from programs offered at a correctional facility. Except as provided in subsection (2), the commutation continues in effect until the youth is 18 years of age or until sooner placed or discharged.
(2) If the youth's behavior after being committed to the department of corrections as provided in subsection (1) indicates that the youth is not a proper person to reside at one of the correctional facilities, the governor, after consulting with the department of corrections and with the approval of the board of pardons and parole, may revoke the commutation and return the youth to a state prison facility to serve out the youth's unexpired term, and the time spent by the youth at one of the correctional facilities or while a refugee from one of the correctional facilities may not be credited against the youth's original sentence.
(3) Independent of the commutation of sentence procedures provided for in subsections (1) and (2), on recommendation of the warden and with the approval of the department of corrections, a person under 18 years of age who has been sentenced to a state prison facility and who may benefit from programs offered at a correctional facility may be transferred to any correctional facility under the jurisdiction and control of the department of corrections.
(4) If the youth's behavior after transfer to a correctional facility indicates that the youth might be released on parole or that the youth's sentence might be commuted and the youth be discharged from custody, the superintendent of the facility, with the approval of the department of corrections, may make an appropriate recommendation to the board of pardons and parole and the governor, who may in their discretion parole the person or commute the youth's sentence.
(5) If the youth's behavior after transfer to a correctional facility indicates that the youth is not a proper person to reside in the facility, upon recommendation of the superintendent and with the approval of the department of corrections, the youth must be returned to a state prison facility to serve out the unexpired term.
History: En. Sec. 54, Ch. 199, L. 1965; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 320, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 367, L. 1971; R.C.M. 1947, 80-2210; amd. Sec. 19, Ch. 38, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 233, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 107, Ch. 609, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 212, L. 1989; Sec. 53-30-212, MCA 1989; redes. 52-5-111 by Code Commissioner, 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 262, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 579, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 378, Ch. 546, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 63, Ch. 550, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 34, Ch. 339, L. 2021.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
52-5-101. Establishment of correctional facilities -- prohibitions -- definition
52-5-102. Control and management of youth correctional facilities
52-5-103. Cooperative agreements for services with governing body of Indian tribe
52-5-105. Superintendents to manage facilities
52-5-106. Curricula at facilities
52-5-107. Maximum age of commitment
52-5-108. Medical examination before admission -- records required to accompany youth committed
52-5-109. Transportation costs -- arrangement for transportation
52-5-110. Transfer of child to other facility or institution
52-5-112. University aid to residents of schools
52-5-114. Penalty for aiding resident in leaving or not returning to correctional facility
52-5-115. through 52-5-119 reserved
52-5-120. Youth industries programs
52-5-121. Rulemaking authority
52-5-122. through 52-5-124 reserved
52-5-126. Conditional release agreement
52-5-127. Control over youth placed on conditional release
52-5-128. Detention of youth who violates conditional release or escapes from facility or program