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History

2004
Gallatin County Court Services was created from three existing departments – Pretrial Services, Community Corrections and Treatment Court – to conjointly assist the criminal justice system in both the pre-trial and post-adjudication phases of criminal cases. All three programs focus on decreasing the jail population, allowing many offenders the opportunity to lead normal lives within the conditions set by the courts, address alcohol and drug problems and provide the venue to serve the community within the larger concept of restorative justice. Court Services’ alternatives provide the courts an array of options with regard to bail conditions, alcohol and drug testing and sentencing options.
 
2005
In October, Electronic Monitoring was added to Court Services to expand the Department’s scope of services in both pre- and post-adjudication court mandates. Offenders are strictly supervised within their pre-arranged boundaries by an electronic ankle transmitter and a home monitor. Violations are immediately sent to the prosecutor and the court of jurisdiction.
 
2006
A Misdemeanor Probation officer was added to ensure that offenders follow the sentencing requirements imposed by Justice Court, Bozeman Municipal Court and Belgrade City Court. 
 
2009
A Department of Justice grant was received through the Montana Board of Crime Control to expand the services of the Misdemeanor Probation program by funding an Assistant Misdemeanor Probation Officer. The new position allowed the program to expand its services. By adding the assistant position, the program quickly expanded from approximately 35 probationers to 120 probations. The program now has the ability to respond to the needs of the court by supervising probationers with lengthy criminal histories or past non-compliance issues.
The Director of Court Services announced his resignation and Gallatin County started their search for a new Director. On March 1, 2010, Steve Ette assumed the position of Director of Court Services/Treatment Court Coordinator.
 
2011
After the Sheriff Deputy assigned to Court Services Misdemeanor Probation Program announced his resignation, the Misdemeanor Probation Officer was modified from a Sheriff Deputy position to a full time POST accredited Misdemeanor Probation Officer. This shift provided the program the necessary stability and commitment to move forward while meeting the needs of the Courts. The Pretrial Program, in collaboration with the Gallatin County Detention Center and Western Montana Mental Health Center, received a grant through the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association and the Department of Justice to continue funding for the mental health initiative that allows for the identification of defendants with mental health issues who would benefit from assistance with therapy, release conditions that may include electronic monitoring, and random drug and alcohol testing, as well as wrap around services such as housing and employment assistance. The mental health initiative assists to reduce the incarceration of defendants who have mental health issues that, if addressed, may reduce the need for further criminal justice interventions.
 
2012
The Pretrial Program is pursuing a continuation grant to fund the mental health initiative. Currently, approximately 50 defendants are actively involved in this process. If approved, the initiative will continue to provide valuable services such as therapy, housing and employment assistance, monitoring, and case management.
 
2013
The Court Services facility underwent a major renovation and created a waiting lobby, a secure area within the office for the receptionist, installed safety barriers to limit access, remodeled an office into a testing bathroom with an area for the Officers to test, store and maintain a chain of evidence of drug and alcohol test samples. Also, a significant area was renovated into secure storage for files that contain Criminal Justice Information. The remodel significantly increased the safety of the staff as well as the efficiencies involving the testing of defendant’s for drugs and alcohol.
A significant increase in drug and alcohol testing, as well as an increase in Pretrial defendants, prompted the modification of the misdemeanor Probation Officer Assistant position into a Pretrial Officer position.  With the elimination of the Probation Officer Assistant, the Community Corrections Officers was modified into a Misdemeanor Probation Officer/Community Corrections Officer. The Misdemeanor Probation Supervisor assumed the responsibility for the Community Corrections Officer making the Misdemeanor Probation Supervisor the Misdemeanor Probation/Community Corrections Supervisor.
The Receptionist position was modified into the Administrative Support Technician who assumed many of the financial duties and responsibilities from the Special Projects Officer.
 
2014
During the budget process, Court Services received additional funding to offset the increase in alcohol and drug testing.
In March of 2014, the DUI Task Force Coordinator was placed under the supervision of the Director of Court Services. The DUI Task Force coordinator also announced her retirement effective August 14, 2014 and the Task Force moved to develop a new job description for the Task Force Coordinator. The Task Force also updated the by-laws. A new DUI Task Force Coordinator will be sought to fill the vacant position in the near future. 
 
2015
Court Services
Court Services modified programs and redefined staff duties handle the three (3) year continuous increase of services. The increases include: drug testing 25%, Justice Councils 50%, Pretrial defendants 23%, Misdemeanor Probation 35%, community service sign-ups almost 40%. While dealing with the increase of services, we continued to develope the Virgil Program, a mental health diversion program, the Treatment Court Program and the DUI Task Force program. Supporting other communities, Court Services provided information and training materials to Yellowstone County and Lewis and Clark County who are researching and starting Pretrial programs to deal with ocercrowded detention centers. 
 
DUI Task Force
Upon the transfer of the DUI Task Force Coordinator to the Office Manager postition, the Task Force hired a new Cooridinator. The new Coordinator then developed an updated logo based off of community input. The logo better represents the position of the Task Force and supports responsibility and concerns over impaired dirving. The Task Force  also reviewed and updated the by-laws and created a budget and finacial statement. The Task Force committed itself to community outreach and are in the process to collaborate with Western Technology Institute, a branch of the Montana State University Engineering Department to conduct a cultural and driver's safety study in Gallatin County to develop effective approaches to reduce DUIs. The Task Force also continues to purchase or provide grants for DUI overtime patrols, safety and compliance checks, and DUI-related equipment purchases. 
 
2016
Court Services
Continuing to deal with unprecendented growth, Court Services developed a Pretrial/Post trial Programs postion to assist all staff with program requirments such as; Private Provider Violation Reports, drug and alcohol testing, walk-ins, sign-ups, and interviews. With the approval of the Comission, Court Services contracted for a new Information Management System and started the process to transfer data and develop new protocols for system date and satistical analysis. The Treatment court Coordinator re-wrote Treatment Court policy to include "evidence based programs and practices" as outlined by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. The team also completed the first Drug Court Peer Review in the Sate of Montana. The team then addressed the findings of the Peer Review by creating an action plan. Court Services continue to provide information and training materials to other communities such as Cascade County and Beaverhead County who are researching how to start Pretrial programs to dela with overcrowded detention centers. 
 
DUI Task Force
The DUI Task Force created the first ever comprehensive statistical accurate DUI Task Foce report that encompasses all DUI arrests in calendar year 2014. The Task Force report that the community and conducted community prevention and outreach at numerous events such as Music on Main, at the MSU homecoming, at the Big Sky Professional Bull Riding event, the Three Forks rodeo, the Manhattan potato Festival, the Belgrade Fall Festival and the Bozeman Library, Bozeman High School and the Stand Union Building at MSU. The Task Force also continue to fund DUI prevention through CEASE Awards such as; Blood Draw at the Detention Center, Officer training, overtime patrols and DUI-related equipment purchases. 
 
2017
Court Services

With changes in staff, three (3) Officers attended and successfully completed the ten (10) week Probation and Parole Officer Basic course at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy.  Court Services used interns and hired a temporary Testing Office to continue services without disruptions for the ten (10) week academy.  Court Services continued to develop the new information management system with the AutoMon Corporation.  Significant interest in Pretrial programs resulted in Court Services providing more information and training to other communities such as Lewis and Clark County who are researching how to start a Pretrial program to address with overcrowded detention centers.  With the new Justice Council Coordinator, he re-energized the Justice Council program by soliciting for and receiving over 25 new volunteers, the Coordinator conducted volunteer trainings and highlighted program to the Courts.

DUI Task Force
The Task Force continues their significant outreach efforts by conducting the following community events:  Music on Main, Three Forks Rodeo, Big Sky Brewfest, Big Sky State Fair, National Night Out Against Crime, West Yellowstone Rod Run, Manhattan Potato Festival, MSU’s Catapalooza, Belgrade Fall Festival, MSU Football, Christmas Stroll and Big Sky Pondskim.  The Task Force also started to provide a dynamic and interactive presentation to the Bozeman and Belgrade High School’s Drivers Education programs in conjunction with the Bozeman and Belgrade Police Departments.  The Task Force created and implemented an Annual Awards Ceremony honoring those Law Enforcement officers with the most DUI arrests for the previous year.  The Task Force also brought the PEERS Foundation Impaired Driving Simulator program in the weeks prior to proms at the Bozeman and Belgrade High Schools via the DUI Task Force CEASE Awards Program.

2018
Court Services
Two (2) Officers successfully completed the ten (10) week Probation and Parole Officer Basic course at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy.  Again, Court Services will use interns and a temporary hire during the academy course to avoid workflow disruptions.  Three Officers are scheduled to attend in 2018.  All new officers attend the academy.  Since 50% of all of the officer positions have experienced turn-over, Court Services is providing additional training to provide the new hires the necessary information to be proficient.  Court Services continuing to work with our Contractor (AutoMon Corporation) who is developing the new information management system for all of Court Services.  Since Court Services is unique by having all of the community Corrections programs under one department, there are no “canned” programs available that Court Services can purchase off the shelf.  The Justice Council Coordinator continues to receive volunteers and train the new volunteers in the Justice Council program standards. 

 

DUI Task Force
The Task Force continues to conduct prevention/outreach at the following community events:  Music on Main, Three Forks Rodeo, Run to the Pub, National Night Out Against Crime, Big Sky Pond Skim, BZN Film Celebration, West Yellowstone Rod Run, Manhattan Potato Festival, MSU’s Catapalooza, Gallatin Speedway, MSU Football, and Christmas Stroll. Set up the annual Holiday Empty Dinner Table Campaign at the Bozeman Public Library and the Gallatin Valley Mall.  They also continue to provide numerous dynamic and interactive presentations to the Bozeman and Belgrade High School’s Drivers Education programs in conjunction with the Bozeman and Belgrade Police Departments. The Coordinator spoke at the ADSGC Prime for Life program, actively participated on MSU’s advisory SAFE Coalition throughout the year, and spoke on a Prevention Panel after the showing of the BZN Film Celebration movie, “The Hungry Heart”.  The Task Force again awarded the Officers supporting DUI efforts at the now annual awards ceremony.  The Coordinator also worked with ABC Fox TV to support the Late-night Streamline Bus Campaign, created and provided SOBER Driving posters for Craft Beer Week. 

2019
Court Services
Three (3) Officers successfully completed the ten (10) week Probation and Parole Officer Basic course at the Montana Law Enforement Academy with the help of interns and a temporary staff filling in during their absences. Two Officers are scheduled to attend in 2019. In a three year period, almost all of Court Services staff have changed over. After working with one company for a number of years who was unsuccessful in inplementing an information management system, Court Services contracted with a new company to complete the process. Provided training to new employees who are starting Pretrial programs in other counties. 

DUI Task Force
Annually conducts prevention/outreach at the following community events: Music on Main, Three Forks Rodeo, Run to the Pub, National Night Out Against Crime, Big Sky Pond Skim, BZN Film Celebration, West Yellowstone Rod Run, Manhattan Potato Festival, MSU's Catapalooza, Gallatin Speedway, MSU Football, and Christmas Stroll. Sets up the annual Holiday Empty Dinner Table Campaign at the Bozeman Public Library and the Gallatin Valley Mall. Provides numerous dynamic and interactive presentations to the Bozeman and Belgrade High School's Drivers Education programs in conjunction with the Bozeman and Belgrade Police Departments.Continues to honor Officers at the annual Awards Ceremony. Provides promotional items to support MSU sponsored "Wet Labs" for law enforcment training. Collaborates with area organizations for DUI prevention including the Bridger Canyon Fire Station, the Rock Youth Center, the Elks Drug Awareness Program, C-CODA, MSU's Office of Health Advancement, and others.

2020
Court Services
Created the first ever Pretrial Services - Misdemeanor Probation Officer Academy in conjunction with the Public Safety Officer Standards and Training and the Montana Law Enforcement Academy. Working with new information management system to create a new office wide system. Working with the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to conduct a complete review the Pretrial Assessment process as well as any other program within Court Services. Responded to the COVID 19 pandemic by establishing a remote testing area that allows for social distancing while training and equipping staff to be able to continue alcohol and other drug testing programs. In response to the COVID 19 pandemic, we increased our use of SCRAM alcohol detection bracelets, deployed cellular base stations for SCRAM to complete remote downloading of data and deployed over 150 CheckBAC breath testing devices to reduce face to face contact and ensure testing would continue even during a stay-at-home order. We worked with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to establish an on-line Victim Impact Panel to replace the large scale in-person event. Court Services established emergency protocols to include identifying essential staff, creating a remote testing facility, use of alternate services and created orders and policies for continued services during emergencies that can be replicated during the furture.  

DUI Task Force
Connected with local bars to message Sober Driving to the customers at those bars. Participated in MSU workgroups to plan and implement prevention plan intended to reduce drunk driving among college students. Hired a new Task Force Coordinator. Strategized ways to diversify and recruit active members, for our Task Force to further our reach. Continued Partnerships with other community based organizations to reduce impaired driving rates in Gallatin County. 

2021
Court Services
After three (3) Officers completed the basic academy course hosted by Dawson County Community College in Glendive, Montana, the profession faced another challenge when the college decided not host anymore academy courses.  Creating a grassroots committee and having the Officer Supervisor become a board member of the state Pretrial Services Misdemeanor Probation Officer (PTS-MPO) Committee; Court Services staff now have a direct voice in the creation of the PTS-MPO Basic Academy.  The first order of business was getting the course back the Montana Law Enforcement Academy.  Since then, staff have attend the Instructor Development Course and created lesson plans.  Staff will instruct at the Academy ensuring Officers from across the state receive evidenced based data to take back to their agencies to improve their programs.  To resolve our displaced testing program, Court Services lease a facility creating a more permeant solution for conducting breath testing and urinalysis testing during the COVID pandemic.  To manage the increase in services during COVID, the addition of the fourth District Court and the Municipal Courts move across town to their new Public Safety Center, Court Services developed two (2), technician positions to assist with alcohol and other drug testing, community corrections programs and assist Officers with walk-ins, sign-ups, appointments and follow-up.

DUI Task Force
With the lack of community events due to the COVID pandemic, the DUI Task Force suffered as many programs did with the lack of volunteer support during Zoom meetings.  A core group of volunteers carried the program through the worst of the pandemic and when community events started to reemerge, the core team was at the forefront to reinvigorate prevention activates.  The DUI Task Force also increased their social media presence during COVID to continue their education and prevention efforts.  By contracting with Think Twice, the Task Force had the Think Twice Coordinator deploy one-time alcohol breath testing devices for patrons in approximately 15 bars in the Gallatin valley.

2022

Court Services

During 2022, Court Services met the challenge of assisting to create a new Pretrial Services/Misdemeanor Probation Officer Academy at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy. Court Services was grateful to the Montana Law Enforcement Academy for moving the critical statutory program back to the Academy  where all other Public Safety Officers are trained.  Court Services staff where engaged in the grassroots Pretrial Services/Misdemeanor Probation Officer Committee who assisted to organize the academy, develop the curriculum, coordinate the instructor training course necessary to be completed to train at the academy, and meet the Montana Public Safety and Training Standards requirements ans well as the academy policies to operate the program.  During this time, the Pretrial Services/Misdemeanor Probation Officer Supervisor was elected the be the vice-chair of the committee.  The Director, the Supervisor and the Senior Misdemeanor Probation Officer all shared their extensive knowledge and taught courses at the academy.  The academy turned out to be a success because of the support of Court Services.  Court Services also worked with the Criminal Justice Coordinating Counsel (CJCC) as well as a sub-committee of the CJCC who reviewed and updates the Court Services supervision levels to be more in-line with evidenced based standards.  The update, led to significant changes in the supervision of defendants and provided the courts direction on how the risk level corresponds with the the defendant's risk.  The changes reduced the number of defendants who at times were required to test more than what was necessary.  Court Services also started to negotiate a contract to implement the Ohio Risk Assessment System that ORAS that is an evidenced based assessment.  The implementation of the ORAS will eliminate the past assessment that was in place for more than 20 years.  Again, the new assessment is evidenced based and will provide the most accurate, up-to-date assessment process to Gallatin County.  Not only will Court Services implement the assessment but the Bozeman Municipal Court VETS Court and the BRIDGERS (DUI) Court, and the Gallatin County Treatment Court will implement the ORAS assessment at the same time. The ORAS is also in use by the Department of Corrections so pretrial defendants who are sentenced to the Department of Corrections programs will have a pretrial assessment to help during their assessment and case management planning. 

 

DUI Task Force    

The DUI Task Force struggled in 2022.  With the departure of the coordinator who had only been in place during most of COVID, the hiring of a new coordinator who within six (6) months departed for another position and finally the hiring of the current Coordinator in October 2022, the Task Force has been in a constant state of change.  The second issue with the Task Force is that the membership who consistently dropped off during COVID did not return in 2022.  Then, in 2022, all of the leadership positions were vacated and new leaders were voted into office.  The current coordinator is in the process of reviewing the by-laws and attempting to reinvigorate the Task Force!