MTIP Communications Associate Ashley Miller spoke with Dr. Craig Haney, a social psychologist and a professor at the UC Santa Cruz, to discuss the psychological trauma and health effects that incarceration, and more specifically wrongful incarceration has on individuals. Haney holds psychology and law degrees, and began his career as one of the principal researchers on the Stanford Prison Experiment conducted in 1971, which would go on to inform his life’s research in real prisons across the country ..read more

Last week, four Montana Innocence Project staff members and freed client Joseph Jefferson-Dust attended the 2024 Innocence Network Conference in New Orleans. Over 1,200 people were united in community at the event, including 400 freed and exonerated people, who had endured a total of 6,654 years of wrongful imprisonment. Our staff and client Joseph Jefferson-Dust engaged in educational sessions, community-building, collective empowerment, and healing. In this episode they will reflect on their biggest takeaways from the event! To see photos from the conference, head over to our Instagram @Bigs ..read more

MTIP Communications Associate Ashley Miller spoke with client Katie Garding to discuss her reentry journey over the last year, after her wrongful conviction was overturned in March of 2023. She discussed updates on where her wrongful conviction case stands today, her newfound career, and her hopes for the future! Take a listen!              ..read more

MTIP Communications Manager Ashley Miller spoke with client Bernard Pease Jr. and his sister Linda Thomas over the phone to discuss his re-entry journey after spending nearly 40 years wrongfully incarcerated for a crime he did not commit. On January 2nd, Bernie was discharged from the Alpha House Pre-release Center in Billings, MT and was reunited with his family. He candidly discussed new challenges he is facing after incarceration, the excitement of being home with family, and his hopes for the future ..read more

Dana Comes At Night, Lisa Brueggeman, and Stacy Markus play instrumental roles in the Adult Drug Court program located in Polson, Montana, which serves Lake County defendants receiving treatment for crimes relating to substance use disorder. Along with more than half of the participants, all three women are Indigenous. Dana is enrolled in the Blackfeet Nation, and Lisa and Stacy are members of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes. Indigenous defendants face the additional hurdle of navigating the complex generational trauma resulting from colonization. This was true for Dana, Lisa, and ..read more

Missoula Municipal Court Judge Jake Coolidge and Criminal Defense Attorney and MTIP Board Member Carrie Gibadlo share their reflections on the injustices baked into the cash bail system, why innocence advocates should care, and some recent reforms taking place in Missoula County ..read more

In the last three years, the Montana Innocence Project has carefully examined how wrongful and unjust convictions impact Indian Country and how to best expand organizationally and programmatically to realize its mission in those communities that are most impacted by the injustices the organization works to remediate. In today’s episode, MTIP Executive Director Amy Sings In The Timber breaks down how innocence and unjust conviction work in Montana must be achieved through an Indigenous Justice lens and the exciting ways in which MTIP’s work is growing due to a recent Bureau of Justice Assitance ..read more

Montana Innocence Project client Joseph Jefferson-Dust was wrongfully convicted of Criminal Endangerment in 2017 following a false accusation. His case began when his accuser fully recanted. In an incredible turn of events, Yellowstone County Prosecutor Sarah Hyde acted swiftly upon recognizing the lack of evidence and moved the Court to vacate the conviction. Last Friday, Joe appeared before Judge Brett Linneweber who relieved Joe of all duties to probation and parole and indicated that he will vacate the conviction. In today’s episode, Joe discusses his reaction to the hearing, the impact of ..read more

Last July, the Council of State Governments Justice Center released a report titled Racial Equity in Montana’s Criminal Justice System: An Analysis of Court, Corrections, and Community Supervision Systems detailing disparities experienced by Indigenous peoples in Montana’s criminal legal system. Researchers Alison Martin and Matt Herman sat down with us to discuss how the study was conducted, the key findings, what it means for other racial and ethnic minorities in Montana whose criminal justice experiences were not examined due to lack of data, and current efforts to increase race data availa ..read more

After nearly 40 years, Montana Innocence Project client Bernard Pease Jr. left prison on January 4 and was transferred to the pre-release center in Billings. He was granted parole subject to an extended pre-release stay late last year. MTIP Executive Director Amy Sings In The Timber and Communications and Community Outreach Manager Randi Mattox visited Bernard at the center last week to discuss the beginning of his re-entry journey. He spoke about his anxiety around new experiences, getting to see his sister Linda with fewer restrictions, and his hopes of working in the fishing guide industry ..read more