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Behind Montana Jail Fiasco: How Private Prison Developers Prey on Desperate Towns
Loaded on Dec. 15, 2009
by Justin Elliott
published in Prison Legal News
December, 2009, page 8
With the unraveling of the deal for the shadowy American Private Police Force to take over and populate an empty jail in Hardin, Montana, it’s pretty clear that the small city got played by an ex-con and his (supposed) private security firm.
Filed under:
Financing,
Contractor Misconduct,
Commentary/Reviews.
Locations:
Montana,
Texas,
United States of America.
But an investigation by TPMmuckraker into how Hardin …
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More from this issue:
- Improbable Private Prison Scam Plays Out in Hardin, Montana, by Alex Friedmann
- Behind Montana Jail Fiasco: How Private Prison Developers Prey on Desperate Towns, by Justin Elliott
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Private Prisons Don’t Make Better Prisoners, by Andrew L. Spivak
- Miami Sex Offenders Still Living Under Bridge; Lawsuits Fail to Solve Problem, by David Reutter
- Arizona Jail’s Medical Failures Due to Inadequate Record Keeping, Understaffing, by Matthew Clarke
- HABEAS HINTS – CALIFORNIA COMMENT Pace and Bonner: Avoiding and Fighting “Untimeliness” Rulings Under California Law, by Kent A. Russell
- Secret Red Cross Report Reveals Medical Personnel Collusion in CIA Torture, by Matthew Clarke
- GPS Used to Track Sex Offenders in Washington State, by Matthew Clarke
- Florida Law Enforcement Officials on the Wrong Side of the Law, by David Reutter
- Increasing Number of Prisoners Obtain Access to Email, by Brandon Sample
- Rape Victim and Family of Exonerated Man Who Died in Prison Become Activists, by Matthew Clarke
- LULAC Returns CCA Donation, by Matthew Clarke
- Pennsylvania Prison Porn Ban Improperly Promulgated, but Not Unconstitutional
- New Jersey DOC Report: Megan’s Law Costly and Ineffective, by Matthew Clarke
- Electronic Court Records Permissible in Florida, but Restricting Disclosure is Not
- $100 Million Settlement in Michigan Prisoners’ Sexual Abuse Suit, by David Reutter
- $2.7 Million Settlement for Oklahoma Double Leg Amputee Jail Prisoner
- $750,000 Settlement in Chicago Jail Mass Beating Suit
- Violence Against Blacks Decreases In The U.S., by Gary Hunter
- Oklahoma Lawmen Charged with Sundry Crimes, by Mark Wilson
- Prison, Jail and Law Enforcement Corruption Continues in Georgia, by David Reutter
- Catholic Mass and Sacraments Made Available to Louisiana’s Death Row
- Nearly 15,000 California Prisoners Held in Long-term Isolation, by Michael Brodheim
- PLN Associate Editor Attends ACA Conference
- $2.2 Million Settlement: Murder by Washington State Community Service Releasee
- Mental Illness Prevalent Among County Jail Prisoners, Especially Women, by Gary Hunter
- Michigan’s Prison Industries Mismanaged and Unprofitable, by David Reutter
- AMA Study Finds Link Between Confinement and Hypertension
- Judges: Umpires They Are Not, by Brandon Sample
- Class Action Alleging Unconstitutional Michigan Indigent Defense System Survives Summary Judgment
- Massachusetts Man’s Estate Resolves Wrongful Conviction Suit for $14.1 Million, by David Reutter
- $91,059.83 in Damages, Fees and Costs Awarded to Alabama Prisoner Beaten by Guard
- Former Alabama Judge Acquitted of Paddling, Sexually Abusing Jail Prisoners, by Mark Wilson
- $16.5 Million-Plus Settlement in Oklahoma City False Conviction Case, by Matthew Clarke
- Ohio Prison Employees Involved in Improper Relationships, Drug Smuggling, Sexual Misconduct, by Mark Wilson
- Eight More Prison Closures in Michigan
- California Struggles to House Sex Offenders, by Michael Brodheim
- 4,000 Kenyan Death Sentences Commuted to Life, by Matthew Clarke
- $150,000 Settlement in Tennessee Jail Beating
- News in Brief:
- Federal Prison Employees Convicted of Stealing Prisoners’ Meds, by Gary Hunter
More from Justin Elliott:
More from these topics:
- “Like the Walking Dead”: Smuggled Drugs Fuel Chaos Inside Ohio Prisons, May 1, 2026. Contractor Misconduct, Guard Misconduct, Drug Overdose, Security Systems, Drugs - Determination of.
- NaphCare Pays $875,000 to Settle New York License Violations, Banned from State for Five Years, May 1, 2026. Naphcare, Contractor Misconduct, Systemic Medical Neglect, Private Contractors, Medical Neglect/Malpractice.
- Nevada Non-Profit Founder Under Investigation for Misconduct, May 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Staff-Prisoner Harassment, Contractor Misconduct, Complaints, Restrictions, discrimination.
- Mississippi DOC Retains Law Firm to Monitor VitalCore Contract, April 1, 2026. Contractor Misconduct, Systemic Medical Neglect, Dental Care, Private Contractors, Staffing.
- In Texas, Harris County Commissioners Approve $1.2 Million for Fourth Study of Jail Since 2020 After Dozens of Abuse Allegations, April 1, 2026. Contractor Misconduct, Systemic Medical Neglect, Jail Specific, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights.
- Former Maine Prison Official Stole $2.4 Million Through Fraudulent Supply Orders, April 1, 2026. Contractor Misconduct, DOC/BOP misconduct, Bribery/Extortion/Theft, Fraud and Deceit.
- ICE Taps New Contractor to Run Deadly Detention Center in Texas, April 1, 2026. Private Prisons, Contractor Misconduct, Systemic Medical Neglect, Totality of Conditions, Immigration Detention.
- Florida Sheriff Received $50,000 Donation from Jail Medical Contractor, March 1, 2026. Naphcare, Armor Correctional Health Services, Contractor Misconduct, Systemic Medical Neglect, Private Contractors.
- Cuyahoga County Receives Over $846,000 Refund from Securus Technologies, Feb. 1, 2026. Contractor Misconduct, Jail Misconduct, Corrections Audits, Securus.
- Mass Surveillance for Profit: Flock’s AI Reports “Suspicious” Movement to Police, Dec. 15, 2025. Contractor Misconduct, Government Misconduct, Protests, Police State-Surveillance, Electronic Surveillance.

