Montana Takes a Big Step Toward Giving the Governor Power to Grant Clemency

Yesterday, September 3, the Law and Justice Interim Committee met and voted to recommend some major changes to Montana’s Parole System. Though the vote won’t change Montana laws yet, it means that the bill is more likely to make it through the next legislative session. Missoula area representative Ellie Hill is on the committee and explains some of the problems legislators found with Montana’s parole system.

"Sort of what we learned was the public's problem with the process was that these parole hearings are one, not recorded at all. There were no records kept of either audio or visual of the proceedings. Two, the parole chair sets the members of the parole chair that attend the hearings and then in some way, predetermines the outcome."

The bipartisan committee voted unanimously to have all parole sessions recorded and voted 9-3 to give the Governor much more power over the process.

"I think the biggest change, of course, that came out of today's proceedings was we are going to recommend that the legislature in the state of Montana allow the governor to grant clemency. About half of the other states in our nation do allow for a governor to grant clemency to an inmate. Of course, the big driver and interest is the Barry Beach case."

Ellie Hill also wrote a public letter to governor bullock that she believes the current Parole chair Mike McKee should not be reappointed when his term comes to an end next month. McKee was head of the Parole board when Barry Beach’s clemency was rejected back in June of this year.

Ellie Hill: