The Montana State Prison
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The Deer Lodge Prison
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Historical Context
In the years leading up to the opening of the Deer Lodge Prison, there were a few events that occurred. Survey disputes and other arguments among locals were an issue, and the fact that to get any prisoner to a prison most people would go all the way over to Nevada. Vigilantes were a common way of ridding Montana towns of any crime. Within Vigilante groups they would hold mock trials for any person that they believed had wronged someone or had committed a crime. Most times these trials were quick and if you were ever put into a trial, chances were that you would be hanged regardless of whether you had committed any crime. Although vigilantes remained for some time after the creation of the deer lodge prison, their groups formed around 1860 to protect local towns since there was noticed corruption within their law enforcement. Nationwide, however, there were other things happening, such as discrimination and corruption within the court system.
Background
A picture of the first walls of the prison being built.
As the rise of crime and vigilanteism rose in Montana, everyone began to recognize a general need for a state prison. At the time they were required to bring prisoners all the way to Nebraska if they wanted them to be anywhere secure and the cost of that transport was only growing larger. As a result, in 1866 the territorial legislature requested funds for the prison. In the newspapers it was described lavishly, saying, "All material used to be of first quality." The original plans were large, and claimed to be of the finest quality, although this statement was arguable as you will see later.