Hardin Jail Contract

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By Nick Lough

Story Published: Sep 10, 2009 at 6:04 PM MST

Story Updated: Sep 10, 2009 at 6:04 PM MST

BILLINGS - A new contract not only promises to breathe life into the empty Hardin jail, but to expand it as well.

Two River Authority officials have entered into a 10-year contract with an out-of-state security firm to bring 1,000 prisoners to the Hardin jail by mid March, but law enforcement has never heard of the firm.

After sitting vacant two years after completion the Hardin jail will now house prisoners provided by California security firm American Police Force. "I am just thrilled for the city of Hardin and I can't wait to see it all just come together," said Executive Director Greg Smith. "We did research for the past 11 months. It's very good it's a beautiful prison and I'm surprised its been empty for the past 2 years," said an American Police Force spokesperson who wanted to stay anonymous for security reasons.

Smith says the group contacted him during the media stormed that surrounded the prison when officials asked the government to house Gitmo prisoners there. The security firm visited shortly after and the agreement was signed in early September. But the group is an unknown to both the U.S. Marshals and the Federal Detention Trustee and when you search their website the group mentions nothing about holding detainees or prisoners.

In fact, the website features services that include special forces training, international weapons sales, and fugitive recovery. "This is really a chance for them to expand their operation," said Smith. "Like a lot of companies they've decided to get into another thing closely related to what they do and that's what they're doing."

Jail officials say they did the research prior to signing the agreement and the group is legitimate. The security firm plans to expand the 464-bed facility to 1,000 soon and fill the building by mid March and officials also plan on providing a homeless shelter, animal shelter, and state-of-the-art forensic lab in Hardin as well as a facility where they can train domestic and international police officers.

Smith says the facility will hold minimum and medium security federal prisoners and that the contract calls for 80% of the prison jobs to go to people living in and around the Hardin area.

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Cooper said on Tuesday, Oct 6 at 3:42 PM

I dont know what to believe. Its obviously a front company but the question is if its a front for a real security firm or just a group of crooks, or both.

Freedom lover said on Saturday, Oct 3 at 3:02 PM

Hardin should be ashamed. Prison should NOT be viewed as economic stimulus. WAKE UP SCAMERICA!!!

Patrick Fogel said on Friday, Oct 2 at 9:33 AM

Local law enforcement should be in contact with the FBI on this situation. A criminal controlling criminals? People of Montana, insist on the facts and the truth from the FBI, the State's Attorney and the Governor!

Carlos said on Friday, Oct 2 at 7:10 AM

Looks a like a Gestapo operation

SteveO said on Thursday, Oct 1 at 2:12 PM

Now that the Billings media and Hardin officials have been exposed as complete idiots...maybe the Lifetime Channel could make a movie about this...THE BECKY SHAY STORY. I smell Emmy...

Jackie Rogers Jr. said on Thursday, Oct 1 at 11:16 AM

This board reads like an Alex Jones circlejerk. No steel gates being built in Hardin, no swine flu patrols, no relationship to Blackwater, the APF Prez is a con artist...do you see a pattern? Morons...

Fred said on Thursday, Oct 1 at 10:46 AM

Ready for Muslim Terrorists? You looking at the new club Gitmo?

Scoob said on Thursday, Oct 1 at 10:46 AM

U.S. Bank might have something to say about this. Two Rivers and Becky Shay are complete morons. The APF president has an arrest record longer than my arm.

Joelle said on Monday, Sep 28 at 12:20 PM

A mail drop in DC ? They were on contract with government, how about in IRAQ ? Why was a prison built there sitting empty ? Is it one of the 1200 FEMA facilities for political dissidents ?

Sarina said on Monday, Sep 14 at 12:41 AM

Do you really think those portable prisons seen around the country are for nothing? Do you really think Blackwater and American Police Force have OUR interests in mind? Does anyone see something very sinister going on here? That's right... Lets bury our heads back in the sand and wait and see.

sas said on Sunday, Sep 13 at 11:07 AM

HMMM Hardin, Montana expressed intrest in getting the gitmo prisoners. This week They signed a contract with American Police Force a secret security company that sounds alot like Blackwater. And guess what the prisoners are to arrive in January.

whoops said on Saturday, Sep 12 at 4:55 PM

i agree with who cares when you start bringing in street scum to this part of our state the rest of the garbage will follow.look at the statistics of communities where prisons are built the crime rate just goes 10 fold we dont need these people here near billings send them elsewhere.lets bring in the petty offenders its bad enough we have the grey hound bus system and the rescue mission in down town.

who cares said on Friday, Sep 11 at 4:32 PM

This jail will bring gangs memebers and thier familes to this are. Thay will set up shop in Billings. bringing the crime rate up 100% with drugs,killings,rape,home invasions. Can billings and the county afford this?

YUPPIE KILLER said on Friday, Sep 11 at 8:40 AM

So what is so bad with a small company trying to exspand. Let them have the contract its better than having the prison set empty.

Skeptic said on Thursday, Sep 10 at 11:57 PM

I "did the research." This "group" has no contracts, no prospects, no track record, no apparent experience, no clue and few personnel. Their "offices" are a mail drop in DC and a strip mall in Orange County. This has got to be a hoax, the only question is what kind of a hoax it is.

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