Montana State Prison Hosts Correctional Officer Training As Part Of Three-Week Course

Deer Lodge, Mont. — On Thursday, May 21st, Montana State Prison opened a window into how it trains future correctional officers as students moved through the second week of a three-week course. 

The training began in mid-May, and prison officials say they are currently working through a large backlog of students who have signed up for the course.  

The training is also significant, as it is being held for the first time at the Montana State Prison. Prison officials tell Nonstop Local that for correctional officer training, courses are usually held in Helena. 

One part of Thursday’s training focused on defensive tactics. This includes de-escalation, practicing different holds, and responding to potentially dangerous situations with empathy and respect for inmates.  

Officer Winston Tyler Ferryman says one lesson he learned during the training stood out as especially important.  

“We have a lot of people here who have very bad days; And a lot of times, they don’t want to hurt themselves, they don’t want to hurt other people, they just want somebody to talk to. So, that’s why it’s crucial that we have our crisis intervention training,” said Ferryman, a level one corrections officer at Montana State Prison.  

Ferryman also shared how he found his way into corrections after not initially planning on it as a career path, moving from Ohio to Montana last year. 

“I didn’t see myself getting into corrections, and I made some friends before I came out here, and they told me to give it a shot,” said Ferryman. “They thought it would be a good personality for me, I have the personality to work out here and succeed, and I have to say they were 100% right.”  

For Ferryman, the work kept pulling him back for a reason he summed up in one word. 

“What keeps me coming back, is more often than not, hope. Hope to change, hope to make the next day better. To learn from your day before, to have an impact on somebody else the next day,” said Ferryman.  

Prison officials say they would consider holding another training next year, if there is a demand for it.  Montana Department of Corrections director Eric Strauss says having that option matters if the need for more training returns. 

“So, hopefully we don’t, but if we do, it’s in our back pocket now, and we’re able to do it when we need to,” said Strauss. 

More information about the Montana Department of Corrections can be found here.