Montana DOC under scrutiny for using Inmate Welfare Fund

HELENA – The Montana Department of Corrections promised Tuesday to pay back the Inmate Welfare Fund after a June audit uncovered at least $98,000 in questionable purchases made by the department and its facilities over a three-year period. For the most part, money for the Inmate Welfare Fund is generated by incarcerated people through phone call and canteen purchases. The money is meant to go to the benefit of the people imprisoned in DOC facilities and their families. However, the Montana Legislative Audit Division questioned whether the state made inappropriate use of the fund.
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