Behavioral Health Services

Current & Upcoming Programs in the Detention Center

Each week inside the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center, staff, volunteers, and community partners create opportunities for individuals to build new skills, find healing, and begin preparing for life after release.

These programs are about more than education—they are about connection, belonging, and supporting people as they rebuild their lives.

Recovery and Wellness

Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) & Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.)

These 12-step programs provide a safe and supportive space for participants to share experiences, build accountability, and work toward recovery together. Many participants also connect with sponsors for one-on-one encouragement and continued support in maintaining a substance-free lifestyle.

Living Well in the Community (LWC)

In partnership with Ability Montana, Living Well in the Community is a 10-week workshop focused on personal growth and positive change. Participants learn about goal setting, communication, peer support, and strategies to maintain progress after release. 

Faith and Reflection

Spiritual Services

Faith-based and cultural practices are available to anyone seeking connection and guidance. Weekly church services, Sunday smudging ceremonies (weather dependent), and individual meetings with a chaplain offer moments of reflection and spiritual renewal.

Learning and Education

Library
Library services are offered once each week. Participants have access to more than 1,600 books across a wide range of fiction and non-fiction genres. Thanks to generous donations from the Lewis & Clark Library, new materials are added regularly.

NCIC Schoolhouse Tablets
Participants have access to tablets loaded with hundreds of educational and personal development courses. Offerings include GED-level math and science, anger management, mindfulness, job readiness skills, and other self-improvement resources.

Tutoring Services (New)
Through the Lewis and Clark Literacy Council, participants may work one-on-one with a volunteer tutor each week. Tutors provide individualized support in reading, writing, math, and preparation for the GED or HiSET exam.

High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) Preparation (Upcoming)
Soon, the HiSET prep program will be available through Schoolhouse tablets. Participants can continue their progress after release through EdReady Montana, ensuring that the path to education doesn’t stop at the door.

Support and Connection

Veteran Resource Groups
These peer-led groups connect incarcerated veterans with Veterans Affairs services and benefits while fostering connection, understanding, and support for successful reentry into the community. 

Voter Registration (New)

In partnership with Catalyst, this program provides information about voting rights and the voter registration process. All eligible participants—regardless of political affiliation—may register to vote and learn how civic participation connects them to their communities.

Jail Based Voter Registration Program(PDF, 301KB)

Be Part of the Change

Volunteers are at the heart of these programs. They bring compassion, curiosity, and a belief that everyone deserves a second chance. Whether leading a class, sharing a skill, or simply showing up with kindness, volunteers make a lasting difference.

If you’re interested in becoming a Detention Center volunteer, please fill out the application below or reach out to Alexia Clark, Education & Transition Coordinator, for more information.

Volunteer Application(PDF, 338KB)
 Contact: Alexia Clark, Education & Transition Coordinator

Interested in becoming a volunteer?

If you're interested in becoming a volunteer at the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center, please fill out the application below. If you have any questions, please contact the Education and Transition Coordinator, Alexia Clark. 

The Detention Center introduced the MAT Bridges program to address individuals with opioid use disorders. The MAT program combines medication and counseling to reduce cravings, treat withdrawals, and return patients to pre-substance function. Goals of the program include: 

• Treat those with opioid use disorder (OUD) utilizing effective MAT programs. 

• Encourage participation in counseling and behavioral therapies.

• Build bridges between the Detention Center and community-based treatment providers.

• Reduce recidivism and reduce the return to opioid use within the first 90 days of exiting incarceration.

• Increase public safety.

To increase community access to a life-saving medication, two vending machines dispensing Narcan are now available to the public at no cost. Narcan is an FDA-approved medication that can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose by restoring normal breathing.

The machines are located:

• On the first floor of the Law and Justice Center
• On the third-floor stair landing of the Courthouse

Narcan works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, blocking the effects of opioids for 30 to 90 minutes. It is safe, non-addictive, and highly effective in reversing respiratory depression caused by opioid overdose.

This important resource was made possible through a grant from the Institute for Intergovernmental Research. The Narcan itself has been provided by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and through a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

To date we have dispersed 1,393 kits of Naloxone!! 

Our Place Drop-In Center is a peer-run support center dedicated to individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges and those on the path to recovery from addiction. Many participants are currently involved in, or at risk of involvement with, the criminal justice system. By fostering connection, stability, and supportive relationships, Our Place helps reduce law enforcement encounters and supports healthier outcomes for participants. Criminal Justice Services grants Good Samaritan Ministries $40,000 annually and Lewis and Clark County provides $60,000, to support the operation of the Our Place Drop-In Center.

Drop-In Center services include:

Location & Contact

1531 National Ave
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: (406) 389-0223

Monthly Drop-in Reports