Criminal Justice Services Selected for Pathways to Pretrial Advancemen
Published on January 30, 2026
Helena, MT — Lewis and Clark County Criminal Justice Services (CJS) is proud to announce that the Citizens’ Advisory Council (CAC), in partnership with the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC), has been selected as one of only eight localities nationwide chosen for the Pathways to Pretrial Advancement initiative. The award was formally accepted by the Lewis and Clark County Commissioners on January 27, 2026.
The Pathways to Pretrial Advancement program is a competitive, year-long strategic planning initiative offered through Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research (APPR), a national effort supported by the Center for Effective Public Policy and Arnold Ventures that works to promote fair, effective, and equitable pretrial justice systems across the United States.
Selected communities participate in intensive, collaborative planning alongside national pretrial experts to evaluate current pretrial processes, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop actionable strategies to better support individuals and community safety.
“This is a huge honor to be one of only eight communities in the country chosen for this opportunity,” said Alyssa Spies, Diversion Coordinator with Lewis and Clark County Criminal Justice Services. “It reflects the hard work our Helena team and partners have put into strengthening pretrial practices that balance fairness and public safety.”
The Pathways initiative brings together diverse stakeholders including system leaders, service providers, and community members to assess policies and practices, prioritize meaningful changes, and build strategic plans grounded in evidence and best practices.
Over the next 12 months, local Helena leaders will work with APPR facilitators to explore ways to improve pretrial outcomes in Lewis and Clark County.
Tom Cordingley, Chair of the Citizens’ Advisory Council, highlighted the collaborative nature of the work, “A big reason the CAC’s application was selected is that we’ve already been doing much of this work and generating meaningful local data that experts can build on. We are eager to both contribute to and learn from the national framework.”
Director of the Department of Criminal Justice Services, Kellie Goodwin McBride says, “This recognition positions Lewis and Clark County to continue leading meaningful innovation in justice system practices and underscores a strong local commitment to fairness, equity, and improved outcomes for people experiencing the pretrial phase of the legal process.”
The Citizens’ Advisory Council (CAC) was formed in 2012 to provide citizen perspective and community input into the local criminal justice system. The CAC regularly advises the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) by sharing ideas and recommendations for making the justice system fairer, more effective, and equitable for all residents.
The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) brings together justice system leaders including judiciary members, law enforcement, public defense, prosecution, and community representatives to coordinate planning, reduce duplication of efforts, and advance data-informed improvements across the local system. Its work is supported by CJS staff and informed by community input from the CAC.
Lewis and Clark County Criminal Justice Services (CJS) serves as the central department that strengthens the county’s criminal justice system through collaboration, program coordination, and support for strategic initiatives such as pretrial reform, diversion programming, and community safety outcomes.
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For more information, contact:
Kellie Goodwin McBride
Executive Director, Lewis & Clark County Criminal Justice Services
406-459-9964| kmcbride@lccountymt.gov