State looking to hire Indian parole officers

HELENA, Mont. (AP) – The Montana Department of Corrections is seeking American Indian applicants for five probation and parole positions that will specialize in the supervision of Indian offenders.

The effort stems from a $925,000 federal grant meant to help an offender population that is often plagued by mental health problems and addictions.

The corrections department says Indian offenders have a recidivism rate 33 percent higher than among non-Indians offenders in Montana. It says it hopes to reduce those rates by offering Indian offenders the chance to work with officers who are familiar with Indian issues.

The five officers will be located in the reservation-area communities of Cut Bank, Glasgow, Hardin, Havre and Polson. The deadline for applications is Nov. 30.