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Ask the Right Office: Montana

Pick a problem to see the office, the official rule, the deadlines and who must file. Then fill in a plain-English letter in your browser, print or save it as a PDF, and add a follow-up date to your calendar.

What this page can and can't tell you

Can: Which office to write to and how to put together a clear letter.

Can't: It can't give an official release date, say whether a specific person qualifies, or give legal advice. Only the DOC, the board or a court decides.

A letter doesn't replace the required official grievance form or procedure, and those have deadlines. If you're worried about retaliation, keep copies and dates of everything you send, and tell the person's attorney or a legal aid office if anything changes afterward.

Free legal help: Legal Services Corporation: find legal aid (civil matters). For criminal cases, ask the public defender's office that handled the case.






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Montana at a glance

ProblemOfficeDeadline to fileResponse deadline
Time calculation reviewYour Unit Manager or Lieutenant (Inmate Informal Resolution form), then the Grievance CoordinatorInformal resolution within 5 working days of the action. Formal grievance within 5 working days of the informal response (or after 25 working days with no response).Informal: 20 working days. The whole process should finish within 180 days.
Credit (good time) disputeYour Unit Manager or Lieutenant (Inmate Informal Resolution form), then the Grievance CoordinatorInformal resolution within 5 working days of the action. Formal grievance within 5 working days of the informal response (or after 25 working days with no response).Informal: 20 working days. The whole process should finish within 180 days.
Medical request or complaintYour Unit Manager or Lieutenant (Inmate Informal Resolution form), then the Grievance CoordinatorInformal resolution within 5 working days of the action. Formal grievance within 5 working days of the informal response (or after 25 working days with no response).Informal: 20 working days. The whole process should finish within 180 days.
Visit or mail denial appealYour Unit Manager or Lieutenant (Inmate Informal Resolution form), then the Grievance CoordinatorInformal resolution within 5 working days of the action. Formal grievance within 5 working days of the informal response (or after 25 working days with no response).Informal: 20 working days. The whole process should finish within 180 days.
Records requestThe records custodian at the agency that keeps the recordNo filing deadline in the statute.State agencies acknowledge within 5 business days; a single, readily available record within 5 working days after that; larger requests in a timely manner (up to 90 days, or 6 months with notice).
Parole fileNot publishedNot publishedNot published
Disability (ADA) accommodationYour Unit Manager or Lieutenant (Inmate Informal Resolution form), then the Grievance CoordinatorInformal resolution within 5 working days of the action. Formal grievance within 5 working days of the informal response (or after 25 working days with no response).Informal: 20 working days. The whole process should finish within 180 days.
Transfer or classificationNot publishedNot publishedNot published

Grievance rule: Montana DOC Policy 3.3.3, Inmate Grievance Program (rev. 11/15/2024) and Inmate Grievance Program Manual (rev. 04/21/2026) (opens in new tab). Records: MCA 2-6-1006 (public information requests) (opens in new tab). Who files a grievance: The inmate.

Not legal advice. Rules change and facilities may add local steps; the official text controls. Missing a deadline can end a claim. Find free legal aid (LSC) (opens in new tab). Last checked .

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