Crossroads Correctional Center
Feature Business of the Week: Crossroads Correctional Center
Written by: Pete Bludworth
Pete Bludworth has served as the Warden at Crossroads Correctional Center since February 2020. He began his corrections career in 1990 with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and joined CoreCivic in 2014.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:
Crossroads provides high paying jobs with exceptional benefits for full time employees. Positions for Correctional Officers, Nurses, Mental Health Counselors, Teachers, Case Managers, Clerks, and others are available. A few minutes taken to complete an application can lead to a lifetime of security.
VALUED PARTNER:
When talking about Crossroads, it is important, as a CoreCivic facility, to point out that we strive to make a positive difference in Shelby and surrounding High Line communities.
Crossroads, built in 1999, greatly values our longstanding partnership with the Montana Department of Corrections as we strive to better the public good.
Just last month, Crossroads received the results of an American Corrections Association (ACA) audit with a score of 100% on the mandatory standards and 99.56% on the non-mandatory standards.
These scores result from the team's hard work and dedication at Crossroads!
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
At Crossroads, we're proud to offer our staff quality jobs, competitive wages and benefits, and opportunities for long-term career growth. We have over 150 dedicated employees who work at Crossroads, many of whom call Shelby, home.
Other members of the Crossroads Team are native citizens of Shelby, Conrad, Cutbank, Valier, Havre and other nearby High Line communities. In fact, one of our facility leaders began her career the first day of hiring in 1999!
Many other members of the Team come from across the United States. Whether seeking to set roots in the Big Sky state or to launch their career with a nationwide corporation, the Staff members raise their families and contribute to the local businesses.
Crossroads also supports communities in the High Line through various forms of charitable giving and volunteerism.
EFFORTS TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM:
We know that most citizens involved in the justice system will return to their communities. Like every CoreCivic facility, the leadership and staff at Crossroads are focused on an inmate's reentry back to the community from day one.
Our staff recognizes the significant impact that reentry programming offered at Crossroads can have on those individuals in our care. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to positively impact the long-term outlook of those in our care by delivering evidence-based practices designed to reduce recidivism.
The programs offered at Crossroads, which include, adult education courses, High School Equivalency Testing, addiction treatment, faith-based skills, computer labs, carpentry and cabinet making, have the overall goal of providing the participants opportunities to be better prepared to return to the community and in the end to lower recidivism.
GREAT FALLS-MSU PARTNERSHIP:
Recently, Crossroads partnered with Great Falls College-Montana State University to offer those in our care a unique chance to learn about office programs, acquire skills, and obtain proof of their education. Once interested and qualified students are accepted into the program, they'll be expected to complete the two-semester program in Crossroads' on-site computer lab.
Overall, the program's goal is to help students gain valuable training that will be useful in their transition from prison to working in a business or office setting after their release. After completing the program, students receive a certificate of Applied Science in Office Support, which is an industry-recognized credential that they can use to help them obtain employment in private or governmental agencies as office clerks, administrative assistants and other related positions designed to support the business operations of an organization. The program credit, worth 30 credit hours, can even be transferred to a four-year degree program if the student continues their education after release. More information on this worthwhile program can be found on our website.
Written By: Shane Adams
First time I stepped foot in a jail cell was April 13, 2023, in Shelby Montana! Before anyone assumes anything!! I was not in jail as an inmate, rather as a guest. Warden Peter Bludworth here at Corecivic offered to give the Chamber Board Members a tour of the prison. Mabey in my youth there may, or may not have been a time I deserved to spend a night in jail for stupid adolescent decisions:) That was my first interaction with CoreCivic since I took this job and stepped foot in any type of correctional facility. The tour was very interesting, in depth, and impressed with how well put together the facility was in all regards where. Many sections of the complex each serve a purpose.
One detail I will always remember from the tour, I had my truck keys taken away from me at the front gate as well for the tour. My key chain, I made a dummy round in my reloading of ammo I shot, drilled a hole in the brass and used it as my key chain. Did not even think of that for the tour but that evidently is frowned upon going through the check in at the front gates. I apologize for that!! Thank you again for taking the time to show us around, and to answer all the questions our group had that day. I can say for the whole group we enjoyed the tour very much!
Since then I've gotten to know Pete on various events here in Shelby, including the Chamber meetings I host. He tries to put CoreCivic into as many community minded services as possible too. For instance, just this last week helped out at the National Night Out on August 1. Earlier in the year helped with the Kite Festival at the airport to name just a couple items.
I would also like to Thank him and CoreCivic for donating all the meat products (Burger & Hotdogs) for the Sunburst Appreciation Picnic the Chamber is hosting in Sunburst August 9th. That is very thoughtful and we do truly appreciate it! Continue the good work Pete at CoreCivic, looking forward to working together on future projects with CoreCivic!!
