Jennie Hansen
HELENA–Montana Department of Corrections has named a new warden for the Montana Women’s Prison in Billings.
Department Director Reginald D. Michael announced Thursday that Jennie Hansen, the eastern region bureau chief for the Probation and Parole Division, will be the new warden.
“Hansen has served with the Montana Department of Corrections in several capacities over the years, including contributions as an institutional Probation and Parole officer at the women’s prison, and at various other leadership levels within the P&P Division,” Michael said in a press release. “I am confident she will bring effective leadership skills and valuable experience to her new role as the MWP Warden and to the department’s leadership team.”
Hansen has worked for the Department of Corrections since 2009, including almost five years working within the women’s prison, assisting inmates in case planning and preparing for their re-entry into the community. She also has managed a specialized caseload of mentally ill offenders, and served as a supervisor in the Billings Probation and Parole office.
In 2016, Hansen was promoted to the eastern region bureau chief for the P&P Division, overseeing the 10 field offices in that part of the state. In that capacity, she implemented new policies and procedures for community safety. She has also been instrumental in ensuring the use of evidence-based practices and risk-and-needs assessments, while serving as a subject matter expert on gender-responsive treatment.
In 2015, Hansen was appointed by the attorney general to serve as a member of the Commission on Sentencing, created by the Legislature to examine Montana’s criminal justice system and make recommendations to the 65th Legislature to reform the system and use resources more effectively. She has also served as a member of the Montana Board of Crime Control since 2016.
Hansen graduated from St. Mary College in Leavenworth, Kan., with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology.
