Department of Corrections director honored
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HELENA — Mike Batista, Director of the Montana Department of Corrections, is the recipient of the Montana Board of Crime Control 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award. He was awarded Oct. 6.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually to a deserving individual (or group of individuals) that has achieved professional excellence and made a lasting contribution to promote and support improvements to Montana’s justice system throughout his/her career.
Director Batista has more than 34 years in law enforcement where he was an intelligence manager for the Drug Enforcement Administration from 1987 to 1994, working in Texas and Nevada. Following his time with the DEA, he returned to Montana where he was the Administrator for the Division of Criminal Investigation in the Montana Department of Justice for 20 years. During that time period, Director Batista introduced a number of initiatives important to law enforcement and the citizens of Montana including the Children’s Justice Center to improve Montana’s response to crimes against children; the Missing and Endangered Person Advisory process to inform the public and law enforcement statewide; new investigative units within DCI that specialize in workers’ compensation and Medicaid fraud and forensic computer analysis; and scenario-based training at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy enabling trainees to receive invaluable experience with potentially life-threatening situations. He was also the first Montanan invited to serve as a board member of the National Children’s Alliance.
Director Batista was appointed as Director of the Department of Corrections by Governor Steve Bullock. During his four-year tenure he has steadfastly pursued a deliberate system design based on reliable data and correctional practices which have proven effective. He has renewed the department’s commitment to risk-and-needs assessments, ensuring that every offender receives individualized case management and has strengthened the state’s reentry initiatives, serving as chair of the Statewide Reentry Task Force. Throughout his career he has remained true to the highest ethical standards and demonstrated a rare ability to step back from the daily crises, understand the big picture and implement strategies designed to better protect the public.
Deb Matteucci, Executive Director of MBCC, said Director Batista is a tremendous asset to Montana’s justice system. “His steadfast dedication to implementing best practices, using data to drive program implementation and his unwavering commitment to public safety are remarkable,” Matteucci said. “We are so fortunate to have Mike as a member of MBCC and as a visionary leader in Montana.”
