Lawsuit prompts prison to seek translation service

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HELENA, Mont (AP) — Montana State Prison officials are in contract negotiations to provide translation services to inmates who receive correspondence in a language other than English.

The state Department of Corrections also is reviewing and revising its operational procedures related to inmate letters.

The changes come in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana on behalf of a convicted killer who says the prison has an unconstitutional English-only correspondence policy.

Department of Corrections attorney Colleen Ambrose disclosed the translation contract negotiations and policy changes in a court filing updating settlement negotiations. She says that more time is needed to make those changes and reach a settlement agreement.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong on Wednesday gave both sides a deadline of March 9.

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