Montana Department of Corrections and The Last Mile Celebrate Graduation of Technology Workforce Training Program

Eleven students mark the third graduating class at Montana State Prison, completing a program designed to support successful reentry and long-term career pathways.

The third student cohort graduated from The Last Mile (TLM) program at Montana State Prison Thursday. Over the past year, participants completed an intensive course of study in web development and coding skills to equip them for high-demand jobs, following incarceration.

“We are extremely proud of the individuals who dedicated themselves to The Last Mile coding program,” said DOC Director Eric Strauss. “When these students return to their Montana communities, they’ll be able to provide for themselves and their families with a high-paying career in the state’s growing tech industry.”

This initiative represents the first program of its kind in Montana. Initial funding was made possible through generous contributions from supporters, most notably the Gianforte Family Foundation. The program is intended to give participants a stronger foundation for success after release while contributing to safer, more resilient communities.

“This program gave me a platform to show my kids the importance of hard work and education,” said Jesse Harrison, a 2026 MSP graduate of the program.

Another 2026 graduate, Jeremiah Wing, said: “It taught me everything I never knew about teamwork, communication, and how to trust the process.

The Last Mile (TLM) is a national nonprofit that provides vocational education and transitional support to incarcerated individuals. At Montana State Prison, students completed a full year of coursework delivered through TLM’s secure, cloud-based learning environment, using industry-standard tools such as VS Code, GitLab, MongoDB, and DevDocs. The program is designed tomirror real-world technology workflows and expectations.

“The Last Mile celebrates the achievements of this cohort at Montana State Prison and looks forward to partnering with businesses to create job opportunities for our graduates. We thank the Montana Department of Corrections, The Gianforte Family Foundation, and our hiring partners for their support in providing career training for incarcerated individuals,” said Kevin McCracken, Executive Director of The Last Mile.

Following program completion, TLM’s Reentry Team works with graduates to develop individualized plans that support the transition leading up to and after release. Nationally, TLM graduates achieve a 75% employment rate within six months of release, primarily through fair-chance hiring partnerships across the business, media, and technology sectors. Fair-chance hiring evaluates candidates based on skills and qualifications rather than prior history, helping reduce recidivism while strengthening local workforces across Montana.