Making Montana Prisons Okay For The Disabled

The ACLU of Montana and the Montana Department of Corrections are asking a judge to approve a settlement in a lawsuit filed over conditions at the State Prison for inmates with disabilities. The agency has agreed to improve accessibility by adding wheelchair ramps, grab bars and other accommodations to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The prison is also updating several prison policies

Under the settlement, inmates can't be disciplined for behavior that is due to a mental illness or physical disability unless they're a danger to themselves or others. ADA compliance was the final issue to be settled in a lawsuit filed over prison conditions following a 1991 riot in which five inmates were killed.

(The AP contributed to this report)