BOULDER -- After being locked in her room all night, Mary drags herself out of bed at 6:30 a.m. to ensure she has time to shower before school at Riverside Youth Corrections Facility here.

She makes her bed and tidies her stark white room to ensure she doesn't get marked down. Her few pieces of clothing are tucked away neatly in a shelf unit in the corner over her bed. She is allowed one personal item, which is a picture of her sister and her niece, whom she has yet to meet. Each girl gets a stuffed animal supplied by the facility.

When on the outside, she wouldn't get up until about noon when she was not in school.

Mary, a 16-year-old from Billings, joins the other girls in the communal bathroom to shower. Each girl has a steel toilet and a sink in their room. They are allowed their own face wash and lotions but no makeup or hair products. Mary pulls her long black hair into her one hair tie.

She puts on her "greens," which consist of blue wind pants and a green shirt with an embroidered picture of a river flowing through mountains. Those teens who are on the restricted privilege program, going through orientation or on

suicide watch and need a higher level of attention, wear yellow sweats.

The girls are allowed to have their own underwear, socks and bras, but none with under wires, which could be used as a weapon. They bring their own shoes -- sneakers only. They are not allowed to wear those shoes inside the two living units.

Each teen is given a robe and pajamas as well.

Mary wanders to a large picnic table in the living area of her unit to receive her breakfast on a plastic tray. A few motivational posters adorn the otherwise plain white walls.

"We do decorate to make it look not quite as bad," Riverside Superintendent Cindy McKenzie said.

She noted that nothing loose is left around that one of the girls could pick up and use as a weapon. Employees watch the girls' every move through correctional-grade, unbreakable Plexiglas in a monitoring room across from the tables.

Mary admits that the cereal, eggs and fruit leaves much to be desired. Even worse, the portions are too small for her liking.

The food is shipped in from the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge.

"It's not bad but it is institutional food. It could be worse," McKenzie said.

After the morning meal, Mary attends classes in science, history, math and English. While many of the girls dropped out of school, they get a chance to catch up during Riverside's year-round education.

On the "outs" Mary didn't attend school. Now, she aspires to finish high school, then attend community college. Mary, who has never been out of Montana, hopes to study international law when she is older.

The individual attention Mary receives at Riverside makes it easier for her to focus. The girls are broken into learning groups of six and each work at their own pace.

"The teachers are cooperative and patient. You can raise your hand 50 times and they still help you," she said.

A few time-out rooms are adjacent to the four classrooms in case the girls get into trouble. The small rooms are painted white with a bench connected to the wall. Girls stay in the room an average of 15 minutes, McKenzie said.

The girls are tested for their grade equivalency when they enter Riverside. Most enter behind where they should be for their age, McKenzie said.

Still, next to one of the classrooms is an honor roll list, which boasts half a dozen names.

"Some get on it and have never been on it before in their life, which is pretty cool," McKenzie said.

After lunch, afternoon activities include computer lab, woodshop and physical education.

The smell of sawdust wafts from the woodshop, also known as tech prep. Here, the girls create plaques and other artwork -- some of sports, some religious and even one of Elvis Presley -- that are displayed on the walls.

Next door in the computer lab, some practice typing while a couple of girls work on getting their GEDs through a special program.

Mary, a junior, will have more schooling to finish when she fulfills her sentence for running away from a group home.

Across from the labs is the two-story gym, the only new building on the property. This is where the girls play basketball, volleyball and do step aerobics.

They run a mile twice a week. When the weather is accommodating, they play kickball or other outdoor sports.

After physical education, it's time for dinner.

According to Mary, who gets through the meals daydreaming of an Arby's beef sandwich accompanied by curly fries, some of the Mexican food isn't too bad.

"I like their enchiladas. They're not as good as my dad's though," she said.

The girls eat with the rest of their housing unit at a picnic table in the main room. Some of the usual offerings include beef tacos, soup and pizza.

Post dinner activities can include an alcoholics anonymous meeting, a spiritual gathering or if it has been a good week, the girls can watch a movie. Ordinarily television or movies aren't allowed.

The girls read a lot, McKenzie said. Riverside has a stocked library and a part-time librarian.

Girls on restriction have to be in their rooms by 9 p.m. and have their lights out a half hour later. All the others have to be inside their locked bedroom by 10 p.m. and lights out 30 minutes later.

For videos and a complete list of stories in the IR's four-part series on Boulder's institutions, check out www.helenair.com/boulder.

Reporter Angela Brandt: 447-4078 or angela.brandt@helenair.com