In Montana, the size of the possible punishment picks the court:

• Justice Court is where most county misdemeanors land, including traffic crimes and hunting cases. Its own reach covers crimes that carry a $500 fine or 6 months at most. For bigger misdemeanors, the prosecutor may choose this court or District Court (MCA 3-10-303).
• City court hears town ordinance cases and misdemeanors inside Jordan's limits (MCA 3-11-103). Here the same judge runs it.
• District Court decides every felony. A felony is any crime that can carry more than a year in state prison (MCA 45-2-101).
• Youth Court is the name for the district judge's cases about kids under 18.

Felonies almost always begin in the Justice Court, which sets bail at the opening hearing. After that, the file travels up to the district judge.

All of the county's own court offices share the building at 352 Leavitt Avenue, Jordan, MT 59337. Each one gets mail at its own post office box, so use the right one:

• Justice Court and city court: phone 406-557-2733. Box 482 is its mailbox.
• Clerk of District Court: phone 406-557-6254. Box 8 is its mailbox. The person elected to this job also works as county treasurer.
• County Attorney: phone 406-557-2480. Box 33 is its mailbox.

Phone ahead to ask about hours, so a long drive doesn't end at a locked door. Every box uses the same town and ZIP code, Jordan, MT 59337.

Jordan is the county's only incorporated town. The state's court locator names one officeholder, the "Justice of the Peace / City Judge," for both of the courts in the building. Reach that office at 406-557-2733.

The town pays the Sheriff's Office to police its streets. Commissioners approved that deal in July 2025 at $50,000 a year. So a deputy writes most tickets in town, too. Arrests in Cohagen, Sand Springs, Mosby, Brusett or anywhere else outside town go to Justice Court.

The Sixteenth Judicial District is a big circuit. Seven southeast Montana counties belong to it, among them Custer and Rosebud. Two district judges split those counties. A court web page from nearby Carter County says one of the two handles this county along with several others.

• Felony trials, sentencing and Youth Court all happen before the district judge.
• Papers for a felony are filed with the clerk in Jordan, at 406-557-6254.
• Ask the clerk which days the district judge is due in town before you plan a trip.

A defendant who is not released waits in a jail in another county. In 2024, rosters from Miles City showed people held there for this county's Sheriff's Office. The Custer jail is at 1010 Main Street, Miles City, MT 59301, 406-874-3301.

For court dates, the person may be brought back to Jordan. State law also lets a bail hearing run over two-way video (MCA 46-9-201). To find out where your loved one is right now, call the Sheriff's Office at 406-557-2540.

State law gives police no room to stall: the arrested person goes to a judge "without unnecessary delay" (MCA 46-7-101). In this county that judge is most often the justice of the peace. That judge is required to cover this list (MCA 46-7-102):

• the charge, read out plainly
• a lawyer's help, paid for by the state when the person can't afford one
• the terms for going home before trial
• the right to say nothing, because spoken words can be used later
• that a guilty finding can take away the right to own a gun
• for a felony complaint, a chance to ask whether the charge has enough proof behind it

The judge rules on bail before that hearing ends (MCA 46-9-109).

The County Attorney brings small criminal cases to the Justice Court. At the plea, the defendant says guilty or not guilty. Saying not guilty gets the case a trial, and either the defense or the state can ask that six jurors decide it (MCA 46-17-201).

That trial has to begin no later than 6 months after the plea. If it misses the mark, the case is dismissed, unless the defense caused the wait or a judge finds good cause (MCA 46-13-401). Here is what common charges can bring:

• A first DUI: at least 24 hours locked up and no more than 6 months, plus a fine from $600 to $1,000 (MCA 61-8-1007)
• Theft worth $1,500 or under: a fine up to $1,500, up to 6 months in jail, or both (MCA 45-6-301)
• A first partner or family assault: 24 hours to 1 year and $100 to $1,000 (MCA 45-5-206)
• Any misdemeanor whose law names no penalty: a $500 fine, 6 months, or both, at most (MCA 46-18-212)

On a misdemeanor, the judge may hold off on sentencing for up to 12 months. Good behavior through that time can get the charge dropped (MCA 46-18-204).

Yes. Because the Justice Court here is not a court of record, an appeal means a brand-new trial in District Court, where six jurors may hear the case (MCA 46-17-311).

Move fast. The deadline to appeal is 10 days from the judgment entered after trial. A lawyer can help file it on time. For forms or questions, phone the Justice Court at 406-557-2733.

Felony cases tend to follow this path:

1. First appearance. Justice Court reads the charge and sets bail.
2. Formal charge. The prosecutor can hold a hearing in Justice Court to show there is enough proof. The other route is a written charge called an information, filed with the district judge's OK (MCA 46-11-201).
3. Arraignment. In District Court, the defendant enters a plea (MCA 46-12-201).
4. Trial. Twelve jurors hear it unless both sides waive a jury (MCA 46-16-110). The verdict must be unanimous.
5. Sentence. The judge hands down a sentence once the person pleads guilty or a jury convicts.

When a crime's own law sets no penalty, the felony limit is a decade behind bars plus a fine as high as $50,000 (MCA 46-18-213). Having illegal drugs is punished by as many as 5 years. On a first possession charge, the law leans toward a deferred sentence (MCA 45-9-102).

Charges that involve violence get extra care from start to finish:

• No list bail. Someone accused of hurting or strangling a partner or relative can't post bail from a schedule. A judge must see them first (MCA 46-9-302).
• Stiffer repeat penalties. A third partner or family assault becomes a felony, with up to 5 years (MCA 45-5-206).
• Ankle monitors. A person let out on felony stalking or felony partner assault is usually made to wear one. That rule applies if the area has a monitor (MCA 46-9-108).
• Release warnings. In these cases, jail staff have a duty to let the alleged victim know quickly once the accused goes free.
• Limits on deferral. A prior felony conviction rules out deferring a new felony sentence (MCA 46-18-201).

All felonies here are charged by the County Attorney, along with the misdemeanors brought in Justice Court. Reach that office at 406-557-2480, or write to Box 33 at the courthouse.

For the defense, a person short on money can ask Montana's Office of State Public Defender for help. Its Miles City office is at 515 Main Street, Miles City, MT 59301, 406-851-7080. Sometimes that office has a conflict, such as already representing someone else in the case. Then the state's Conflict Defender at 208 N. Broadway, Suite 414, Billings, MT 59101, 406-247-4857, may be assigned. Apply on the state's online defender form. The court checks the money statement before it appoints anyone (MCA 47-1-111).

Anyone can search Montana court cases for free, by name or case number, on these two state sites:

• The Justice and city court portal
• The District Court portal, which holds felony files

Youth cases and sealed files stay off both sites. For a hearing date in Justice Court or city court, call 406-557-2733. Felony dates come from the district clerk at 406-557-6254. Have the full name and birth date handy when you call.

Sheriff's deputies serve warrants across the whole county, Jordan included, so start with a call to 406-557-2540. A filed case tied to a warrant can be found on the Justice and city court site or the felony court portal. Montana's corrections offender search marks anyone who escaped or slipped away from probation or parole as wanted by the state. To settle a warrant, call a lawyer before anything else. The lawyer can ask the issuing court for a new date or set up a time to surrender. The Justice Court phone is 406-557-2733, and the felony clerk's is 406-557-6254.

A federal case from out here goes to Billings, to the court at 2601 2nd Avenue North, Suite 1200, Billings, MT 59101, inside the James F. Battin Federal Courthouse. The clerk's phone is 406-247-7000.

• When the defendant first appears, a federal judge chooses between release and detention for the months before trial (18 U.S.C. 3142).
• Custody of federal defendants, including rides to court, falls to the U.S. Marshals Service in Suite 2300 of that courthouse, 406-200-6004.
• Reports on the defendant for the judge come from the federal probation office in Suite 1300, 406-657-6287.
• Follow a federal case on PACER. After sentencing, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

The Montana case goes on as normal. The detainer comes into play on release day. On Form I-247A, immigration officers request a hold on the person for up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released (8 CFR 287.7(d)).

1. Montana officers must arrest on the detainer and say why (MCA 27-16-801).
2. If believable papers show the person is a citizen or lawfully here, the hold must end.
3. Since 2025, Montana officers making a lawful stop may also look into a person's immigration status (MCA 46-5-401).
4. After pickup, the case passes to ICE's Salt Lake City Field Office, 2975 Decker Lake Drive, Suite 100, West Valley City, UT 84119, 801-736-1200.
5. Look for the person on the ICE Online Detainee Locator.

A sentence to state prison makes the Montana Department of Corrections responsible for the person. First comes a stay in county jail while the state sorts out where to send them. The state then picks a prison, a prerelease home or a program built around treatment.

• The Montana offender search gives a prisoner's current facility and custody status.
• Our Montana prisons section describes every state facility.
• The closest state probation and parole office we know of is at 509 Main Street, Miles City, MT 59301, 406-234-1962.

The district judge hears cases for anyone under 18 as Youth Court (MCA 41-5-203). Files about minors never show up on the public court websites.

• Within 24 hours of being locked up, a youth gets a probable cause hearing. Weekend days and holidays don't count (MCA 41-5-332).
• In very serious cases, a youth who is at least 12 can be sent to adult court if the County Attorney asks and a judge agrees (MCA 41-5-206).
• Youths can be granted bail, with the amount shaped by the parents' budget (MCA 41-5-323).

The Juvenile Probation office for the Sixteenth District, 406-874-3418, can tell parents where their child is held and when court is.

Victims and witnesses from this county are sent to the Custer County Attorney's Crime Victim and Witness Assistant in Miles City. Call 406-874-3305 or visit 1010 Main Street, Miles City, MT 59301.

• Before a serious case is dropped, settled by a plea or ended by a release, the prosecutor has to check in with the victim. This applies to felonies and to cases where someone was injured or threatened (MCA 46-24-104).
• The Miles City group known as CNADA works against domestic abuse and sexual assault. Its crisis line is 406-951-0475, and the toll-free line is 888-799-0542.
• Montana's crime victim fund can cover up to $25,000 of costs caused by a crime. Call 800-498-6455.
• For alerts when a state felony offender is released or moved, sign up with VINE at 800-456-3076 or on VINELink.