Glacier County Jail

That choice belongs to a judge. Montana law says an arrested person goes before the nearest judge "without unnecessary delay" (MCA 46-7-101). The judge must make the release decision at that very first hearing (MCA 46-9-109). The hearing can be held in a courtroom or over a video link to the jail (MCA 46-9-206).

• County charges start in Justice Court, 512 East Main Street, Cut Bank, MT 59427, 406-873-3631.
• Cases from inside city limits go to Cut Bank City Court, 113 East Main Street, Cut Bank, MT 59427, 406-873-0131.
• Felonies later move up to the Ninth Judicial District Court. The bail stays in place there, though the district judge may raise, cut or swap it (MCA 46-9-201).
• Tribal charges are handled by the Blackfeet Tribal Court, explained in the next answer.

Much of the county lies inside the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The Blackfeet Nation has its own police, court and laws there. Browning, where the tribal offices sit, is not an incorporated town, so it has no town court. The court that takes a case depends on where the crime happened, who was involved and which officers made the arrest.

• Tribal police. Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services covers the reservation around the clock. Call 406-338-4000 to learn if they made the arrest.
• Tribal court. The Blackfeet Tribal Court hears criminal matters that take place on the reservation and sets its own release terms. It is at 90 Highway 464, Browning, MT 59417, 406-338-5061.
• Tribal jail. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) runs a federal jail in Browning. Its Blackfeet Agency office answers at 406-338-7544.
• Serious crimes. These can be charged in federal court in Great Falls, with the FBI and the BIA leading the work. See the federal answer below.

Bail set by a county judge does nothing for a tribal or federal case. Each court decides release on its own.

The judge must pick the lightest terms that still make sure the person comes back to court (MCA 46-9-108). The usual choices are:

• A signed promise. This is called own recognizance, and it costs nothing (MCA 46-9-111).
• Rules to follow. A judge might set a curfew, ban alcohol or firearms, require check-ins, or forbid contact with witnesses and the person allegedly harmed.
• Full cash. Every dollar is paid up front, and the court holds it for the life of the case.
• A bail agent's bond. A licensed agent backs the full amount for a fee.
• Two personal sureties. Two qualified people co-sign a written promise with the defendant (MCA 46-9-401).
• Land in Montana. Property with enough equity, free of other debts, can serve as bail.
• A driver's license. For some traffic offenses, the license can take the place of cash.

The law favors an ankle monitor, where one exists, in cases such as a repeat assault on a partner or felony stalking (MCA 46-9-108).

For most misdemeanors, judges start from the Montana Supreme Court's statewide Recommended Bond Schedule, updated for 2026. It is advice only, so a local judge may set a higher or lower figure. Each amount already includes state surcharges. Some figures:

• Assault causing bodily injury (misdemeanor): $585, plus a required court appearance
• Selling or handing alcohol to a person under 21: $535, court appearance required
• Criminal insurance fraud of $1,500 or less: $285, court appearance required
• A second unlawful gambling offense within 5 years: $750
• Operating a boat while impaired: $335
• Felonies such as homicide: no amount on the list, so a judge sets one

A judge must see the person first in five kinds of cases. They are assault on a partner or relative, strangling one, stalking, and violations of protection orders or no-contact orders (MCA 46-9-302).

Go to the Sheriff's jail roster and choose the newest Active Inmate Report. Each one is a short PDF with a date and time at the top. Find the person's name and read across to the Bond column. The Jacket number on that row is the jail's own ID for the person. The row also gives the booking date and the number of days held.

New reports usually appear around 8 a.m., but not every day, so the latest one can be a few days old. A $0 entry or a name you can't find is worth a phone call. Ring 406-873-2711 and press 2 to ask what is owed and which charge each amount covers.

Jail staff or an officer can collect bail for the judge, but only if the warrant spells out the amount or a posted schedule lists it. They must hand you a signed receipt (MCA 46-9-302). Work through these steps:

1. Call 406-873-2711 and press 2 for the jail. Late at night or on a weekend, press 3 for the 24/7 dispatch center.
2. Give the person's full name, and the Jacket number from the roster if you have it.
3. Ask the bail amount, which case it covers and whether a judge has to see the person before release.
4. Ask where to go to pay, which kinds of payment are taken and the payee name for a check or money order.
5. Carry ID with your photo and the exact amount, and keep the receipt safe.

Always get directions from staff before you leave home.

A court rule for justice and city courts lets people pay schedule bail at the counter during business hours on judicial days. The rules also say the schedule has to hang in the court's office.

• Justice Court, for misdemeanors and the opening hearing in felonies: 512 East Main Street, Cut Bank, MT 59427, 406-873-3631
• Cut Bank City Court, for city cases: 113 East Main Street, Cut Bank, MT 59427, 406-873-0131
• Clerk of District Court, for felonies: 512 East Main Street, Cut Bank, MT 59427, 406-873-3619

Phone the court first. Ask the amount, its hours, the payments it takes and whether the jail will free the person as soon as the money is in. Bail in a tribal case goes through the Blackfeet Tribal Court in Browning instead.

The surest way to pay is the exact amount in cash or a money order. Before you count on a check or a card, call and ask if it will be accepted. For its own fees, the Clerk of District Court takes cash and checks but no debit or credit cards, so ask whether bail works the same way.

Plan to pay bail in person or through a licensed bail agent. If someone calls demanding bail through gift cards or an app, end the call. Then phone the jail directly at 406-873-2711. Never send cash in the mail.

An agent can help when the family can't pay the full amount. Montana's legal name for one is a "surety bail bond insurance producer." Montana's Commissioner of Securities and Insurance must license every agent (MCA 33-17-1601).

• Whatever happens in the case, the fee you pay the agent is gone for good.
• Agents often want collateral too, such as a vehicle title or land. Ask the agent to write down when and how you get it back.
• An agent may track down and arrest a client who misses court, and usually must alert local police first (MCA 46-6-508).
• A surety bond is for showing up in court. The court can't use it to collect fines or restitution (MCA 46-9-503).
• The NAIC licensee lookup shows whether an agent is licensed. Check before you sign.

Each bail covers one case only. Before paying, call and have staff list any holds. These are the usual ones:

• An outside warrant. A 2025 law bars local judges from setting bail for anyone jailed on another county's or state's warrant (MCA 46-9-201).
• Extradition. Someone returned from another state sees the judge behind the warrant first, before bail can be set (MCA 46-9-105).
• A tribal or federal case. Each one needs its own release order.
• Probation or parole. The state's officers work from the Courthouse Annex, 1210 E. Main, Suite 13, Cut Bank, MT 59427, 406-873-5791.
• Two cases at once. Separate city and county charges need separate bail.
• Immigration. An ICE detainer is covered further down this page.

To ask about holds, call 406-873-2711 and press 2.

It can happen, but only in limited cases. Under the Montana Constitution, every person is bailable except in a capital case when "the proof is evident or the presumption great" (Mont. Const. art. II, sec. 21). It also forbids excessive bail (Mont. Const. art. II, sec. 22).

Apart from that, a judge can still deny release if there is probable cause that no conditions would make sure the person returns (MCA 46-9-106). Factors include the type of charge, criminal record, any earlier flight from court, the risk to others, drug or alcohol history and probation or parole status. Judges may also lean on a validated pretrial risk assessment (MCA 46-9-109).

Requests for high bail or no bail come from the County Attorney's Office, 1210 East Main Street, Cut Bank, MT 59427, 406-873-5888.

Either side can ask the judge to change the amount or the terms. The other side must get reasonable notice (MCA 46-9-311).

1. The defense lawyer files a written motion with the judge handling the case.
2. Gather a lease or deed, pay stubs, family letters and a household budget. Montana judges are told to keep bail reasonable, never oppressive, and to weigh the person's ability to pay (MCA 46-9-301).
3. Suggest terms that answer the judge's worries, such as alcohol testing.

The county is part of the state's 24/7 Sobriety Program, which uses breath tests twice a day. Judges may require it as a release term in repeat DUI cases and some other alcohol cases. The Sheriff's Office lists an approved testing site; call 406-873-3652 for details.

Many people do. The first judge the person sees must tell them about the right to a lawyer, and about a free one if money is short (MCA 46-7-102). The state's public defender system handles felonies, youth court matters and jailable misdemeanors.

If the household's income is 133% of the poverty line or less, the person qualifies. They also qualify when paying a lawyer would be a serious hardship. A denial can't rest only on being able to post bail or on having a job (MCA 47-1-111). The court reviews the decision.

• Public defender, Great Falls office, which handles the region: 615 2nd Ave. N., Great Falls, MT 59403, 406-770-3200
• Conflict Defender Division, Great Falls: 600 Central Ave, Suite 327, Great Falls, MT 59401, 406-604-7581
• Apply with the public defender's online form. Upload recent pay stubs and bank statements with it.

The Blackfeet Tribal Court has its own defenders for tribal cases. Reach the court at 406-338-5061.

Two county courts share the historic courthouse in Cut Bank, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Call ahead for hours.

• District Court, Ninth Judicial District, for felonies. The clerk is at 512 East Main Street, Cut Bank, MT 59427, 406-873-3619. The district also serves Pondera, Teton and Toole counties.
• Justice Court, for misdemeanors and early felony steps, 512 East Main Street, Cut Bank, MT 59427, 406-873-3631.
• City Court, for city cases, 113 East Main Street, Cut Bank, MT 59427, 406-873-0131.
• Blackfeet Tribal Court, for tribal cases, 90 Highway 464, Browning, MT 59417, 406-338-5061.
• U.S. District Court, for federal crimes, Missouri River Federal Courthouse, 125 Central Avenue West, Suite 110, Great Falls, MT 59404, 406-727-1922.

When the case closes and the person made every appearance, the court returns cash bail to the one who posted it (MCA 46-9-502). Montana's rules for justice and city courts say bond refunds are made out only to the person who deposited the money, so keep the receipt somewhere safe.

If the person skips a court date, the bail can be lost through an order called a forfeiture. The court gets 10 working days to send that notice by mail to the defendant and every surety. Late notice voids the bond (MCA 46-9-503).

• A forfeiture can be wiped out when, inside 90 days, the defendant returns or gives the judge a good reason for missing court.
• In a misdemeanor, forfeited cash is paid to the treasury of the city or county that took it. In a felony, the state's general fund gets it (MCA 46-9-511).
• Forfeited bail may also go to a crime victim as restitution, if the judge orders it (MCA 46-9-512).

To get money back, phone the court holding it. Justice Court is at 406-873-3631.

Before release, ask staff about the person's cash balance and the things taken at booking. Call 406-873-2711 and press 2 to learn how a leftover account balance is paid out and when and where belongings can be picked up.

Have your photo ID with you. If you are collecting things for someone else, ask if the person needs to sign a note letting you take them. Our inmate account guide explains how deposits and refunds usually work.

Federal charges from the county, including many from the Blackfeet Reservation, go to the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, Great Falls Division. It sits in the Missouri River Federal Courthouse, 125 Central Avenue West, Suite 110, Great Falls, MT 59404, 406-727-1922. The clerk is open weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• At the first federal appearance, the judge decides on release or detention. The defense may get a delay of five days at most, and the government three (18 U.S.C. 3142).
• Until trial, federal defendants stay in U.S. Marshals Service custody. Call its Montana office at 406-200-6004 to learn where someone is held.
• The federal pretrial office in Browning writes background reports for the judge. It is part of U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services and sits in the Blackfeet Federal Building, 531 S.E. Boundary, Browning, MT 59417, 406-338-3547.
• PACER posts the filings for a per-page fee. After sentencing, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

Yes. An immigration detainer stays in force after state bail is paid. The steps:

1. Federal immigration officers, known as ICE, send Form I-247A to the jail to request a hold.
2. The jail may then hold them up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
3. Montana officers have to honor it and let the person know the hold is for immigration. If the person proves U.S. citizenship or legal status with believable papers, the officer must let them go (MCA 27-16-801).
4. ICE's Salt Lake City Field Office, whose area includes Montana, then takes over: 2975 Decker Lake Drive, Suite 100, West Valley City, UT 84119, 801-736-1200.
5. Find the person with the ICE Online Detainee Locator, using the person's name plus their birth country.

The Montana Department of Corrections takes charge of anyone sentenced to state custody for a felony. Most people stay in the county jail for a while after sentencing, until the state finishes an assessment. Then corrections picks a prison, prerelease center or treatment program.

• Enter the person's name, or a DOC number if you have it, in the state's offender search.
• Each facility is described in our guide to Montana prisons. One of the state's contract prisons, Crossroads Correctional Center, is in nearby Shelby.
• Questions about supervision after release go to the Probation and Parole office at 406-873-5791.

Anyone not yet 18 counts as a youth in Montana. Most youth cases are heard in Youth Court, part of District Court (MCA 41-5-203). Youths from the county are held at the Cascade County Juvenile Detention Center, 1600 26th Street S, Great Falls, MT 59405, 406-454-6930. It serves the north central part of the state and also holds youths for the BIA.

• A rural adult jail may keep a youth only briefly, fully apart from adults (MCA 41-5-349).
• If a youth is locked up, the youth gets a hearing on probable cause in 24 hours or less. Weekends and holidays don't count (MCA 41-5-332).
• Youths may get bail too, set with an eye on what the family can pay (MCA 41-5-323).
• On the reservation, the Blackfeet Family Court handles some juvenile criminal matters.

Youth hearing dates come from the Clerk of District Court at 406-873-3619.

The weight of the charge sorts a case into a court:

• Justice Court takes misdemeanors from any corner of the county, from traffic crimes to fish and game cases. It covers offenses punishable by no more than a $500 fine or 6 months in jail. Bigger misdemeanors can go to either Justice Court or District Court (MCA 3-10-303).
• City Court rules on breaks of Cut Bank's own ordinances and can also take misdemeanors from inside the city (MCA 3-11-103).
• District Court takes every felony. Felonies are crimes with a possible state prison term longer than one year (MCA 45-2-101).
• Youth Court, a division of District Court, hears charges against people under 18.
• Blackfeet Tribal Court deals with criminal matters that come up on the reservation.

A typical felony gets its first hearing and bail in Justice Court before climbing to District Court.

The historic courthouse at 512 East Main Street, Cut Bank, MT 59427 is on the National Register of Historic Places. Two criminal courts work there, so check each office's hours by phone before you go.

• Clerk of District Court, Ninth Judicial District: 406-873-3619, or email clerkofcourt.glacier@mt.gov. The clerk keeps court files, records orders and judgments and calls jurors. Staff can't give legal advice. Blank forms are on the state's court forms page.
• Justice Court: 406-873-3631, with a second line at 406-873-3632.

The judges of the Ninth District also cover Pondera, Teton and Toole counties. The County Attorney's Office is on the same street, at 1210 East Main Street, Cut Bank, MT 59427.

The county has just one incorporated city, and it runs its own court at 113 East Main Street, Cut Bank, MT 59427, 406-873-0131. The court hears city ordinance cases and misdemeanors from inside the limits. A felony filed there can have its first steps in front of the city judge before it goes up to District Court (MCA 3-11-102).

The mayor appoints the city judge, who must live in town or close enough to arrive within twenty minutes (Cut Bank code 1-6-4). Call the court for its hours, dates and fines. Police calls in town are taken by the shared City County Dispatch, 406-873-2711, option 3.

The Blackfeet Nation runs its own court system on the reservation. The tribe says its Tribal Court has power over civil and criminal matters that happen there. Federal prosecutors point out that, unlike the Flathead Reservation, Blackfeet land is not under Public Law 280. The crime, the location and the people involved decide whether a case goes to tribal, state or federal court.

• Blackfeet Tribal Court, 90 Highway 464, Browning, MT 59417. Call 406-338-5061 or 406-338-5071. Mail goes to P.O. Box 1170, Browning, MT 59417. Its staff includes judges, clerks, tribal prosecutors and defenders.
• Family Court handles divorce, custody, child support, guardianship, paternity and some juvenile criminal matters.
• Blackfeet Court of Appeals reviews rulings from both courts. Its mail goes to P.O. Box 850, Browning, MT 59417.

Tribal police, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, can say who made an arrest and where the person is. Their 24-hour line is 406-338-4000.

Browning has no town court, because it is not an incorporated town. Babb, Heart Butte, St. Mary and the other small communities have none either. When a deputy or state trooper makes an arrest outside the city, a state misdemeanor goes to Justice Court in the county seat. A felony then moves on to District Court in the same building.

Arrests by tribal police on tribal charges go to the Blackfeet Tribal Court instead. For a federal case, U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services works out of the Blackfeet Federal Building, 531 S.E. Boundary, Browning, MT 59417, 406-338-3547.

An arrested person has to be brought "without unnecessary delay" to a nearby judge who is available (MCA 46-7-101). For county charges, that is most often Justice Court, in the courtroom or on a screen from the jail. The judge then explains (MCA 46-7-102):

• what crimes are charged
• that a lawyer can be appointed at state cost if the person has no money for one
• what the options are for release before trial
• the option to remain silent, since any statement may be offered as evidence
• that a conviction can strip gun rights under both state and federal law
• when a felony is charged by complaint, that they can ask for a probable cause finding from a judge

Release or detention gets decided at this same hearing (MCA 46-9-109).

The County Attorney brings most county misdemeanors to Justice Court, and city ordinance cases go to City Court. A not guilty plea leads the judge to set a trial date. Misdemeanor juries have six members, and either party may insist on one (MCA 46-17-201).

If 6 months pass after the plea with no trial, the judge must dismiss the case for good. The deadline is paused for delays the defense asked for, and a judge may find good cause to allow more time (MCA 46-13-401). Common penalties include:

• A first DUI conviction: a $600 to $1,000 fine and 24 hours to 6 months in jail (MCA 61-8-1007)
• Theft of $1,500 or less, first or second offense: a fine up to $1,500, jail up to 6 months, or both (MCA 45-6-301)
• First partner or family member assault: from 24 hours to 1 year in jail, plus $100 to $1,000 (MCA 45-5-206)
• Misdemeanors without a penalty of their own: no more than 6 months and $500 (MCA 46-18-212)

Judges can defer a misdemeanor sentence as long as one year. When the person keeps to the rules, the charge can then be dismissed (MCA 46-18-204).

The usual order of events:

1. First appearance. This usually happens in Justice Court, and bail is set there.
2. Charging. Justice Court may hold a preliminary exam to test the evidence (MCA 46-10-105). Or the County Attorney can file sworn papers asking District Court for permission to charge by information (MCA 46-11-201). Grand juries meet only at a district judge's order, and they are rare.
3. Arraignment. In open District Court, the person is handed the charging papers and answers guilty or not guilty (MCA 46-12-201).
4. Trial. The case goes to a jury of 12. Both sides may agree on paper to let the judge rule without jurors (MCA 46-16-110). All 12 must agree.
5. Sentencing. Once guilt is admitted or proven, the judge hands down the sentence.

If a felony statute sets no penalty, the judge may order a $50,000 fine, 10 years in state prison, or both (MCA 46-18-213). Theft above $1,500 also tops out at 10 years. Possession of dangerous drugs carries up to 5 years, though first-time possession is presumed to qualify for a deferred sentence (MCA 45-9-102).

Violent and family cases come with extra rules at nearly every step:

• No list bail. Release waits until a judge sees the person when the charge is stalking, a partner or family assault, strangling a partner, or a broken protection order (MCA 46-9-302).
• No-contact order. After certain arrests, a standing order can bar contact within up to 1,500 feet. It ends after 72 hours or at the person's first appearance in court (MCA 45-5-209).
• Repeat assaults. Penalties for a third partner assault reach 5 years, with at least 30 days, plus a $500 to $50,000 fine (MCA 45-5-206).
• Monitoring. Felony stalking and felony partner assault point toward an ankle monitor where one exists (MCA 46-9-108).
• Victim alerts. Once the accused makes bail, jail staff must quickly get word to the alleged victim.
• Past felonies. A deferred felony sentence isn't allowed for someone with a prior felony conviction (MCA 46-18-201).

Treatment courts trade close supervision and treatment for a lighter outcome. The state's undated directory lists these near the county, so call to ask whether each is taking new cases:

• Ninth Judicial District Drug Court for adults, 226 1st Street South, Shelby, MT 59474, 406-424-8363.
• Blackfeet Adult Healing to Wellness Court and Blackfeet Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court, 90 Hwy 464, Browning, MT 59417, 406-338-5061.

The Judicial Branch keeps a page on Montana treatment courts. For alcohol cases, a judge may also order the state's 24/7 Sobriety Program. The Sheriff's Office lists a testing site; ask about it at 406-873-3652.

State charges are brought by the County Attorney's Office, 1210 East Main Street, Cut Bank, MT 59427, 406-873-5888. In tribal court, the tribe's own prosecutors handle the case.

Anyone short on money for a lawyer may apply for a public defender. The state program represents people in felony and youth cases, and in misdemeanors that could put them in jail. The court reviews each person's eligibility (MCA 47-1-111).

• Great Falls public defender office: 615 2nd Ave. N., Great Falls, MT 59403, 406-770-3200
• Conflict Defender Division, used when the first office has a conflict: 600 Central Ave, Suite 327, Great Falls, MT 59401, 406-604-7581
• Online application: advopd.mt.gov

For forms and self-help, the court system points residents to the Cascade County Self Help Law Center, Great Falls Public Library, 301 2nd Ave N, Great Falls, MT 59401, 406-899-7109.

Montana's courts offer two free portals. Type a name or a case number into either one:

• Limited jurisdiction portal: Justice Court and Cut Bank City Court records
• District Court public portal: felony records

Sealed files and cases involving minors are left out of both. For anything you can't find, ask the court. Justice Court dates come from 406-873-3631, and city dates from 406-873-0131.

The District Court clerk does copies and searches by email at clerkofcourt.glacier@mt.gov. Copies cost $1.00 a page for the first ten, then $0.50 a page, or $0.25 a page sent electronically. A records search is $2.00 per name for each year, up to 7 years.

A guilty verdict from Justice Court or City Court can be taken up to District Court. The appeal has to be filed no more than 10 days after a judgment is entered at the end of a trial (MCA 46-17-311).

• When the first court doesn't record its hearings, District Court starts fresh with a brand-new trial, which can include six jurors.
• If the first court is a court of record, District Court looks over the record instead.

Ask the Clerk of District Court at 406-873-3619 which rule applies. A lawyer should handle the filing, because missing the deadline can end the appeal.

County deputies and city officers both answer through City County Dispatch, so ask about a warrant at 406-873-2711, option 3. On the reservation, call Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services at 406-338-4000. Cases tied to a warrant can show up on the state's limited jurisdiction portal or its District Court portal. The corrections offender search lists people sought for escape or for slipping away from parole or probation. Get legal advice before anything else. Next, either turn yourself in at the jail, after asking dispatch where to go, or contact the court behind the warrant about a new date. For a felony warrant, the clerk's number is 406-873-3619.

Federal crimes from the county, including major crimes on Blackfeet land, are heard by federal judges in Great Falls. Their building is the Missouri River Federal Courthouse, 125 Central Avenue West, Suite 110, Great Falls, MT 59404, 406-727-1922, and the clerk is open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• The FBI and the BIA lead most reservation investigations. The U.S. Attorney's Office funds a special tribal prosecutor position for Blackfeet cases.
• Home or jail until trial? A federal judicial officer answers that question at the opening hearing (18 U.S.C. 3142).
• The U.S. Marshals Service, which guards federal prisoners, has an office in the same Great Falls courthouse, Suite 220. Its district line is 406-200-6004.
• Look up filings on PACER. After a prison sentence, the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator gives the location.

The state case keeps going, but an immigration detainer changes what happens on the day of release. Using Form I-247A, immigration agents may request that the person be held up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released (8 CFR 287.7(d)).

1. Under Montana law, an officer with a detainer in hand must hold the person under it and explain why (MCA 27-16-801).
2. Believable proof that the person is a citizen or here lawfully ends the duty to hold them.
3. Since 2025, Montana officers may also ask about immigration status during a lawful stop (MCA 46-5-401).
4. After pickup, the person is in the hands of ICE's Salt Lake City Field Office, 2975 Decker Lake Drive, Suite 100, West Valley City, UT 84119, 801-736-1200.
5. Track them with the ICE Online Detainee Locator.

Felony prison time is served under the Montana Department of Corrections. Before any move, the person tends to stay in the local jail while the state sizes up their needs. The state then picks where they go, from prisons to prerelease and treatment centers.

• Find their location and status on the state's offender lookup.
• Our Montana prisons overview covers each site. Crossroads Correctional Center, a contract prison, is close by in Shelby.
• Ask the Board of Pardons and Parole about parole timing: 1002 Hollenbeck Road, Deer Lodge, MT 59722, 406-846-1404.
• Local Probation and Parole staff work from the Courthouse Annex, 1210 E. Main, Suite 13, Cut Bank, MT 59427, 406-873-5791.

Charges against someone under 18 go to Youth Court, where a district judge presides (MCA 41-5-203). The District Court clerk holds youth files, and the public portals leave them out.

• Locked-up youths get a fast probable cause review, held in 24 hours or less. Weekend days and holidays don't count toward the 24 (MCA 41-5-332).
• In some very serious cases, a youth of 12 or more can be transferred for trial as an adult. The County Attorney must request it, and the judge must approve (MCA 41-5-206).
• State prisons can't hold anyone under 16.
• A youth committed to the state may be sent to Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 4 North Haynes Avenue, Miles City, MT 59301, 406-232-1377.
• On the reservation, the Blackfeet Family Court and the juvenile wellness court handle some youth cases.

While a case is pending, county youths who are locked up usually stay at the Great Falls youth center run by Cascade County, 406-454-6930.

When a felony or a case involving injury or threats is headed for dismissal, a plea deal, release or diversion, the County Attorney must talk with the victim first (MCA 46-24-104). Call the office at 406-873-5888.

• The Blackfeet Domestic Violence Program, 1015 5th Ave NE, Browning, MT 59417, 406-338-2408, helps people hurt by family violence.
• Through the state's victim compensation program, crime costs can be repaid up to $25,000. Report the crime within 72 hours and file within a year. Call 800-498-6455.
• For a state felony offender, sign up for free custody alerts through VINELink or at 800-456-3076.
• In federal reservation cases, victim help comes from the FBI, the BIA and the U.S. Attorney's Office.