Lincoln County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Getting Out on Bail in Lincoln County
Adults arrested in Libby, Troy, Eureka or the Kootenai back country are booked into the Lincoln County Detention Center, 512 California Ave, Libby, MT 59923. The Sheriff's Office runs this 29-bed jail for men and women. Read on for the judge's part in bail, the forms it takes, how it gets paid and holds that may follow.
The Sheriff's inmate roster tells you if your family member is still inside. Our Inmate Lists page centers on the arrest and custody. It covers who was booked, warrant checks, charge details, mugshots, property return and how to get a public defender.
Call the Sheriff's main line at 406-293-4112 and press extension 1 to reach the jail. Then ask three things: is your person there, what is the bail, and when is court? Each hearing in the Kootenai country is explained on our court page, step by step.
1. Who sets bail after a Lincoln County arrest?
Only a judge can. Under Montana law, an arrested person goes to the nearest judge "without unnecessary delay" (MCA 46-7-101), and that judge settles release on the spot (MCA 46-9-109).
According to the County Attorney's Office, an arrest made outside town limits is normally heard the next business day, and judges usually see prisoners between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. That is common practice, not a promise, so phone to confirm. The setting is most often the Justice Court in the county Annex, 418 Mineral Ave, Libby, MT 59923. Its prisoner and citation desk is 406-283-2412.
Arrests within Libby, Troy or Eureka town lines can land in the city court instead. Bail set in Justice Court stays in force after a felony moves to District Court. The district judge may change it (MCA 46-9-201).
↑ Back to the question list2. What release choices are open to the judge?
Montana judges are told to go easy where they safely can. The terms must be no tighter than needed to get the person back to court (MCA 46-9-108). Here is the menu:
- Own recognizance. The person signs a promise and pays nothing (MCA 46-9-111).
- Conditions. Home, but with rules. Common ones are no drinking, no weapons, a set curfew, staying clear of the alleged victim or checking in with an officer.
- Cash bail. Someone pays the court the whole amount. The court holds that money until the case wraps up.
- Surety bond. A state-licensed agent guarantees the amount in return for a fee that is never refunded.
- Property. Montana real estate with enough clear equity may be pledged (MCA 46-9-401).
- Personal sureties. The person plus two backers sign a written pledge.
- Driver's license. On certain traffic offenses, handing over the license can stand in for cash.
An ankle monitor is the expected add-on for a few charges when the equipment is on hand. That covers a second partner assault, felony stalking and strangling a partner. The person may have to pay for the monitor.
↑ Back to the question list3. What dollar amounts are common for bail?
Montana's high court writes a Recommended Bond Schedule. Local judges in justice and city courts treat it as a guide. Judges in Libby or anywhere else may go above or below it. Some 2026 figures, with surcharges built in:
- Misdemeanor assault causing bodily injury: $585 (the person must appear)
- Furnishing alcohol to a person under 21: $535 (must appear)
- Illegal gambling, second offense in a 5-year span: $750
- Operating a boat while impaired: $335
- Insurance fraud, $1,500 or under: $285 (must appear)
- Felonies like deliberate homicide: the schedule says "no bond," leaving it to the judge
Some charges have no schedule price at all. Assaulting a partner or relative (MCA 45-5-206), strangling one (MCA 45-5-215), stalking (MCA 45-5-220), or breaking a protection order (MCA 45-5-626) or no-contact order (MCA 45-5-209) means the person waits for a judge (MCA 46-9-302). For a real figure, phone the Justice Court at 406-283-2412 on a weekday.
↑ Back to the question list4. Paying bail at the Libby jail: what are the steps?
The jail's address is the Sheriff's, 512 California Ave, Libby, MT 59923. A deputy or detention officer may take your payment for the judge. That works only when the figure is on a posted bail schedule or printed on the warrant itself. Leave with a signed receipt (MCA 46-9-302). Go in this order:
- Dial 406-293-4112 and ask for extension 1.
- Spell the legal name, then give the date of birth. Ask the bail total and which charge it covers.
- Find out which payment types work today, and whose name goes on the money order's pay-to line.
- In partner assault and protection order cases, a judge must see the person before bail. Ask if that rule applies.
- Carry photo ID and the right amount. Hang on to the receipt.
Money mailed in for a person's jail account goes onto that account. It is a different thing from bail and does not buy release.
↑ Back to the question list5. Which local courts accept bail payments?
Montana court rules say schedule bail may be paid at the court on its business days. Each court has to post its bail list in the office.
- Justice Court: county Annex, first floor, 418 Mineral Ave, Libby, MT 59923, 406-283-2412. Weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Libby City Court: 952 E. Spruce St., Libby, MT 59923, 406-293-4440. The city says court is in session Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Troy City Court: 301 E. Kootenai Ave., Troy, MT 59935, 406-295-4151. Office time is limited to Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. to noon.
- Eureka City Court: 11 Dewey Ave., Eureka, MT 59917, 406-297-2123. It uses Town Hall, open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Felony bail is a judge's call rather than a schedule figure. Phone first and ask three things: the amount, the payment types the clerk takes, and how quickly the jail will free the person once it is paid.
↑ Back to the question list6. Can bail be paid with a card, a check or online?
Cash and money orders are the surest bet. Thinking of a check or a debit card? Ask first.
Troy City Court has an online payment link for court costs on the Troy court page. The city presents it for tickets and fines, not as a bail tool for someone being held.
Fines owed to Libby City Court may be paid in person at the county Annex, 418 Mineral Ave, Libby, MT 59923. For jail bail, call 406-293-4112, extension 1, and ask what is accepted before you head over. Do not put bail cash in an envelope. A stranger who calls asking for bail through gift cards or a phone app is a red flag, so hang up and call the jail directly.
↑ Back to the question list7. How does a bail bond company work in Montana?
On paper, the job title is "surety bail bond insurance producer." Licenses for these agents are handed out by the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (MCA 33-17-1601). That office oversees insurance in the state.
- You pay the agent a fee. That money is gone for good, even if charges are dropped.
- Agents often hold something of value, such as a truck title, as collateral. Ask for a written note on how you get it back.
- If court is missed, the agent can track down the person and bring them in. Except in an emergency, the agent first tells local police (MCA 46-6-508).
- The bond protects against no-shows only. It can't cover fines or pay back a victim (MCA 46-9-503).
- Run the agent's name through the NAIC license lookup before signing.
8. Why could the person stay in jail after paying?
Each bail is tied to a single case. Watch for these:
- A warrant from elsewhere. Since 2025, local judges can't set bail for a person held on another jurisdiction's warrant (MCA 46-9-201). First hearings on these are held at the Justice Court.
- Brought back from another state. The issuing judge must see the person before any bail (MCA 46-9-105).
- Probation or parole. An alleged violation can carry its own hold. Adult probation in Libby can be reached at 406-293-7739.
- More than one case. A Libby City Court charge and a Justice Court charge are bailed one at a time.
- Federal or ICE hold. Read the federal and immigration answers lower on this page.
Call the jail at 406-293-4112, extension 1, and ask for every hold by name before any money changes hands.
↑ Back to the question list9. Is it possible for bail to be refused?
Not often. The Montana Constitution says bail must be allowed, except in a death-penalty case when "the proof is evident or the presumption great" (Mont. Const. art. II, sec. 21). It also says bail can't be excessive (Mont. Const. art. II, sec. 22).
Even so, a judge can hold a person until trial on probable cause that no set of safeguards would get them back to court (MCA 46-9-106). Things the judge weighs: the offense, criminal history, past failures to appear or flight, risk to anyone else, and roots in the community. A pretrial risk tool may help (MCA 46-9-109).
The prosecutor asking the court to set bail high, or to deny it, works at the County Attorney's Office, 512 California Avenue, Libby, MT 59923, 406-293-2717.
↑ Back to the question list10. What can help get bail lowered in Lincoln County?
Either side may file to have bail raised, reduced, replaced or its conditions changed, after giving notice to the other side (MCA 46-9-311).
- Ask the defense lawyer to file a bail motion.
- Collect pay stubs, a lease or deed, letters from family and a frank list of what you can pay. Montana bail has to take the defendant's finances into account and can't be oppressive (MCA 46-9-301).
- Propose conditions that ease the judge's mind. The county takes part in the state 24/7 sobriety program, which can be one of them.
On a Justice Court case, ask about a hearing at 406-283-2411. On a felony, try the District Court office at 406-293-8120.
↑ Back to the question list11. How does a Lincoln County defendant get a free lawyer?
The first-appearance judge has to tell the person they can have a lawyer (MCA 46-7-102). State public defenders take felonies and Youth Court matters. They also take misdemeanors when jail is on the table.
Eligibility starts at household income of 133% of the federal poverty level or below. People above that line still qualify if a private lawyer would be a substantial hardship. Holding a job, or posting bail, is never enough by itself to deny help (MCA 47-1-111). Applicants sign a sworn financial form, and a judge has the final word.
- Regional office: Office of State Public Defender, 723 5th Ave. E., Suite 100, Kalispell, MT 59901, 406-751-6080. The Clerk of District Court points public defender questions here too.
- Online application: AdvOPD
- Program site: Montana Public Defender
12. Where do Lincoln County courts meet?
Libby holds the county courts. Troy and Eureka have city courts of their own.
- Nineteenth Judicial District Court (felonies), at the courthouse, 512 California Ave., Libby, MT 59923, 406-293-8120. The 19th District covers this county alone. Look for the Clerk of District Court upstairs, on the second floor.
- Justice Court (misdemeanors and early felony steps), 418 Mineral Ave, Libby, MT 59923, 406-283-2411.
- Libby City Court, 952 E. Spruce St., Libby, MT 59923, 406-293-4440.
- Troy City Court, 301 E. Kootenai Ave., Troy, MT 59935, 406-295-4151.
- Eureka City Court, 11 Dewey Ave., Eureka, MT 59917, 406-297-2123.
- Federal court, Russell Smith Federal Courthouse, 201 E. Broadway, Suite 310, Missoula, MT 59802, 406-542-7260.
13. When is cash bail paid back?
Once the case is finished, and if no hearing was skipped, the court returns the cash (MCA 46-9-502). Justice and city court rules refund a bond only to whoever deposited it. Keep the receipt and your ID.
Miss a court date and the judge can declare a forfeiture. Within 10 working days, the court has to mail word of it to the defendant and every surety. If it mails late, the bond is void (MCA 46-9-503).
- For 90 days after a forfeiture, the court can reverse it if the person turns up or a valid reason is shown.
- Forfeited cash on a misdemeanor stays with the local treasury. Felony cash ends up in the state general fund (MCA 46-9-511).
- A judge may also hand forfeited bail to a victim of the crime (MCA 46-9-512).
Ask the court that took your deposit about a refund. For the Justice Court, use 406-283-2411.
↑ Back to the question list14. How do we get back the person's money and things?
Call the jail before release day at 406-293-4112, extension 1. Ask two things. How is leftover account money paid out? When can personal items be picked up?
Plan to show a photo ID. Someone other than the inmate may need a signed OK from them, so ask. The inmate money page explains how accounts and leftover balances usually work.
↑ Back to the question list15. What if the bail case is federal?
A federal charge from this corner of the state is filed in the Missoula Division of the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, Russell Smith Federal Courthouse, 201 E. Broadway, Suite 310, Missoula, MT 59802, 406-542-7260. Clerk hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.
- Detention is decided right at the first federal appearance. Either side can delay that hearing, but only by a few days (18 U.S.C. 3142).
- Federal defendants who stay locked up before trial are the U.S. Marshals Service's job. Its Missoula staff work from Suite 220 of that courthouse. Meanwhile, the Billings district office answers at 406-200-6004.
- Pretrial officers who report to the judge work on the courthouse's lower level, 406-542-7100.
- After sentencing, try the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
The federal docket is on PACER, a paid service billed by the page.
↑ Back to the question list16. Will posting bail stop an immigration hold?
No. An ICE hold sits apart from state bail. The usual steps:
- Step one: an immigration officer sends the Libby jail an I-247A detainer form.
- Under it, they can be held up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
- State law says officers must hold the person on the detainer and tell them why. A person who shows good proof of being a citizen, or of being here legally, must be let go (MCA 27-16-801).
- Agents then move the person to a location used by ICE's Salt Lake City Field Office, 2975 Decker Lake Drive, Suite 100, West Valley City, UT 84119, 801-736-1200, which oversees Montana, Utah, Idaho and Nevada.
- Search the ICE Online Detainee Locator by name plus country of birth.
17. What happens after a long prison sentence?
Felony terms over a year belong to the Montana Department of Corrections. Before the move, the person often waits in the county jail for a state intake review. Then they go to whatever fits, from a prison to a prerelease center or a treatment program.
- To see where they are held now, check the DOC offender search.
- Prison by prison, our Montana state prisons guide explains the details.
- The adult probation and parole office for this area is at 406-293-7739.
18. What if the person arrested is a Lincoln County teenager?
In Montana, a youth is anyone not yet 18. District judges hear their cases, sitting as the Youth Court (MCA 41-5-203). The County Attorney's Office prosecutes them. Booking alone is never a reason to keep a teen overnight in the adult jail. A teen may stay there up to 24 hours, not counting weekend days or holidays. Even then, adults must be out of sight and out of earshot (MCA 41-5-349).
- A judge must look at a detained teen's case fast, inside 24 hours (MCA 41-5-332). Weekend days and holidays are skipped when counting.
- A youth may be released on bail, set with the parents' budget in mind (MCA 41-5-323).
- Parents can call juvenile probation at 406-293-9715 to find the youth and learn the hearing date.
Lincoln County Detention Center
Address:
512 California Ave.
Libby, MT 59923
Phone:
406-293-4112
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Lincoln County
Does Lincoln County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lincoln County?
Who can set bail in Lincoln County?
When is bail set in Lincoln County Montana?
Does Lincoln County have bail?
Yes, Lincoln County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lincoln County?
Lincoln County permits five types of bonds:
• By a deposit with the court of an amount equal to the required bail of cash, stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, or other personal property approved by the court.
• By pledging real estate situated within the state with an unencumbered equity, not exempt, owned by the defendant or sureties at a value double the amount of the required bail.
• By posting a written undertaking executed by the defendant and by two sufficient sureties.
• By posting a commercial surety bond executed by the defendant and by a qualified agent for and on behalf of the surety company.
• By posting an offender's driver's license in lieu of bail if the summons describes a violation of any offense as provided in 61-5-214 and if the offender is the holder of an unexpired driver's license.”
Who can set bail in Lincoln County?
For most non-violent crimes bail is preset according to a bail schedule. More serious and violent crimes require a defendant to appear in front of a judge who will determine bail amount.
When is bail set in Lincoln County Montana?
For most non-violent crimes bail is preset according to a bail schedule and that information is available during the booking process. More serious crimes will require a hearing in front of a judge. This hearing, also known as a bail hearing, will generally be scheduled for the next court day. State law requires the bail hearing to take place within 48 hrs. not counting weekends or holidays.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Lincoln County must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance.
The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program.
Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee. A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane.
If a judge in Lincoln County feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR.
Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court.
If the judge or bail schedule determines that the defendant would be a danger to the public if they were released, bail can be denied, and the person will be detained in the Lincoln County Detention Center until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses.
What is the difference between Bail and Bond?
Bail and bond are used interchangeably to mean the same thing but technically, they are different. The bail is the amount to be paid and a bond is a signed document promising payment of the bail amount with certain conditions. Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.
The thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond immediately.
DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.
More courts are now trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.
Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title or money that was given to the clerk of court or bondsperson to secure the bond. This could put your loved ones into a difficult financial situation.
Another reason not to unnecessarily rush into securing a bond is that if the court notes that you came up with the money to pay a bond company, they may assume you have resources to pay a defense attorney and decline public defense.
On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.
What are the different types of bonds in Lincoln County?
Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge or bail officer will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.
To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid.
Similarly, the court (meaning a police or bail officer, clerk of court, bail magistrate or judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid.
Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:
You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail. The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted.
You could sign an agreement on your own or with another person to pay for the car at a future date knowing that your neighbor would know where to find you if you stopped payment. This would be similar to a cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond which are bonds to where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible for making sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.
Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
You can put a deposit down for your neighbor’s car and sign an agreement that the car will be paid off at a later date. Cash percentage in lieu of bonds is when the defendant pays a percentage of the bail amount, usually 10%, to the court which then holds the money until the case is over.
The amount is returned to the person who paid the 10% after the case is over. In most cases, the full amount is not returned if there are court fees or fines due. This is a type of surety bond if another person signs the bond paperwork.
You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value.
A property bond is a bond that the courts might consider in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).
Usually, the property must be in the same state as the courts, and it must be worth at least 1 ½ - 2 times the amount of the bond.
There are multiple court fees involved to execute a property bond with the courts and a tedious process to get the property deed back. This is another type of surety bond if another person or a bond company is used to secure the bond.
You could also go to a local bank and take out a car loan offering property or anything of value for collateral. You may get someone to co-sign on the loan and offer their property. The bank charges fees, interest and could keep your property if you did not pay the loan back, or even on time.
A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a “loan” called a bond. The percent that they charge is fixed by the state and cannot be negotiated. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met.
With a property bond, the property deed would need to be signed over to the bondsperson and everyone on the deed would need to be involved.
Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety, they can send a bounty hunter to bring you to court if you flee. A bondsperson does not have to give you a bond if the defendant seems to be too much of a risk.
Ask the bondsperson to explain all the costs: percentage, fees or court fees. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company. Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
Does Lincoln County have bail?
Yes, Lincoln County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lincoln County?
Lincoln County permits five types of bonds:
• By a deposit with the court of an amount equal to the required bail of cash, stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, or other personal property approved by the court.
• By pledging real estate situated within the state with an unencumbered equity, not exempt, owned by the defendant or sureties at a value double the amount of the required bail.
• By posting a written undertaking executed by the defendant and by two sufficient sureties.
• By posting a commercial surety bond executed by the defendant and by a qualified agent for and on behalf of the surety company.
• By posting an offender's driver's license in lieu of bail if the summons describes a violation of any offense as provided in 61-5-214 and if the offender is the holder of an unexpired driver's license.”
Who can set bail in Lincoln County?
For most non-violent crimes bail is preset according to a bail schedule. More serious and violent crimes require a defendant to appear in front of a judge who will determine bail amount.
When is bail set in Montana?
For most non-violent crimes bail is preset according to a bail schedule and that information is available during the booking process. More serious crimes will require a hearing in front of a judge. This hearing, also known as a bail hearing, will generally be scheduled for the next court day. State law requires the bail hearing to take place within 48 hrs. not counting weekends or holidays.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Lincoln County Montana?
Yes, your attorney can request a bail or bond modification.
In Lincoln County Montana, who can pay bail for me?
The person posting bail should be a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Montana could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Lincoln County Montana?
Yes, Lincoln County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Lincoln County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Lincoln County.
What options are there to pay bail in Lincoln County Montana?
Most all jail and courts accept cash, a cashier or bankers’ check. Some accept a credit card with fees. Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the Lincoln County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Lincoln County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Montana?
Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount. If you used a bondsperson, you would not get your 10% back. Property is returned by the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.
Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in Lincoln County?
Yes, 'no money down bail or bond' is available in Montana. Unless you are released on own recognizance the court will require payment in full, however, some bail bond agents do offer 'no money down' bail.
A cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond are bonds where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in Montana?
The Lincoln County Detention Center or court in this jurisdiction can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies, but they cannot recommend a specific company. You are not obligated to use the first company available and can call several companies to compare what kind of bonds that the bondsperson is willing to execute.
The percentage of bail that the bond company can charge is set, usually at 10%, by the state and cannot be negotiated.