Musselshell County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Musselshell County Bail and Release
Someone arrested in Roundup, Melstone or the ranch country around them is held at the 14-bed Musselshell County Detention Center, 820 Main Street, Roundup, MT 59072. The Sheriff's Office operates the jail, and this page covers the judge's bail decision, likely costs, places to pay and holds that can delay a release.
Start with the inmate search link, then confirm by phone. Our Jail Roster page handles the arrest and the time inside. Check it for warrants, recent bookings, who is in custody, booking photos, a charge's meaning, property pickup and appointed counsel.
Call the jail at 406-323-1402, which is also the dispatch non-emergency line and is answered 24 hours a day. Ask if the person is there and how much bail is. Each hearing, from the first appearance onward, is on our court process page.
1. Who sets bail after a Musselshell County arrest?
That call belongs to a judge. Montana law says anyone taken into custody must be brought "without unnecessary delay" in front of a nearby judge who is able to take the case (MCA 46-7-101). The judge has to rule on release at this first hearing (MCA 46-9-109). It can happen over a two-way video link from the jail (MCA 46-9-206).
Here, the first hearing for a misdemeanor or a felony takes place in Justice Court. Its judge doubles as city judge for Roundup and Melstone, so town cases go before the same person. First appearances are usually set on Mondays and Wednesdays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Call the court at 406-323-1078 to learn the time.
When a felony moves up to the 14th Judicial District Court, the amount carries over. The district judge may raise it, lower it or change its form (MCA 46-9-201).
↑ Back to the question list2. Does everyone have to pay money to get out?
The law asks for the least restrictive choice, as long as the person is still likely to come back (MCA 46-9-108). The main choices are:
- Personal recognizance. No cash at all. The person signs, promising to come to each hearing (MCA 46-9-111).
- Release with rules. They go home but must obey limits, such as staying sober, keeping away from the alleged victim, regular check-ins or a GPS monitor.
- Cash. Every dollar is handed over at once and held by the court for as long as the case lasts.
- Commercial bond. You pay a bondsman a fee, and the bondsman promises the court the full amount.
- Two sureties. Two people co-sign for the full amount. If the person vanishes, they owe it.
- Land. Property in Montana can be pledged if its owner holds enough value in it free and clear (MCA 46-9-401).
- Driver's license. For some traffic offenses, a license can take the place of cash.
For repeat partner assault, felony stalking and some related charges, the law favors electronic tracking whenever a device is on hand.
↑ Back to the question list3. What does bail cost for everyday charges?
Justice and city courts across Montana start from the state Supreme Court's Recommended Bond Schedule. The figures are suggestions only. A judge can set a higher or lower amount (MCA 46-9-301), and each number already counts the state surcharges. Here are some 2026 figures:
- Misdemeanor assault with bodily injury: $585, and a judge must see the person
- Supplying alcohol to a person younger than 21: $535, court visit required
- Running a boat while impaired: $335
- A second illegal gambling offense within 5 years: $750
- Deliberate homicide and the other felonies listed: no bond amount, so the judge decides
Some charges never use the schedule. Partner and family assault is one. So are strangling a partner, stalking, and breaking a court's protection or no-contact order. Anyone held on one of these has to wait for a judge (MCA 46-9-302). For the bail in an actual case, phone the Justice Court at 406-323-1078 on a weekday.
↑ Back to the question list4. What are the steps for bail at the Roundup jail?
The Detention Center is in the Sheriff's Office building at 820 Main Street, Roundup, MT 59072. A deputy or detention officer may accept the money for the court when the judge's posted list sets the figure, or when the warrant names one. The officer must hand you a signed receipt (MCA 46-9-302). Go step by step:
- Call 406-323-1402. Someone answers day and night.
- Give the full legal name and birthday of the person who was booked. Ask for the bail amount and which charge it covers.
- Ask what forms of payment are taken, and what name to write on a money order.
- Partner assault charges need a judge first, so ask if that applies.
- Bring a photo ID and the payment. Put the receipt somewhere safe.
Phoning ahead before the drive into town keeps you from making the trip for nothing.
↑ Back to the question list5. Can bail be paid at a Musselshell County court?
Yes, when the bail comes from a schedule. Under Montana court rules, scheduled bail can be paid at the court window during regular hours on every court business day, and every court keeps a copy of its schedule on display.
- Justice Court, which also acts as Roundup City Court and Melstone City Court: 406-323-1078. The clerk is in Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mail goes to P.O. Box 565, Roundup, MT 59072.
- Clerk of District Court, for felony cases: 506 Main Street, Roundup, MT 59072, 406-323-1413.
County pages and the state court directory give two different street addresses for the Justice Court. Phone before you go to learn where to show up, how much is owed, which payments the clerk can take and how quickly the person will be let out.
↑ Back to the question list6. Which payments are safest, and can I pay online?
Exact change in cash or a postal money order causes the fewest problems. Ask the office taking the bail before you count on a personal check.
The Justice Court's county web page links an online fine payment service. You choose either the county's Justice Court or Roundup City Court, based on where the ticket was written. That service is only for fines on citations. It is not a way to post bail for someone who is locked up.
For bail at the jail, call 406-323-1402 and ask what staff will take before you leave home. Never mail cash. Scammers sometimes call families and ask for bail by gift card or a phone app. Hang up and dial the jail on your own.
↑ Back to the question list7. What do Court Compliance and the 24/7 program involve?
Judges here often release people with rules attached. Two local programs keep track of those rules:
- Court Compliance, 506 Main Street, Roundup, MT 59072, 406-323-2060. Both the Justice and District Courts can order pretrial check-ins, GPS house arrest, drug tests and alcohol monitors through this office. Its posted fees include $35 a month for supervision, $65 for a urine test, and $18 a day for GPS or a Soberlink breath device. GPS violations are reported to the Sheriff.
- 24/7 Sobriety Program. People placed in it blow into a breath tester at the Sheriff's Office twice a day, at 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. The person pays the testing fees set by the state (MCA 44-4-1204).
Skipping a test or a check-in may bring a new warrant and a motion to end the release (MCA 46-9-503).
↑ Back to the question list8. Should we use a bondsman?
That choice is yours. A bondsman is a licensed seller of bail bonds. Montana law has a long name for the job (MCA 33-17-1601). The state insurance commissioner's office gives out the licenses. Some tips:
- You pay the agent a fee up front, and you won't get it back, win or lose.
- Montana law sets no fee cap, so get the price in writing.
- Expect to be asked for security, like the title to a pickup. Get the return date for it on paper.
- A bail bond covers court dates only. It can't be put toward fines or restitution (MCA 46-9-503).
- A client who skips a hearing can be tracked down and arrested by the agent. Usually the agent has to call ahead to the Sheriff's Office before making that arrest (MCA 46-6-508).
- Before you sign, type the agent's name into the NAIC licensee lookup.
9. What can keep someone in the Musselshell County jail after bail?
Each bail covers one case only. Ask about these before you pay:
- An outside warrant. Under a 2025 change, judges here can't grant bail on it (MCA 46-9-201).
- Extradition. Someone sent back to Montana on a warrant has to face the judge who wrote that warrant first (MCA 46-9-105).
- Probation or parole. The judge counts current supervision when setting release (MCA 46-9-109). Ask the jail if the state has placed its own hold.
- A second case. A town ticket and a county charge may each carry their own bail.
- Federal or immigration holds. These are explained lower on this page.
Ask the jail at 406-323-1402 to list every hold on file before you pay anything.
↑ Back to the question list10. Is a judge ever allowed to deny bail?
Montana's Constitution makes bail a right in nearly all cases. It carves out only one kind of case: a capital charge where "the proof is evident or the presumption great" (Mont. Const. art. II, sec. 21). Excessive bail is also banned (Mont. Const. art. II, sec. 22).
Even so, a judge may hold someone until trial when there is good reason to think no conditions would make them return or protect the public (MCA 46-9-106). In making that call, the judge reviews the charge, the person's record, any earlier missed court dates, the danger to others and how rooted they are locally. A risk score may be used too (MCA 46-9-109).
Requests for high bail or none at all come from the County Attorney's Office, 506 Main Street, Roundup, MT 59072, 406-323-2230. That office prosecutes crimes in both this county and Golden Valley County.
↑ Back to the question list11. Can the amount be lowered later?
Either lawyer can ask the judge to move the amount up or down, switch the type of bail, or rewrite the conditions (MCA 46-9-311). Notice goes to the opposing side ahead of time.
- Ask the attorney to file a written bail motion.
- Pull together proof of work, a place to live, people who depend on them and what the family really has. The law bars oppressive bail and tells judges to weigh what a person can pay (MCA 46-9-301).
- Suggest rules that ease the judge's worries, like Court Compliance check-ins or twice-daily breath tests.
For a Justice Court case, call 406-323-1078 to ask how a bail hearing gets scheduled. For a felony in District Court, reach the clerk at 406-323-1413.
↑ Back to the question list12. Can the person get a public defender in Musselshell County?
When the person first stands before the judge, they hear that a lawyer is available (MCA 46-7-102). State public defenders handle every felony and youth case, plus any misdemeanor that might mean jail.
A household at 133% of the federal poverty guideline or less qualifies. So does one where paying a private attorney would mean going without basic needs. Holding a job or posting bail can't by itself disqualify anyone (MCA 47-1-111). An income and asset form is filled out under oath, and the judge has the final say.
- Office listed for this county: Office of State Public Defender, 207 N. Broadway, Suite 201, Billings, MT 59101, 406-256-6861
- Apply online: public defender application
- Program details: Montana Public Defender
13. Where are the courts in Roundup?
Every state court that hears local criminal cases sits in the county seat.
- 14th Judicial District Court (felonies), 506 Main Street, Roundup, MT 59072. The judge's office is at 406-323-1701, and the Clerk of District Court is at 406-323-1413. The same district judge also covers Golden Valley, Meagher and Wheatland counties.
- Justice Court, which hears misdemeanors, starts felony cases and doubles as the two town courts, 406-323-1078. County pages place it in the Timber Tracts Building, 26 Main St., Roundup, MT 59072. The state court directory lists City Hall, 34 3rd Ave. West, Roundup, MT 59072. Call before you go.
- Federal trial court (U.S. charges), 2601 2nd Avenue North, Suite 1200, Billings, MT 59101, 406-247-7000.
14. When does the money come back, and how can it be lost?
If every hearing was attended, the court sends the deposit back at the end (MCA 46-9-502). Montana court rules allow the refund only to the person who paid, which is why the receipt matters.
If the person fails to appear, the judge can order the money kept. A forfeiture notice then goes in the mail, and the deadline for mailing it is 10 working days. If the notice is late, the bond can't be collected (MCA 46-9-503).
- Within 90 days, returning the person to court or showing a good excuse can get the forfeiture lifted.
- In a misdemeanor, kept cash goes to whichever local treasury collected it, while felony money is sent to the state (MCA 46-9-511).
- Lost bail can also be ordered paid out to the victim (MCA 46-9-512).
For refund questions, contact whichever court received the payment. For the Justice Court, that's 406-323-1078.
↑ Back to the question list15. What about their wallet, phone and jail account money?
Items taken at booking, plus any balance left on the jail account, should be returned at release. Call the jail at 406-323-1402 to learn how leftover funds are paid back and when items can be collected at 820 Main Street, Roundup, MT 59072.
Carry a photo ID. Picking up for a loved one who is still inside? Ask if they need to sign a form letting you take the items. Our commissary page explains what account money is used for.
↑ Back to the question list16. Do federal charges follow the same bail rules?
No. Federal cases from this county go to Billings, in the Billings Division of the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana. The courthouse address is 2601 2nd Avenue North, Suite 1200, Billings, MT 59101, and the clerk's phone is 406-247-7000. The clerk is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- A federal judge decides release or detention at the first appearance. The defense can ask for up to about 5 extra days to get ready, and the government up to 3 (18 U.S.C. 3142).
- The U.S. Marshals Service holds people before trial. Its Montana headquarters is at 2601 2nd Avenue North, Suite 2300, Billings, MT 59101, 406-200-6004. Call to learn which jail is housing the person.
- U.S. Pretrial Services in the same courthouse writes release reports, 406-657-6287.
- Follow the court file on PACER. Once someone is sent to federal prison, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
17. What if ICE has a detainer on file?
Paying state bail won't end an ICE hold. It usually goes like this:
- The jail receives Form I-247A from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
- Officers can keep the person up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released, so ICE can pick them up (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
- Montana requires officers to act on that request and tell the person about it. They must free anyone who gives believable proof of being a citizen or here legally (MCA 27-16-801).
- ICE's Salt Lake City office oversees Montana cases. The check-in office serving this county is at 2900 4th Avenue, Suite 205, Billings, MT 59101, 406-247-4083.
- Search the ICE Online Detainee Locator using the person's A-number, or their full name plus country of birth.
18. Where does a state sentence get served?
Once a judge commits someone to the Montana Department of Corrections, the state takes charge. Most people stay in the county jail after sentencing until the state assesses them. After that review, the state places them in a prison, a community prerelease center or a treatment program.
- The Montana offender search shows status and location by name or DOC ID.
- Each site is covered in our Montana state prisons guide, with visiting tips.
- For parole and supervision questions, call the Department of Corrections at 406-444-3930 and ask which local office has the case.
19. How are Musselshell County teens treated after an arrest?
Anyone 17 or younger is handled under the Youth Court Act, and the district judge runs Youth Court (MCA 41-5-203). The adult jail may not keep a minor overnight just to process them. A small rural jail can keep a youth for one day at most, leaving out weekends and holidays, while a hearing is pending, but only behind walls that keep adult inmates from seeing or hearing them (MCA 41-5-349).
- The regional secure center for youths from this county is the Yellowstone County Youth Services Center, 410 South 26th Street, Billings, MT 59101, 406-256-6825.
- A detained youth must get a hearing on probable cause inside 24 hours, with weekends and holidays excluded (MCA 41-5-332).
- Bail is possible for a youth too, and the court must take the family's budget into account (MCA 41-5-323).
- Juvenile Probation at 406-323-1714 is the number for parents who need the location and the hearing date.
Musselshell County Detention Center
Address:
820 Main Street
Roundup, MT 59072
Phone:
406-323-1402
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Musselshell County
Does Musselshell County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Musselshell County?
Who can set bail in Musselshell County?
When is bail set in Musselshell County Montana?
Does Musselshell County have bail?
Yes, Musselshell County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Musselshell County?
Musselshell 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 Musselshell 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 Musselshell 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 Musselshell 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 Musselshell 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 Musselshell 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 Musselshell 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 Musselshell County have bail?
Yes, Musselshell County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Musselshell County?
Musselshell 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 Musselshell 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 Musselshell County Montana?
Yes, your attorney can request a bail or bond modification.
In Musselshell 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 Musselshell County Montana?
Yes, Musselshell County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Musselshell County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Musselshell County.
What options are there to pay bail in Musselshell 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 Musselshell County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Musselshell 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 Musselshell 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 Musselshell 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.