The level of the charge picks the court:

• Justice Court hears county misdemeanors, including tickets from the Highway Patrol, game wardens, the airport and the state transportation department. It also hosts the first hearing in every felony case.
• City Court handles city ordinance cases, traffic tickets and misdemeanors written in the city (MCA 3-11-103).
• District Court owns all felonies, meaning crimes with a possible state prison term over 1 year (MCA 45-2-101).
• Youth Court is the part of District Court that hears cases against people under 18.

A felony arrest starts with Justice Court, which sets bail and may hold a probable cause hearing. District Court picks up the case after that.

All four local courts share the Courthouse at 155 W. Granite St., Butte, MT 59701. Look for the room number:

• District Court, Department 1: Room 308, 406-497-6410.
• District Court, Department 2: Room 309, 406-497-6420.
• Clerk of District Court: Room 313, 406-497-6350. This office keeps felony files.
• Justice Court: Room 305, 406-497-6390.
• City Court: Room 401, 406-497-6365.
• Youth Court and juvenile probation: Room 410, 406-497-6375.

The two district judges hear adult and youth law and motion matters on Thursday mornings.

Two full-time justices of the peace run Justice Court in Room 305. The court is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and closes at 4:00 p.m. on Friday.

• Video hearings from the jail are held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
• Walk-in times for tickets are 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on weekdays.
• A not-guilty plea leads to an omnibus hearing, a planning hearing, about six weeks later.
• Missing the "appear by" date on a ticket can lead to an arrest warrant. That date is usually 10 days after the ticket is written.

To schedule a court appearance, call 406-497-6392. A records search costs $10 per name.

Butte City Court sits in Room 401 and keeps the same weekday hours as Justice Court. Open court is held at these times:

• Tuesday, 9:00 a.m., for adults
• Wednesday, 9:00 a.m., for youths 17 and under
• Thursday, 10:00 a.m., for adults

Joining by Zoom is allowed if you follow the court's posted rules. If you get a Notice to Appear, call the court within 10 business days of the date on it. Failing to call or to show up leads to an arrest warrant. Call 406-497-6365 with questions.

Walkerville is a separate town. To learn which agency handled a Walkerville arrest and which court has the case, call the Law Enforcement Department at 406-497-1120.

Officers must bring the person to court "without unnecessary delay" (MCA 46-7-101). Here, that first appearance is often on a video link from Quartz Street. At it, the judge explains (MCA 46-7-102):

• each charge they face
• that a free lawyer is possible for those who qualify
• the ways to get out before trial
• that they may keep quiet, because what they say can become evidence
• that gun rights can be lost if they are convicted
• for a felony complaint, the right to have probable cause reviewed

Release is decided at this same hearing (MCA 46-9-109). Before it, staff may prepare a pretrial risk score for the judge, since Butte-Silver Bow is a test site for that state program. The judge is never bound by the score.

The County Attorney prosecutes crimes across the whole city-county, misdemeanors included. After a plea of not guilty, the court sets dates for the omnibus hearing and trial. Either side may ask for a six-person jury (MCA 46-17-201).

From the plea, prosecutors have 6 months to reach trial. If they miss it, the judge dismisses the charge for good. A defense request for more time stops that clock, and so can good cause (MCA 46-13-401). What some common charges can bring:

• A first DUI: $600 to $1,000, plus a jail term of 24 hours or more, capped at 6 months (MCA 61-8-1007)
• Stealing $1,500 or less: a fine as high as $1,500, 6 months in jail, or both (MCA 45-6-301)
• A first partner assault: $100 to $1,000, with a jail term from 24 hours to 12 months (MCA 45-5-206)
• Misdemeanors whose law names no penalty: $500 and 6 months at most (MCA 46-18-212)

A misdemeanor sentence can be deferred for as long as 1 year. Staying out of trouble for that time can lead to a dismissal (MCA 46-18-204).

A felony case usually moves like this:

1. Justice Court first. The person appears, often by video, and bail is set.
2. The formal charge. Justice Court acts as the examining court and may hold a preliminary hearing. Or the County Attorney goes straight to District Court with an affidavit and seeks leave to file an information (MCA 46-11-201).
3. Arraignment. The charge is read in open court in District Court, and the plea is entered (MCA 46-12-201).
4. Omnibus hearing and talks. Lawyers set deadlines and may work out a plea deal.
5. Trial. A jury of 12 decides, and all 12 must agree. The parties can waive the jury in writing (MCA 46-16-110).
6. Sentencing. The judge imposes the penalty after a plea or a conviction.

Unless a statute sets its own penalty, a felony's ceiling is 10 years and $50,000 (MCA 46-18-213). Theft above $1,500 shares that cap. Simple drug possession can mean 5 years. Still, a first offense is presumed to earn a deferred sentence (MCA 45-9-102).

When someone was hurt or is at risk, the court adds safeguards:

• Seeing a judge first. No one leaves on a bond list after an arrest for partner assault, strangling, stalking or breaking an order of protection. A judge has to see them.
• Repeat partner assault. A third conviction is charged as a felony and can bring 5 years (MCA 45-5-206).
• Monitors. If the county has an ankle monitor to use, the law expects one in felony cases of stalking or partner assault (MCA 46-9-108).
• Release notice. Staff at the Detention Center have to alert the alleged victim promptly once the accused is let out.
• Past felonies. A second felony can't be deferred (MCA 46-18-201).

Treatment courts pair close court supervision with testing and treatment. The state's directory lists three here:

• Family Drug Court, part of the Second Judicial District Court, 155 W. Granite St., Butte, MT 59701, 406-497-6384.
• DUI Court, Room 305, 406-497-6397.
• Veterans Treatment Court, run from the same office and phone as DUI Court, for veterans.

Adult drug charges don't have a separate treatment court in Butte. A defense lawyer can tell you if one of these three programs fits the case and how to be referred.

The Butte-Silver Bow County Attorney prosecutes crimes in the city-county. The office also handles youth, mental health and extradition cases. It is in Room 104, 155 W Granite St, Butte, MT 59701, 406-497-6230.

The Office of State Public Defender has an office at 44 W. Park, Butte, MT 59701, 406-496-6680. Felonies, Youth Court cases and jailable misdemeanors are its work. Apply on the state's online defender form, and the court reviews whether the person qualifies (MCA 47-1-111).

For help with forms or research, the county law library is in Room 302 at the Courthouse, 406-497-6417.

Montana's courts offer two free lookup sites, searchable by name or case number. Misdemeanor files from both lower courts show on the limited court portal. For felony records, open the District Court portal.

Youth cases, sealed files and some private case types are left out of both sites. To confirm a date by phone, have their full legal name and birthday ready, and call:

• Justice Court scheduling, 406-497-6392
• City Court, 406-497-6365
• Clerk of District Court, 406-497-6350

Warrants in Butte and Walkerville are served by the Law Enforcement Department. Its 911 center keeps wanted-person records in state and national files. To ask about a warrant, call the department at 406-497-1120. Open cases can be searched on Montana's misdemeanor case search and felony case search. The state's DOC offender search marks people wanted for fleeing parole or probation. Before you deal with a warrant, call a lawyer. You can then surrender at 155 W Quartz St, Butte, MT 59701. Another choice is to phone the court that issued the warrant and request a fresh court date.

Federal crimes from here belong to the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, Butte Division, in the Mike Mansfield Federal Courthouse, 400 N. Main Street, Suite 273, Butte, MT 59701, 406-497-1279.

• Jail or release is argued at a detention hearing during the first federal appearance (18 U.S.C. 3142).
• The U.S. Marshals move and guard federal prisoners. Some are held at the Quartz Street jail under an agreement. Reach them at 406-200-6004.
• Ahead of the detention hearing, U.S. Pretrial Services writes a report. Its office is at 400 N. Main St., Butte, MT 59701, 406-441-1160.
• Court filings are on PACER. Once someone is sentenced, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

The criminal case goes on in state court. A detainer mostly affects when and to whom the person is released. With Form I-247A, ICE may ask the Detention Center to hold someone up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released (8 CFR 287.7(d)).

1. Montana has officers arrest on the detainer and explain the hold (MCA 27-16-801).
2. That duty stops when believable papers prove the person is a citizen or has lawful status.
3. Under a 2025 change, police at a lawful stop may make a reasonable effort to check immigration status (MCA 46-5-401).
4. Once ICE takes custody, the case is handled by its Salt Lake City Field Office, 2975 Decker Lake Drive, Suite 100, West Valley City, UT 84119, 801-736-1200.
5. Use the ICE Online Detainee Locator to find where they are.

Felony time is served under the Montana Department of Corrections. State staff first assess the person, who stays at the Detention Center during that time. DOC then decides on prison, prerelease or treatment. One DOC prison, Montana State Prison, is close by in Powell County.

• Look the person up on the Montana DOC offender search for their location and status.
• Our Montana prisons directory covers visits, mail and calls at each site.
• Parole hearings: Board of Pardons and Parole, 1002 Hollenbeck Road, Deer Lodge, MT 59722, 406-846-1404.

Youth Court, overseen by the district judges, takes the cases of teens and children (MCA 41-5-203). Juvenile probation officers in Room 410 are state workers. They handle many referrals without court, and send others to the County Attorney for a Youth Court petition.

• For a youth kept in custody, a probable cause hearing is due inside a day. Weekends and holidays don't count, and video can be used (MCA 41-5-332).
• In rare, grave cases like homicide, the prosecutor can ask to try a child of at least 12 in adult District Court (MCA 41-5-206).
• The public court portals leave out cases with a minor as a party.

Parents should call Youth Court at 406-497-6375 to learn where the youth is and the next court date.

The Victim-Witness Advocacy Program at 155 W. Granite Street, Butte, MT 59701, 406-497-6243, walks victims through the court process.

• The prosecutor has to consult the victim before a plea deal or a dismissal. That duty holds in every felony and in misdemeanors where a person was injured or threatened (MCA 46-24-104).
• For alerts on state felony offenders, sign up with VINE at 800-456-3076 or on VINELink.
• A state fund may pay up to $25,000 of a victim's costs. Tell police within 72 hours. Apply within a year. Call 800-498-6455.