Sweet Grass County Jail

The decision belongs to a judge. Deputies only book the person. After an arrest, Montana law sets the pace: the first appearance must happen "without unnecessary delay," before whichever nearby judge is easiest to reach (MCA 46-7-101). Release has to be decided at that very first hearing (MCA 46-9-109), which can take place in a courtroom or by two-way video (MCA 46-9-206).

Around here, that job usually falls to the Justice of the Peace. The city appoints that same judge to its own court as well. Justice Court and Big Timber City Court share one office upstairs in the courthouse at 200 West 1st Avenue, Big Timber, MT 59011, 406-932-5150. Open court meets Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. If a felony is later bound over, the bail set here stays in force until a district judge says otherwise (MCA 46-9-201).

Montana wants the gentlest option that still gets the defendant to court (MCA 46-9-108). Here is the range, roughly from lightest to heaviest:

• Own recognizance. Zero dollars. A signed pledge to return is enough (MCA 46-9-111).
• Conditions. Release at home, with orders attached. Examples: stay sober, keep a curfew, hand over firearms, or have no contact with named people.
• Cash. Somebody deposits the full figure with the court, and it stays there while the case runs.
• Commercial bond. The agent, who must hold a state license, promises the court the whole sum and keeps a fee.
• Personal sureties. Two people with enough money or property sign a written undertaking.
• Real estate. Montana land carrying enough unencumbered equity may be put up (MCA 46-9-401).
• License. On certain traffic offenses, an officer may keep a valid driver's license in place of cash.

Sweet Grass is one of the counties in the statewide 24/7 Sobriety Program. That lets a judge require breath tests twice a day while the case is open.

Justice and city judges across Montana tend to start from the Recommended Bond Schedule put out by the state Supreme Court. It only recommends. Any judge here may depart from it in either direction. Surcharges are built into each number. Some 2026 examples:

• Simple assault causing bodily injury: $585, with a mandatory appearance
• Providing alcohol to a person under 21: $535, and an appearance is required
• Operating a boat while impaired: $335
• Illegal gambling, second offense in five years: $750
• Felonies: no dollar figure, so the amount is the judge's choice

A few charges never use the schedule. If the arrest is for stalking, for hurting or choking someone in the family or a partner, or for breaking a protective or no-contact order, nobody posts bail until a judge has seen the person (MCA 46-9-302). To get the figure for one person's case, ring the court at 406-932-5150 during weekday hours.

It can be. State law lets a deputy or a jailer take the money on a judge's behalf. This is allowed if a posted schedule lists the amount, or if the warrant itself names one. A signed receipt goes to whoever pays (MCA 46-9-302). A phone call first will save you a wasted trip:

1. Dial the Sheriff's Office at 406-932-5143.
2. Spell the full name, share the birth date, and confirm the person hasn't been moved yet.
3. Ask the amount and which charge it is tied to.
4. Learn the place to pay, the accepted forms of payment, and the payee for a money order.
5. Ask whether the charge requires the judge to see the person before anyone posts.

The office sits at 200 West First Avenue, Big Timber, MT 59011. Take a photo ID along, and file away each receipt you're handed.

Big Timber's lockup is a 72-hour holding site, so anyone staying past that window may be driven to a larger facility. The Sheriff's Office at 406-932-5143 knows which one. Places to ask about:

• Wheatland County jail, 203 A Avenue NW, Harlowton, MT 59036, 406-632-5614. One of its recent rosters listed an inmate booked for Sweet Grass deputies and state corrections.
• Yellowstone County Detention Facility, 3165 King Avenue East, Billings, MT 59101, booking 406-256-6881
• Gallatin County Detention Center, 605 S. 16th Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715, 406-582-2130

When the person is out of county, check with that jail and with the court that set the amount about where your payment belongs.

Often, yes. If the judge's posted schedule sets the bail, a Montana court rule allows payment at the court during open hours on business days. A copy of the judge's schedule is posted inside the office.

• Justice Court and City Court (shared office, second floor): 200 West 1st Avenue, Big Timber, MT 59011, 406-932-5150. Open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
• Clerk of District Court (felonies): same courthouse, also upstairs, 406-932-5154. Weekday hours match, with a midday break.

Before heading over, confirm the figure. Also ask what the counter accepts and how long release takes once you've paid.

Rules differ by office, so check ahead. Exact cash and money orders are the usual starting point. Adjust if staff say something else works. Whether a personal check or a card will work is a question for the court at 406-932-5150 or the Sheriff's Office at 406-932-5143.

According to the court's help page, fines may be paid at the counter, through the mail or with CitePay on the web. CitePay is set up for fines. Don't count on it to bail anyone out.

Cash should never go in an envelope. Hang up on anyone demanding bail through gift cards, payment apps or cryptocurrency.

Montana statutes give bail agents an odd official label: "surety bail bond insurance producer" (MCA 33-17-1601). Licensing is handled in Helena by the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance. Some facts worth knowing:

• What you pay the agent is the price of the guarantee. Treat that money as gone for good.
• Agents may hold something valuable, like a vehicle title, as collateral. Ask for a written promise on when it comes back.
• An agent can track down and surrender a client who skips court. Unless it's an emergency, the agent must call local dispatch ahead of time (MCA 46-6-508).
• A surety bond guarantees appearances, full stop. Fines and restitution are off limits for it (MCA 46-9-503).
• Confirm a license through the NAIC licensee lookup.

Yes. Bail clears one case only. Any other hold keeps the person inside. Watch for:

• Outside warrants. A 2025 law took away a local judge's power to bail out a person picked up on some other court's warrant (MCA 46-9-201).
• Extradition. Someone returned to Montana on a warrant goes first to the judge who signed it (MCA 46-9-105).
• Supervision. Being on probation or parole is something the judge takes into account (MCA 46-9-109).
• Separate cases. A ticket in City Court and a charge in Justice Court are two bails.
• Federal or ICE detainers. Both are covered later on this page.

Ask the Sheriff's Office at 406-932-5143 to check for every hold before you pay anything at all.

Under the state Constitution, people can be bailed in almost all cases. The only exception is a capital offense where "the proof is evident or the presumption great" (Mont. Const. art. II, sec. 21). Excessive bail is banned as well (Mont. Const. art. II, sec. 22).

Even so, a judge can order jail until trial. That happens if probable cause shows that no set of rules would make sure the person shows up (MCA 46-9-106). The judge looks at the charge and past crimes. Running from court before counts too. So do danger to others and roots in the area (MCA 46-9-109).

On the other side of a bail argument is the County Attorney, 200 West First Avenue, Big Timber, MT 59011, 406-932-4376.

The defense or the prosecutor can apply to raise, reduce or substitute bail, or to adjust conditions, as long as the opposing side gets reasonable notice (MCA 46-9-311). Steps that can help:

1. The defense attorney drafts a written request and files it with the court that has the charge.
2. Gather what shows the person will stay put: recent paychecks, a rental agreement or deed, family in the area, and a frank number for what you can afford. Montana does not allow oppressive bail, and the amount has to reflect what the defendant can pay (MCA 46-9-301).
3. Propose conditions that ease the court's worry, for example twice-daily breath tests.

Questions on a Justice or City Court case go to 406-932-5150. On a felony, reach the District Court clerk at 406-932-5154.

Early on, at the first appearance, the judge explains that a lawyer is available (MCA 46-7-102). Montana's Office of State Public Defender takes felonies, any misdemeanor with a chance of jail, and youth court cases.

There are two routes to qualifying. The first is household income, which must not top 133% of the federal poverty line. The other is showing that a private lawyer would cost more than they can bear without real hardship. A judge may not turn someone down only because they work or could post bail (MCA 47-1-111). The court approves each finding.

• Bozeman office: 77 Discovery Drive, Bozeman, MT 59718, 406-582-2450
• Online: apply for a public defender, and have recent paychecks and bank records handy

Cash comes back from the court once the conditions of bail are met and the case wraps up (MCA 46-9-502). A Montana court rule says a bond goes back only in the depositor's name. Hold on to the receipt.

Skipping court gives the judge the power to declare the bail forfeited. Notice of that order has a deadline: 10 working days, mailed to the defendant and to any surety. Late notice voids the bond (MCA 46-9-503).

• Next comes a 90-day window. A surrender or a satisfying excuse in that time can get the forfeiture set aside.
• Misdemeanor cash that is forfeited stays with the local treasury. Felony cash is sent to the state general fund (MCA 46-9-511).
• Forfeited bail may be ordered paid as restitution to a victim (MCA 46-9-512).

Refund questions go to whichever court collected the bail, for instance Justice Court at 406-932-5150.

Personal items taken during booking are stored until the person leaves custody. After a transfer, find out which jail has their things now. The Sheriff's Office at 406-932-5143 can explain where the property is and how any balance left on their account gets paid out.

Show a photo ID at pickup. When you are collecting on someone's behalf, find out if a signed note from them is needed. Our inmate money guide walks through how account deposits and refunds tend to work.

Federal charges filed from here are heard in Billings, in that city's division of the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana. Look for the James F. Battin Federal Courthouse, at 2601 2nd Avenue North, Suite 1200, Billings, MT 59101, 406-247-7000. The clerk keeps weekday hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• A federal judge rules on pretrial release or detention at the opening hearing (18 U.S.C. 3142).
• Until trial, the defendant is in U.S. Marshals custody, sometimes boarded at a county jail. The Billings Marshals office is Suite 2300 in the same building, 406-200-6004.
• Pretrial officers from U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services prepare a report for the judge. Their office: Suite 1300, 406-657-6287.
• PACER has the filings, and it charges a fee for each page.

Yes. The immigration hold stays even after state bail is posted. Usually it goes like this:

1. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, puts in a hold request on Form I-247A.
2. Jail staff may then keep the person for up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
3. Montana officers must carry out the request. They must also tell the person it is an immigration hold. Believable papers that prove citizenship or legal status end that duty (MCA 27-16-801).
4. Agents take custody next. The Salt Lake City Field Office, 2975 Decker Lake Drive, Suite 100, West Valley City, UT 84119, 801-736-1200, oversees Montana. Its Billings check-in office, 2900 4th Avenue, Suite 205, Billings, MT 59101, lists this county in its area.
5. Look the person up on the ICE Online Detainee Locator. Enter the A-number. If you don't have it, use the full legal name along with the birth country.

When a felony brings a term longer than one year, the Montana Department of Corrections takes over. Placement comes only after state staff assess the person, and that wait usually happens in county custody. Then the state picks where they go. Options include prison, a prerelease center and treatment.

• Look them up by name, or by DOC number, on the Montana offender search.
• Helena's central DOC office takes general calls at 406-444-3930.
• Our Montana state prisons pages describe every facility.

Under Montana law, everyone younger than 18 is legally a youth, and youth cases are heard in Youth Court within District Court (MCA 41-5-203). Holding a youth overnight in an adult jail only to process them is not allowed. A rural county may hold one for as long as 24 hours, with weekend days and holidays excluded, before a hearing. That is allowed only in a space where the youth can't see or hear adult inmates (MCA 41-5-349).

• Secure detention for this county's youth is at the Ted Lechner Youth Services Center, 410 South 26th Street, Billings, MT 59101, 406-256-6825, which serves the whole south-central region.
• A probable cause hearing must follow within 24 hours of placement, skipping weekends and holidays (MCA 41-5-332).
• Youths can get bail as well. In setting it, the judge must weigh the family's finances (MCA 41-5-323).
• Juvenile Probation, 406-222-4162, can tell a parent where their son or daughter is detained and the date of the hearing.

The type of charge decides where it lands:

• Justice Court hears traffic, fish and game, and misdemeanor cases from the whole county. It also handles the opening hearing and any preliminary hearing in a felony.
• City Court hears traffic tickets and misdemeanors from inside town limits, along with every city code violation (MCA 3-11-103).
• District Court hears all felonies. Montana's line for a felony is simple: the possible sentence includes more than a year in state prison (MCA 45-2-101).
• Youth Court, part of District Court, takes charges against people who were under 18.

When a law sets no penalty of its own, a misdemeanor tops out at 6 months in jail and a $500 fine (MCA 46-18-212). The larger misdemeanors can be heard in either Justice or District Court (MCA 3-10-303).

Every local court works out of the county courthouse at 200 West 1st Avenue, Big Timber, MT 59011. Climb the stairs to reach both offices.

• Justice Court and City Court, 406-932-5150. Letters go to P.O. Box 1432, Big Timber, MT 59011. Open court is Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m., other than holidays.
• Clerk of District Court and Jury Commissioner, 406-932-5154. Letters go to P.O. Box 698, Big Timber, MT 59011. Law and motion day is Tuesday, and since July 1, 2026 it has been held in the morning.
• District judge's chambers, 414 East Callender St, Livingston, MT 59047, 406-222-4130. The Sixth Judicial District covers two counties, Park and this one.

Both courthouse offices shut from noon to 1:00 p.m. Phone ahead to make sure your hearing time hasn't moved.

The county has only one incorporated town, and its city court shares a room, a phone and a judge with the Justice Court. The elected Justice of the Peace also holds the appointment as City Judge. Call 406-932-5150 for either court.

City Court covers traffic, misdemeanors and city code cases from inside town. Just like the Justice Court, it can hold first appearances and felony preliminary hearings. Anything from outside town limits goes to the Justice Court.

Big Timber City Hall is at 11 McLeod St, Big Timber, MT 59011, open weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It lists a City Attorney at 406-930-1519.

Montana law wants a judge to see the person "without unnecessary delay" after the arrest (MCA 46-7-101). Locally, these hearings are normally run by the Justice of the Peace. Some people appear in person. Others appear by camera from the jail. The court's own FAQ says the hearing covers rights, the charge and the top possible penalty, and a plea can come right then if the person is ready. The judge is required to explain (MCA 46-7-102):

• each charge, named one at a time
• that a guilty finding could take away gun rights
• the right to counsel, including a free lawyer for people without money
• the basic rules for pretrial release
• the choice to stay silent, because anything said could be offered as evidence
• in felony complaint cases, the right to ask whether enough evidence supports the charge

At the same hearing the judge settles bail or release (MCA 46-9-109). Pleading no contest takes the prosecutor's consent.

For offenses outside town, the County Attorney files most misdemeanors with the Justice Court. If the plea is not guilty, an omnibus hearing comes next. The court calls it a pretrial scheduling conference. Either party may demand a jury of six (MCA 46-17-201).

Entering a plea starts a 6-month clock. Trial has to begin before it runs out, or the judge throws the case out. Two things can excuse the delay: the defense asking for it, or good cause (MCA 46-13-401). Typical penalties:

• Theft valued at $1,500 or under: a jail cap of 6 months and a fine cap of $1,500 (MCA 45-6-301)
• Partner or family member assault, first offense: a jail term between 24 hours and one year, plus a $100 to $1,000 fine (MCA 45-5-206)
• Misdemeanors with no set penalty: a 6-month jail cap and a $500 fine cap

Sentences on misdemeanors can be deferred for up to one year. Staying out of trouble through that period can lead to dismissal of the charge (MCA 46-18-204).

For a first DUI, the jail range runs from 24 hours to 6 months, and the fine from $600 to $1,000 (MCA 61-8-1007). A second one starts at 7 days. The court notes that anyone convicted of DUI, or of driving with a .08 alcohol level, has to finish ACT, the Assessment, Course and Treatment program.

• License questions go to the state Records and Driver Control Bureau, 303 North Roberts, Helena, MT 59601, 406-444-3933.
• The court's resource list also names the "Alive at 25" traffic class, 406-813-4050.
• Because this county is part of the 24/7 Sobriety Program, twice-daily breath testing may be ordered before trial or as part of a sentence.

A felony usually moves through five stages:

1. First appearance in Justice Court. Bail gets set here.
2. Formal charge. One way is a preliminary hearing in Justice Court to test the evidence. The County Attorney can instead go straight to the district judge and ask permission to file an information (MCA 46-11-201).
3. Arraignment. District Court reads the charge, and the defendant gives an answer (MCA 46-12-201).
4. Trial with 12 jurors and a unanimous verdict. A jury can be waived only with written consent from both sides (MCA 46-16-110).
5. Sentencing, which follows a guilty plea or a conviction at trial.

The default felony penalty is up to 10 years and $50,000 (MCA 46-18-213). Theft of more than $1,500 can bring the same. Drug possession can carry up to 5 years. For a first possession conviction, though, the law presumes a deferred sentence (MCA 45-9-102).

The law adds extra steps when someone may be in danger:

• Detention. If no set of conditions can protect others or guarantee a court appearance, pretrial release can be denied (MCA 46-9-106).
• Family violence. Partner or family member assault and strangling a partner skip the bail schedule. A judge sees the person first (MCA 46-9-302). Partner assault turns into a felony on the third offense, with up to 5 years (MCA 45-5-206).
• Ankle monitors. The law leans toward a monitor in some cases, if one is on hand. These include felony stalking, a second partner assault and strangling a partner (MCA 46-9-108).
• Victim notice. Bail on certain charges sets off a duty to warn. The charges are partner assault, strangling a partner, stalking and violating a protective order. Once the accused is out, the detention center lets the alleged victim know promptly.
• Prior felonies. With an earlier felony on record, a deferred felony sentence isn't possible (MCA 46-18-201).

Adult and youth crimes are prosecuted by the County Attorney, who files every felony and the misdemeanors from outside city limits. The office is at 200 West First Avenue, Big Timber, MT 59011, 406-932-4376, with weekday hours of 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Its mail goes to P.O. Box 1188, Big Timber, MT 59011. For a case inside town, ask the court at 406-932-5150 which attorney has it.

Defendants who can't pay for counsel may ask for a public defender. County court pages point to the state's Bozeman office, 77 Discovery Drive, Bozeman, MT 59718, 406-582-2450. Applications go through the online form. Cases with a conflict of interest go to the Conflict Defender unit in the same building, 406-577-7840.

Montana runs two public court portals at no charge. Search either portal with a name or a case number:

• Limited court portal, which holds cases from the Justice and City courts
• The Clerk links the District Court portal for felony files

Cases involving minors and anything sealed are kept off. Call 406-932-5150 for a date in Justice or City Court, or 406-932-5154 for a felony date. Keep the person's legal name and birthday handy. E-filing in District Court is for attorneys only.

A Justice Court or City Court fine may be paid in person upstairs, sent by mail, or paid online through CitePay. The court's FAQ page gives the details. CitePay handles fines, so use other routes for bail.

At the District Court level, the clerk takes criminal fines, fees for a public defender, and restitution in misdemeanor cases. For the balance, call 406-932-5154. Supervision fees and restitution in felony cases are paid instead to the DOC's Collection Unit in Helena, 800-801-3478. Put the person's full name, their DOC ID and their officer's name with the payment.

Outstanding warrant lists for the Justice Court and for Big Timber City Court are on the court's links and resources page. Each entry gives a name, a year and a hometown, and a star marks someone wanted by both courts. The lists carry a date, so confirm with the court at 406-932-5150. Deputies serve warrants all over the county, in town too, and the Sheriff's Office takes calls at 406-932-5143. Anonymous tips go to 406-932-3025. Felony cases also show up on the District Court portal. Anyone with a warrant should speak with a lawyer first. Then they can turn themselves in, or the lawyer can ask the court to set a fresh date.

Federal crimes here belong to the Billings Division. Hearings are in Billings. The building's name is the James F. Battin Federal Courthouse, and its address is 2601 2nd Avenue North, Suite 1200, Billings, MT 59101. The clerk's office answers weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at 406-247-7000.

• The first federal hearing settles a key question: jail or home while the case waits (18 U.S.C. 3142).
• Federal prisoners are the U.S. Marshals Service's job, including rides to and from court. Headquarters for Montana is Suite 2300, 406-200-6004.
• Reports on pretrial release are written by federal probation officers in Suite 1300, 406-657-6287.
• Read filings on PACER. After a sentence, the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator shows where someone is held.

A detainer leaves the state case alone. Its effect shows up when the person would normally walk out. Form I-247A is the request. It asks for a hold of up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released (8 CFR 287.7(d)).

1. State law (MCA 27-16-801) requires an arrest on the detainer by whichever officer has it. The officer also has to tell the person the reason.
2. No duty to hold exists when the person proves, with credible documents, that they are a citizen or lawfully present.
3. Since 2025, officers can try to learn immigration status during any lawful stop (MCA 46-5-401).
4. Montana sits within the Salt Lake City Field Office's territory, 2975 Decker Lake Drive, Suite 100, West Valley City, UT 84119, 801-736-1200. Sweet Grass is on the list for ICE's Billings check-in office, 406-247-4083.
5. Track the person with the ICE Online Detainee Locator.

A felony sentence to state custody is carried out by the Montana Department of Corrections. A county jail houses the person during the state's assessment and classification. The department then picks a fitting spot, such as a prison, a prerelease program or treatment.

• Check location and current status with the DOC offender search.
• The state's main secure sites are Montana State Prison, 400 Conley Lake Road, Deer Lodge, MT 59722, and Montana Women's Prison, 701 South 27th Street, Billings, MT 59101.
• The Board of Pardons and Parole, 1002 Hollenbeck Road, Deer Lodge, MT 59722, 406-846-1404, decides parole.
• For visits and letters, look up the prison in our Montana state prisons guide.

Charges against someone who was under 18 at the time are heard in Youth Court. The same district judge presides there (MCA 41-5-203). The Clerk of District Court holds the files, and the public portals never show them.

• When a youth is locked up, the probable cause hearing has to come within 24 hours. Don't count Saturdays, Sundays or legal holidays (MCA 41-5-332).
• The locked facility for this region's youth is the Ted Lechner Youth Services Center, 410 South 26th Street, Billings, MT 59101, 406-256-6825. The county also uses electronic monitoring for some youths.
• Adult court is possible for a youth 12 or older facing certain grave charges, if the prosecutor asks (MCA 41-5-206).
• A youth under 16 can never be held in a state prison.

Families can reach Juvenile Probation, which serves Park and Sweet Grass counties, at 406-222-4162.

Victims have rights under state law, and the County Attorney's office at 406-932-4376 is the place to ask about a case.

• Before the prosecutor drops a case, strikes a plea deal, offers diversion or agrees to release the accused, the victim gets a say. That rule covers felonies plus misdemeanors where someone was hurt or threatened (MCA 46-24-104).
• Sign up with VINE to hear by phone, text or email about custody changes for a state felony offender. Register at VINELink or call 800-456-3076. Nobody is signed up automatically.
• The state's victim compensation fund can repay crime-related bills up to $25,000. Call 800-498-6455.
• The state Justice Department explains orders of protection and how to ask for one.