Yellowstone County Detention Facility

Yellowstone County Detention Facility basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 406-256-6881

This facility is for adult inmates.

The Yellowstone County Detention Facility is a medium-security detention center located at 3165 King Ave E in Billings, MT. This county jail is operated locally by the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Yellowstone County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service and the Billings Police Department who do not have their own long-term lock-up.

There are new detainees delivered to the jail daily, you can see arrest records here. Some are released after putting up bail, are released to a pretrial services caseload, are placed under supervision by a probation agency, or are released on their own recognizance with an agreement to appear in court. If there is no release, the inmate must wait here at the jail for their court appearance as a guest of the County, getting a bed and three square meals.

Trustees are inmates who work in the jail as cooks, as orderlies for the staff, in the laundry or in the commissary. The trustees are paid a very small amount for their time and some jail gives the trustees a few days off their sentence in exchange for their work.

When an inmate arrives in jail they are put together in a large holding cell with other inmates in the intake. While in intake they are under heightened observation. Violent and out of control inmates are segregated.

Can I Get Work Release?

Work release is when you are released from jail during the day so that you can go to work. At the end of the day, you return to jail for the night. There are a number of requirements to be able to get into the work-release program. Most programs require your employer to fill out some paperwork. If you want to get into the work release program then apply prior to being sentenced to jail. This will minimize the amount of time you spend in jail waiting to get into the program.

Can I call my family in Jail?

Yellowstone County Detention Facility has a phone program where inmates make outbound calls only, you cannot call into jail. Since you are paying for those calls don't make it a habit of accepting collect-calls, they are over $15 each. The alternative is to set up an account through their third-party phone company which charges steep fees for each minute used. You are paying for them to call you. Click here if you are going to speak a lot and need a discount on the calls.

Remember – These phone calls are recorded and conversations can be used against you or the inmate so do not discuss your case over these phone lines.

visitation Info

Yellowstone County Detention Facility – Visitation

All visitors must have a picture ID. Underage children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Must be at least 18 years or older. There is no food, drink, smoking, chewing tobacco, or gum allowed in the lobby. No alcohol or drugs of any kind are permitted. Once a visit has ended the visitor is to immediately leave the facility – no loitering is allowed. No visitors are allowed in the lobby until visiting hours start. Any visitor that violates any of these rules may be asked to leave and not be allowed to come back to the facility.

• Visiting hours are Tuesday through Friday from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
• Visiting hours on Saturday are from 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Visitation Days by Housing Unit

• North 1 – No Visitation while under construction
• North 2 – No Visitation while under construction
• North 3 – 2 visits per week, Fridays 3:30pm – 5:30pm
• North 4 – 2 visits per week, Saturdays 3:30pm – 5:30pm
• North 5 – 2 visits per week, Saturdays 3:30pm – 5:30pm

East Wing
Visiting times may vary. Must arrive by 3:30 pm to sign in.

• Minimum Security: 2  visits per week
• Medium Security: 2 visits per week
• Maximum Security  1 visit per week

• Class A: 1 visit per week
• Class B: 2 visits per week
• Class C: 1 visit per week
• Class D: 1 visit per week