The Yellowstone County, Montana inmate registry is a public resource that allows anyone to check who is currently held in the local detention center. YellowstoneCourt.us helps find publicly available information about current and recently released inmates. Additionally, data can be obtained through the official Detention Facility website at the sheriff's office, by visiting the detention center in person, or by calling the non-emergency line. The registry is maintained by the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office; it is regularly updated and posted on the county's website. The search allows you to find out the detention status of a person, the charges filed, and the booking date.
Search Current Inmates in Yellowstone Jail
There are several ways to check if a specific person is in custody at the Yellowstone County detention center.
Online Search
- Go to the Detention Facility inmate search page.
- Solve a simple math problem (bot protection).
- Enter the last name or booking date in the form fields.
- Click "Search." Results will appear on the search results page.
- If a full list is needed, use the "View Full Jail Roster" link on the same page.
You will need the person's full legal name to search. The booking number speeds up the search if known. You can also search for publicly available court information through YellowstoneCourt.us.
By Phone
Call the sheriff's non-emergency line at 406-657-8200. The operator can confirm if a specific person is in custody and provide basic booking information.
In Person
Visit the detention center at the address below. The information window in the lobby is available for inquiries about inmate status.
Note: Information about juvenile offenders is not included in the public registry. For state-level searches of convicted felons, use the Montana Offender Search.
Find Yellowstone Jail Booking Records Online
A booking record is created at the moment a person is officially admitted to the detention center. This process includes recording personal data, photographing, fingerprinting, and registering charges.
Each record typically contains:
- A unique booking number
- Date and time of admission
- List of charges filed
- Name of the arresting agency
- Bail amount information, if set
Access to booking records can be obtained in several ways. The fastest is the online registry on the Detention Facility website. It shows data about individuals in custody at the time of the request. For court documents related to the case, contact the Clerk of District Court or use the Montana Public Access Portal.
If you need records not available in the online registry—such as archived bookings or detailed criminal history information—submit a records request through the sheriff's office. Confidential criminal justice information (CCJI) requires a court order.
Search the Yellowstone Jail Roster by Last Name or Booking Number
The search form on the detention center's website supports two main methods.
By Last Name
Enter the last name in the appropriate field. If the last name is common, add the first name to narrow down the results. A few practical tips:
- Check the spelling—one letter error can completely exclude the desired result.
- Try spelling variations if the last name has multiple transliterations or a hyphen.
- If the system supports partial matches, enter only the first few letters of the last name.
By Booking Date
Instead of a name, you can enter the booking date. This is useful when you know the approximate day of arrest but are unsure of the correct spelling of the name.
Full Roster
The "View Full Jail Roster" link opens a list of all individuals currently held. In the browser, press Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac) to quickly find the desired name in the long list.
If the search yields no results, it may mean one of the following:
- The person has been released or transferred to another facility.
- The booking is not yet complete, and the data has not yet been entered into the system.
- The name was entered incorrectly.
In such cases, call the detention center at 406-256-6900 for clarification.
Jail Roster Updates and Search Limitations in Yellowstone
The inmate registry on the county's website is updated regularly but not in real-time. Between the actual booking and the appearance of the record in the online database, it may take from a few minutes to several hours—depending on staff workload and time of day.
Key limitations to consider:
| Limitation | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Delay after arrest | A recently arrested person may not appear in the registry for several hours while the processing is completed. |
| Disappearance after release | The record is removed from the registry after release or transfer. The registry is not an archive. |
| Data entry errors | Sometimes the name or date is entered incorrectly, complicating the search. |
| Only current inmates | The registry displays only those in custody at the time of the request, not everyone who has ever been arrested. |
To verify information about individuals no longer held in the detention center, contact the sheriff's office directly or submit a records request. Court cases can be tracked through the Montana District Court Public Access Portal, where hearing calendars and case materials are available.
Information about arrest warrants issued within the city of Billings is available on the Billings City Warrants page.