Navigation Options
Quick navigation options
This page lists all 56 police station in Montana. You can browse by county below, search for specific facilities, or navigate to related pages.
Quick Links:
Other Facility Types in Montana:
About Police Station in Montana
Understanding police station in the Montana
Welcome to the most complete and up-to-date directory of police detention and holding facilities in Montana. This page lists every active police-operated jail, holding facility, and lockup currently operating across Montana, giving families, attorneys, bail bondsmen, and the general public fast and reliable access to accurate information about police-level detention. When a loved one is arrested by a local or municipal police department in Montana, they are typically taken to a police-operated facility first — before being transferred to a county jail. This directory helps you find exactly where they are being held and what steps to take next.
What Are Police Detention Facilities?
Police detention facilities — commonly called police lockups, holding cells, or police jails — are short-term detention facilities operated by local or municipal police departments. They hold individuals for 24 to 72 hours immediately following arrest while booking is completed, charges are filed, and bail arrangements are made.
Unlike county jails or state prisons, police facilities are not designed for long-term incarceration. If searching for a recently arrested loved one, they may still be at the police facility rather than a county jail, especially in the first 24 to 48 hours after arrest.
How Police Facilities Differ From Other Facilities
- Police Detention Facilities: Operated by local police. Hold individuals for 24-72 hours during booking and initial processing only.
- City Jails: Operated by municipal authorities for slightly longer-term detention including pretrial holding and short sentences.
- County Jails: Operated by the county sheriff's office for pretrial detainees and sentences under one year.
- State Prisons: Operated by Montana's DOC for felony offenses with sentences over one year.
- Federal Prisons: Operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons for federal crimes.
What Happens After Arrest in Montana
- Arrest and Transport: Individual is arrested and transported to the nearest police detention facility.
- Booking and Intake: Photographing, fingerprinting, health screening, belongings search, warrant review (takes several hours).
- Initial Holding: Placed in holding cell while charges are filed and case is reviewed by prosecutors.
- Arraignment/Bail Hearing: Within 24-72 hours, brought before a judge who sets bail or releases them.
- Transfer or Release: Either released or transferred to county jail to await trial.
Finding Someone in Police Detention in Montana
Browse the directory below to find the police facility in the area where the arrest took place and contact them directly. You can also use our free US inmate locator tool to search by name once booking is complete. Knowing the arrest location and the person's full legal name will help speed up your search.
Getting Bail
For minor charges, bail may be posted directly at the police facility using a standard bail schedule. For serious charges, bail is set at arraignment (within 24-72 hours). A bail bondsman can post bail for a 10-15% non-refundable fee.
Hiring a Lawyer
The period immediately following arrest is one of the most critical windows in the legal process. A criminal defense attorney can advise on rights during questioning, attend bail hearings, and begin building a defense strategy from day one.
Calling a Detainee
Phone access at police facilities is typically limited during initial booking. Once intake is complete, detainees can usually make a limited number of collect calls to notify family members or contact an attorney.
Visitation
Visitation at police detention facilities is typically very limited during the initial holding period. Most police lockups do not offer standard visitation. Regular visitation becomes available once transferred to a county jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Police Station by County in Montana
View facilities organized by county
Filter Police Station by County
Montana has Police Station spread across dozens of counties, and finding the right one quickly can be challenging without the right tools. Use the county list below to instantly narrow results and view only the Police Station in a specific county within Montana. This is particularly helpful if you are trying to locate someone who was recently arrested in a specific area, or if you are planning a visit and need to find the closest facility to your location.
All Police Station in Montana
Complete listing of police station
Browse the Complete List of Police Detention Facilities in Montana
The full directory of police detention and holding facilities in Montana is displayed below. Every active police-operated lockup, holding cell, and short-term detention facility is included. Each entry includes the facility name, operating police department, city, county, address, and contact information. Police detention facilities are the first point of contact in the criminal justice system — where booking, processing, and initial detention occur before any further transfer.
| Facility Name | County | Action |
|---|---|---|
|
Plains MT Police Jail
101 West Lynch St, Plains, MT 59859
|
Sanders | View Details |
|
Thompson Falls MT Police Jail
108 Fulton St, Thompson Falls, MT 59873
|
Sanders | View Details |
|
Butte-Silver Bow MT Police Jail
225 Alaska St, Butte, MT 59701
|
Silver Bow | View Details |
|
Fort Peck Tribes MT Police Jail
500 Medicine Bear Road
PO Box 1027, Poplar, MT 59255
|
Valley | View Details |
|
Glasgow MT Police Jail
319 3rd St South, Glasgow, MT 59230
|
Valley | View Details |
|
Laurel MT Police Jail
215 West 1st St
PO Box 10, Laurel, MT 59101
|
Yellowstone | View Details |
Police Station in Other States
Browse police station in other states
Explore Police Station in Other States
Looking for police station beyond Montana? We've got you covered. Use the state selectors below to instantly switch to a full directory of police station in any other US state. Whether you need to look up facilities in a neighboring state or search across the country, our nationwide directory makes it simple to find the information you need in just a few clicks.