Jefferson County Jail – Boulder, MT

Jefferson County Jail is in Jefferson County, Montana and is the primary jail for the county. Know somebody at Jefferson County Jail? This page will tell you info about everything one might want to know about Jefferson County Jail,like the following: Find an inmate at Jefferson County Jail. Find inmate mugshots. The jail’s address and phone number. Bail and how to get out of jail. Intake procedures and booking. Court records. And lots more.

The prospect of going to jail is a scary situation, not only for the person who gets arrested, but also their friends and family. This guide is meant to give information and tips that you’ll need to make helping a friend or family member get out of jail less stressful. If you have questions, please feel free to ask it, and any feedback or comments that would be a benefit to other people in the same situation is appreciated.

Do you have a family member or friend that has gone to jail and want to locate them?

Has someone that has been arrested and you want to find out what jail they’re in?

To search who’s in jail at Jefferson County Jail you have to navigate to their website and do an inmate search.

The Jefferson County Jail Inmate Lookup is a list of people who were arrested and are now in jail, including status, how much their bail is, and times you can visit. You can find info about anyone booked or discharged in the past 24 hours. Jail inmates are listed alphabetically by last name. You will be able to get their arrest information faster if you enter your friend or family member’s first and last name, date of birth, or inmate ID.

If the person you’re searching for might be at a different jail you should check the other Montana county jails in our Montana County Jail Guide: Other Jails in Montana

A mugshot, or jail intake picture, is the photograph taken by the police when you get processed at jail intake. A mugshot is actually two photos one full face and a side picture. Your full name and intake number will be on the mugshot, and they are stored at the jail.

Mugshots of inmates can be viewed on the Jefferson County Jail website, or you can see them in person at the Jefferson County Jail. When viewing mugshots online you need to enter the legal name, and a booking date, if you have one.

Need to know how to get your mugshot erased from the Jefferson County Jail website? This is difficult, because your mugshot is public record. To get your mugshot removed you must file a Petition to Expunge in court. Basically, this means that your arrest record would be sealed, and will not be accessible. Unfortunately, this happens very rarely.

For more information about getting your mugshot taken down, the various mugshot sites, and the mugshot removal websites: How To Get Your Mugshot Removed

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Naturally, if you’re in jail, your main thought is when and how to get out. After you’ve gone through booking, your bail is set either through a preset bail schedule or a magistrate. In cases where no bail is set this might mean that you will either be free to go until your court date, or you are kept in jail until your court date.

If you are released you are required to promise to go to your court date, and until that date you must not go out of town.

Typically, a prisoner in the Jefferson County Jail can earn time off in exchange for good behavior if they follow the rules and conduct themselves properly while they’re in jail.

If you follow the rules, you might be given work release detail. You will have to stay the jail every day when you’re finished at your job, or you might have the chance to sleep in a halfway house instead of jail, so it is kind of like an early release.

Your bail is the amount of money that you have to pay to the courts to get out of jail until your court date. Your bail amount is determined by the crime you are charged with. You will need to put up 10% of the amount set so you are able to be released. If you don’t show up for court, that person will lose that money.

To find out how much bail money you will need to bail someone out of jail will need to call the jail. If you’ve got the pertinent information, such as name, address and date of birth, they’ll let you know the bail amount. Also, you can check their bail amount and status on the jail website.

Bailing out of jail is never fun, but most of the time, it is really easy. First, you need to find out if it is a “Cash Bond Only” situation. If it is, you can’t use the services of a Bail Bondsman. Bail can only be paid by cash – they can’t accept checks. Once you have paid the bond, the prisoner will get released. If the conditions of bail are not violated, you’ll get your money back.

If the bail amount is too high, or you just can’t afford it, you should hire a bail bondsman. Bail bondsmen usually charge you a fee of 10 to 15 percent of the total amount of bail set by the magistrate, and sometimes have a minimum charge of $100. This money is non-refundable and must be paid in cash. If their bail has been set particularly high, the bail bondsman might use your personal assets as collateral.

If you need a local bail bondsman click here: Find a bail bondsman at Jefferson County Jail

Have you ever had to use a Bail Bondsman either for yourself, a family member or friend? If so, please leave a comment below and tell about your experience and let us know how it worked out for you.

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• Get Time Off For Good Behavior
• Work Release Programs
• Released For Time Served
• Be Released on a Pre-Trial Release Program
• House Arrest
• Own Recognizance

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The jail intake process includes each of these steps:

• You will be placed in a holding cell. If the jail is really busy, you will have to wait a while to get processed.
• The first thing you will have to is you will have to answer some questions, such as your legal name, street address, date of birth and a contact person.
• They’ll also ask about your mental and medical history.
• You will be issued an inmate ID.
• Your fingerprints will be taken.
• You will get your mugshot taken.
• Any personal property you have will get taken away from you and stored until you are discharged.
• They will allow you to use the telephone so you can talk to a member of your family, friend, or bail bondsman.
• If you think you will get released quickly, you might be allowed to keep wearing your own clothes, otherwise you will be given a jail issued jumpsuit.

Have you ever been arrested and gone through the jail intake procedure? If you have, you should tell your story. How long did you have to wait? How did the guards treat you? Do you have any secrets that could help others to get through the process?

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When you post bail, you will be discharged from jail. Getting discharged may take anywhere between 10 minutes to all day. In other words the quicker you post bail, the sooner you will get discharged from jail. Also, it can depend on whether or not you have a cash bond amount or if a magistrate still needs to figure out the bail amount. For lesser charges, you will be booked and then released on your recognizance without having to pay bail. When you get to the end of your sentence and are given a discharge date, plan to be discharged in the morning.

If the police have a, or if you have to begin your sentence in jail, it is recommended that you follow the rules and turn yourself in willingly. If it is for a warrant, go down to the jail intake center, and tell them that you think there is a warrant for your arrest. The officer will verify that you have an outstanding arrest warrant, and if you do, you will be taken into custody. If you have a jail sentence to serve, report at the time and date that the sentence order states. Make sure that you get don’t get there late, or they may decide to arrest you. Be sure to only bring necessary items when you go, like a driver’s license or even ID, any prescription medication you might take, along with your doctor’s prescription, as well as a sentencing order from court.

To have visitors, you must list information about each visitor to the jail in advance. Your visitor’s names will go in a log of approved visitors for the inmate that requested the visitor. Each and every visitor will have to provide acceptable photo identification. Anyone arriving late or without a visiting order will not be allowed to visit the inmate.
Visitation procedures at Jefferson County Jail can change, so you should check the jail site before you visit an inmate.

All phone calls from jail are with a pre-paid phone card or account, or are collect calls . Jail phone calls are generally pricier than regular phone calls. Phone calls are restricted on how often you can use the phone, but you should keep in mind that a long line can form at the phones, because everyone wants to use the phone, too. If you break the rules and are disciplined, your ability to use the phone may be limited or eliminated altogether.

The Jefferson County Jail phone number is: 406-225-4075

All mall sent to inmates must be mailed using the US Postal Service. You shouldn’t use any other type of delivery. You have to write the name, inmate ID number, and jail address on the outside of the letter that you send. Don’t send anything in a box or package, envelope with padding, bag, or an envelope containing metal parts. All mail sent to inmates gets opened and read and examined by the jail officers, and the mail will get sent back to the person who mailed it if deemed inappropriate.

If you would like to send a letter to an inmate at Jefferson County Jail, use this address:

Jefferson County Jail
Box 588
Boulder, MT 59632

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Jefferson County Jail
Box 588
Boulder, MT 59632

The inmate mail policy at Jefferson County Jail can change, so check the site when you send a letter to an inmate.

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If you get arrested, you have particular rights, the first of which is your right to request an attorney. You are only allowed to make so many phone calls in jail, so it is important to have a friend or relative find an attorney when you call. You might be thinking ‘but do I really need a lawyer’ You are not required to have an attorney for some criminal charges, a criminal defense lawyer will advise you about your rights, protect your interests and help you navigate through the criminal justice system in Jefferson County. The quicker you hire an attorney to represent you and work on your case, the better your chances.

For more info on how to find a lawyer, read our guide: How to Find a Lawyer in Jefferson County

If you’ve been arrested and don’t have the money to hire an attorney, you will be given a public defender for a lawyer. In addition, the Public Defender Office has access to private investigators, crime scene and forensics experts and case workers. All Public Defenders are licensed attorneys, members of the State Bar and are completely licensed to practice law in Montana.

Have you ever had to use a Public Defender or court appointed attorney? Do you think that they did a good job of defending you?

Jefferson County court records are public records and are available upon request. Court records include a case file containing a docket sheet and every motions, documents, and evidence filed in the course of your case. You can access the records and documents in your court case using the website, or by going to the Jefferson County Clerk of Court.

The Jefferson County Clerk of Court is a member of the court who manages court records. They also administer the oath when court is in session, and also read the verdict when delivered by the jury. All court records associated with your case are kept at the office of the Clerk of Court.

Court costs and court fees are the charges and fees associated with your case, such as for example filing fees, motion fees and various court charges. If you cannot afford these fees and have a Public Defender, you may get out of having to pay them.

A Magistrate is the type of judge that rules over your case in court. Magistrate judges do several different things, like setting bail amounts, issuing warrants for arrest, and overseeing first court appearances and detention hearings.

A defendant’s pre-sentencing report is completed to include your background information and as much detail about the defendant’s life and history, which the magistrate judge will take into account when deciding on the sentence. Information will be gathered from the defendant, their family, and if necessary the victim. Remember that you can request to have your own copy of this report prior to sentencing, so you have the opportunity to correct any mistakes that it contains.

If you get convicted of a crime during your trial, you will be given a sentence for your crime. The judge will have several different options when sentencing you, including community service, house arrest, and probation, to incarceration in jail or prison. Depending on the severity of the crime, you might get immediately taken into custody, or given a date that you must go to jail to serve out your sentence.

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Want to find out if a family member or friend is incarcerated, or has gone to jail in the past?

This is pretty easy to do, simply just access the jail website and do an inmate search, and search by:

• Their name.
• Date of birth.
• Their booking date.
• or jail ID.

If you think this person is in jail, you should call the jail get confirmation.

If you think you have an outstanding warrant for your arrest, you are able to check the court records on the website or call the jail. You have to have their first and last name. Or, you can just go the jail in person and ask them. You should know that if there is a warrant for your arrest, they will take you into custody immediately.

If you know the person’s name, and their arrest date, contact the Jefferson County jail, on the phone, go there in person, or find out online. An arrest is in the public record and this is freely available.

Civil processes are when you get served with legal papers, which can be , subpoenas, and arrest warrants. You can find these civil process orders by getting in touch with the Sheriff’s office, online or by phone.

All convicted sex offenders must be listed and registered on either a national or state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted in a court of law of a sex crime. You can access this information on the website, but keep in mind that you will not be able to get the exact address, just the neighborhood block they live on.

Court Records are public records. Court Records include a court case file that contains a court docket and all of the filings and documents filed in your case. You are able to access court records on the internet, or at Clerk of Court in the jurisdiction where the case was filed.

Every state maintains a record of people’s criminal history. These databases are linked together so you are able to track criminal convictions from any other state. You can go to the Jefferson County Courthouse and make an inquiry, or check online. It helps to know the county, and if the crime was in a different state entirely, you may have to pay a fee for a more comprehensive search.

A criminal history search you will be able to find out if a person has ever been arrested, charged or convicted for these crimes:

• DUI or DWI.
• Drug Possession.
• Kidnapping.
• Sexual offenses including rape, assault.
• Violent crimes like assault or murder.
• Property crimes like theft or larceny.

When you do a criminal history search, in most cases will not find if they has had:

• Tickets for speeding.
• Drivers license suspended or revoked.
• Accidents.
• Minor infractions or moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

To find driving records, you have to do a search for their driving record.

Have you ever had to search for criminal records of someone you know? Was it a difficult process? Was your search online or did you call the Jefferson County courthouse? Was the information you received correct? There are plenty of reasons that people search for criminal records and backgrounds, and your feedback could help other people that are in the same situation.

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Most Wanted

For Federal crimes, the FBI has a list of the Ten Most Wanted Criminals. In Jefferson County,The Sheriff’s Department maintains their own list of the top most wanted criminals in the county.

FBI Ten Most Wanted List


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

Just the thought of serving a jail sentence in Jefferson County Jail is quite unpleasant, you will soon get used to the daily routine. Prisoners get a wake-up alarm at 6:00AM, and next they’ll do roll call. Next, you will have breakfast. After breakfast, participate in the work program or other activity that you are assigned. This could be working in the kitchen, laundry, or some sort of manufacturing job. While this may seem tedious, it may help you when you leave jail, as you are gaining experience in a certain field of work. Other inmates go to school, while some take part in mandated treatment programs. After lunch, there will be another roll call, then back to work. Your evening will be spent either in your cell or a common room. During this time dinner is served and you will be expected to take a shower. After another roll call, it’s lights out. Even though you will be confined to your cell, there may be enough light to read or write letters. Then again, most inmates welcome lights out, and try to get as much sleep as they can.

Most people are frightened at the idea of jail because they don’t know what to expect. If you have spent any time in Jefferson County Jail, your experiences would be welcomed, if it can help another person to deal with it.

Dress Code

When incarcerated, all inmates are expected to wear the Jefferson County Jail uniform. This is normally a jumpsuit or scrubs. Of note to anyone visiting an inmate – you must be properly dressed. Any clothing considered inappropriate will not be permitted.

How To Send Money to an Inmate

You will have your own ‘bank account’ while in jail. This money is used to purchase items from the Commissary. Family and friends can deposit money into this account for you, and any money you earn while in prison will also be deposited into your account. Outside money can be paid in to your account via a money order, cash or check. If someone sends a check or money order, make sure that they write your inmate ID on it. The maximum amount you are allowed in your account is $290 per month.

The procedure to send money to someone in jail might change, so it would be best to check the official Jefferson County Jail site when you send money to an inmate there.


Commissary

The commissary is the jail store. You can purchase a number of things here, such as toiletries, snacks and writing supplies. Bear in mind that you will probably want to use the commissary daily, and any infractions will get that privilege taken away from you.

Inmate Medications

If you are on any type of prescription medication, you will be allowed to continue taking it while in jail. When you are first processed, you will be asked what medication you take. You will then be referred to the jail nurse or doctor who will be in charge of monitoring your health and prescribing your medication.

Meals

You will get three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. As expected, they are very basic, but healthy. A typical breakfast might be cereal, toast, coffee and fruit. Lunch might be spaghetti, salad, bread and milk. Dinner could be chicken casserole, rice, vegetables, dessert and milk. Contrary to popular belief, prison food has greatly improved over the years, and you might find that it’s not much different from what you would eat at home.

Pods / The Yard

The jail is designed in a ‘pod’ layout, with self-contained housing arranged around an outdoor yard. Each pod has a central control station and a common room, and the inmates take turns in using the yard. The jail is designed this way to keep certain inmates together, and others away from the general population.

Gangs

As with life in general, gangs are a part of prison life. Obviously it is best to avoid becoming a part of this environment as it will only lead to trouble. When you first enter prison, you might find yourself being ‘primed’ to join a gang, or worse, you might get their attention in a negative way. The best thing to do is keep your head down and don’t get involved.


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News and Media

News

Photos / Pictures

Videos


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Jobs

Types of Jobs at Jefferson County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Jefferson County Jail, overseeing the day to day operations and administration of the jail. An inmate is unlikely to have much interaction with the Deputy Sheriff, unless they have committed an infraction. Detention Officers are responsible for the custody and care of the inmates. They maintain order in the jail, and handle security. A Detention Officer is assigned to a certain pod, and therefore is responsible for the same inmates each day. They get to know the inmates on a certain level and are well equipped to handle any problems that may occur.

Apply for a Job at Jefferson County Jail

Requirements:

• You have to be over the age of 21.
• You have to possess a High School Diploma or GED
• You have to be a US Citizen.
• You have to pass a Criminal, Credit and Driving History background check.
• You have to pass a drug test.
• You have to have a good level of fitness.
• You have to be in good health.
• You have to have a valid Driver’s License
• An applicant for Deputy Sheriff must possess a Law Enforcement Certification.


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Family Resources

There are resources for families of both the perpetrator of the crime and the victim. The social and emotional impact of crime is far reaching, affecting many. Families can receive professional counseling, court related assistance, social services assistance and help in navigating the criminal justice system.

If you are a family member, which resources did you find to be particularly helpful? Please let us know, as this will be helpful to other families in the same situation.

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Victim Resources

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.

Victim’s Rights

The Victim Rights Act grants victims the following rights:

• Victims have the right to protection from the accused.
• Victims have the right to notification.
• Victims have the right to attend proceedings.
• Victims have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• Victims have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• Victims have the right to restitution.
• Victims have the right to a speedy trial.
• Victims have the right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

The definition of victim includes:

• Spouses and children of all victims.
• Parents and guardians of minor victims.
• Parents, guardians and siblings of mentally or physically incapacitated victims or victims of homicide.
• Foster parents or other caregivers, under certain circumstances.

There are a number of services and programs designed to help victims and their families. You can find out about these services by contacting the courthouse, or local law enforcement agency.

Victim Notification

The Department of Justice Victim Notification System (VNS) is a system that provides victims with information pertaining to their case and/or any defendants in the case. You will receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow you to access VNS via the internet or by phone. Here, you will find information about future court hearings, historical court events, and detailed information about the defendant. This will include criminal charges filed, the outcome of charges, sentence imposed, custody location, projected release date and any other release information. The VNS website is updated daily. You will also receive any ongoing information by mail or email.

Have you, a family member or friend ever used the Victim Notification System? If so, was it effective? Did you get the information in a timely manner? Was the system difficult to use? We would like to hear from you, so please post any comments here.

Click here to share your story

Sex Offender Information and Search

All people registered as sex offenders are registered on either a national or state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted of a sex or kidnapping crime. You can access this information online, but bear in mind that you will not get the exact address, rather the block that they live on.

Domestic Violence

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there are services to help you. Your county will have a Domestic Violence Services office. They provide free and confidential services, such as emergency shelter information, legal advocacy, support groups and domestic violence education. They will work to help you create a safe and violence-free life, and heal from the trauma of abuse.

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.


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Reviews

Reviews of this Jail

Have you ever been an inmate at Jefferson County Jail? Do you know someone that is an inmate there? Have you ever visited an inmate there?

If your answer is yes, then please write a review about it. Write down what you experienced so that others can learn what to expect.

Things you might want to put in your comment:

• Conditions at the jail.
• Jail layout and facility
• Guards and jail staff
• Food and commissary
• Visitors
• The other inmates.
• Safety
• Jail gangs
• Prisoner activities and programs


Write a review about Jefferson County Jail

Tell Your Story

Anyone who’s been in jail has a story to tell. Why were you locked up? Were you mistreated? What was it like in jail? What were the other inmates like? Did going to jail affect your life? How?

Click here to leave a comment

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Did you meet some cool folks in jail? Are you trying to find out how to get in touch with someone from jail? Send a message to them here.

Post a message to people incarcerated at Jefferson County Jail


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