Richland County Jail – Sidney, MT

Richland County Jail is in Richland County, Montana and is the main correctional facility for that region. Are you looking for somebody in Richland County Jail? This page gives you all about anything you might need to know about Richland County Jail,such as: How to locate an inmate at Richland County Jail. How to view Richland County Jail mugshots. The jail’s address and phone number. Posting bail. Intake procedures. Court records. And much more…

The thought of going to jail is a scary and stressful situation, not only for whoever is incarcerated, but also that person’s friends and family. The purpose of this guide is to give you information you need to make going to jail less stressful. If you have specific questions, please feel free to ask them, and any comments or feedback that might help other people in the same situation will be welcome.

Do you have a family member, loved one, or friend that is in jail and want to find out where they are?

Has a family member or friend who’s been arrested and you need to find out where they are?

To search who is in jail at Richland County Jail you will have to navigate to their web site and do an inmate lookup.

The Richland County Jail Inmate List is an online list of people currently in custody, which includes current status, bail amount, and times the inmate can have visitors. Also, you are able to find info about anyone who has been arrested or released in the past 24 hours. Inmates are shown in alphabetical order by their last name. You can find their inmate information quicker if you’ve got your friend or family member’s full name, date of birth, or arrest number.

If the person you are looking for is in another jail you can look here, too: Montana County Jails Listing

A mugshot, also called a jail intake picture, is a photograph that the police take when you are processed at the jail intake. They will take one and one profile photo. Your full name and intake number will appear on the mugshot, and they’re stored.

Mugshots can be found on the website, or you can see them in person at the Richland County Jail. When viewing mugshots online you need to input their full name, and the booking date.

Need to know how to have your mugshot removed from the Richland County Jail website? This will be difficult, since the mugshot is a matter of public record. To get your mugshot taken down you must file a Petition to Expunge with the court. Basically, this means that the record of your arrest would be sealed, and will not be available to the public. It is difficult to do this, and you will most likely need the services of a lawyer.

For a more in-depth article about getting your mugshot removed, the various mugshot sites, and the mugshot removal websites: How To Get Your Mugshot Taken Down

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Naturally, once you’re incarcerated, your only thought is about how to get out. After you’ve been booked, bail is determined using the bail schedule or the magistrate will decide it. If no bail is set this might mean that you will either get released, pending trial, or you are kept in jail until your court date.

If you do bail out you will have to promise to be there for your court date, and in the meantime you must not leave town.

Usually, inmates can earn time off in exchange for good behavior if they follow the rules and conduct themselves properly while locked up.

If you follow the rules, you might be allowed to participate in work release. You will either have to go back to the jail every day after work, or you may have the chance to sleep in a halfway house instead of the jail.

Your bail is money that you will be required to pay to get out of jail until your trial. Your bail amount is determined by the crime you’ve been charged with. You will need to put up 10% of the amount that was determined in order for you to be released from jail. If you don’t go to your court date, that person will not get their money back.

To find out someone’s bail amount you have to call the Richland County Jail or the County Courthouse. If know the pertinent information, including name, address and date of birth, they’ll let you know the bail amount. You can also check their bail amount and status on the Richland County Jail website.

Having to bail someone out of jail is an unpleasant situation, but usually, it’s really easy. First, you have to find out if it is a “Cash Bond Only” situation. If it is, you will not be able to get a Bail Bondsman. They only accept cash at the jail, so you have to take cash – the jail can’t accept a personal check. When you’ve paid bail, the prisoner will be released. If they don’t violate the terms of their bail, you will get this money back.

If the amount of bail set is large, or you can’t afford it, you should hire a bail bondsman. They generally charge you a fee of 10-15% of the total bail amount, and sometimes with a minimum charge of $100. This money will not be returned to you and is typically cash only. If their bail has been set particularly high, the bondsman will usually request to use your personal assets as collateral in addition to the fee they charge.

To find a local bail bondsman click here: Find a Bail Bondsman in Richland County

Have you ever used the services of Bail Bondsman for someone you know or yourself? If you have, leave a comment below and tell your story, and let us know how it worked out.

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

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The intake process is made up of each of these steps:

• You will get put in a holding cell. If the jail is busy, it will take a while to get processed.
• The first thing you will have to is you have to answer some simple questions, such as what is your full legal name, home address, date of birth and an emergency contact.
• They’ll also ask you about your medical and mental history.
• You’ll be given an inmate ID.
• Your fingerprints will be taken.
• You will have a front and profile photo taken for your mugshot.
• Any personal property you have will get taken away from you and stored until you are released.
• You will then be allowed to use the phone so you can talk to a family member, friend, or bail bondsman.
• If you think you will get released quickly, you might get to keep wearing your own clothes, otherwise you will have to wear a jumpsuit.

Have you been arrested and gone through jail intake? If you have, you should share your experience so others can benefit from your story. How long did it take to get processed? How did the guards treat you? Do you have any things that could help other people make it through jail intake?

Tell Your Story

When you pay your bail, you will get released from jail. The discharge process will take between 10 minutes to many hours. Or, simply, the faster you can pay your bail, the quicker you will get released. It also depends on if you have a bond amount or if the judge has to determine how much to set your bail at. For lesser charges, you will get booked and then released on your recognizance without having to pay bail. When you get to the end of your sentence and have a date of your release, you should plan to be discharged that morning.

If you have a, or if you need to begin your jail sentence, it is recommended that you follow the rules and turn yourself in. For a warrant, report to the jail, and tell an officer that you think there may be an outstanding warrant for your arrest. They will check their system to see if there are any outstanding local, state or federal arrest warrants out for you, and if they find one, they will take you into custody. If you have a jail sentence to serve, report on the date and time that the sentence order or court paperwork states. Be sure that you get don’t get there late, or they may decide to arrest you. Just bring allowed items when you go, such as a driver’s license or ID, any prescription medication you might take, as well as a copy of the sentencing order.

To have visitors, you need to provide each visitor’s name to the jail. Your visitor’s information will be put into the log for the requesting inmate. Every visitor will be required to provide proof of identification. Any visitors arriving late or any visitors that are not approved to visit will not be allowed to visit the inmate.
Visitation procedures change often, so we suggest that you check the official Richland County Jail jail site before you visit an inmate.

All phone calls from jail are made through a jail approved pre-paid phone account or phone card . Jail phone calls are typically pricier than regular phone calls. There are certain restrictions about when you can make phone calls, how long you can talk, and how often you can make calls, 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, phone calls may be limited or cut altogether.

Phone Number: 406-433-2919

All mail has to be sent via the actual US Postal Service. You shouldn’t use any other type of mail or package delivery. You have to clearly print the person’s name, prisoner number, and the jail address on the envelope. Don’t send anything in a box, envelope with padding or insulation, plastic or paper bag, or an envelope with metal in it. Any mail will be opened and read and inspected by the jail officers, and the mail will get sent back if it can’t be delivered.

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

Richland County Jail
110 Second Avenue N.W.
Sidney, MT 59270

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Richland County Jail
110 Second Avenue N.W.
Sidney, MT 59270

The mail policy at Richland County Jail changes frequently, so be sure to double check the official website when you send a letter to an inmate.

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When you get arrested, you should know you still have 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 get a friend or family member to locate an attorney for you. You may be asking yourself ‘I don’t need a lawyer – I can just represent myself’ While you are not required to have one, an attorney will make sure you know your rights, help protect your interests and help you understand the complicated legal system. The faster you get a lawyer involved with your case, the better off you’ll be.

For more information on the benefits of hiring a lawyer, read our guide: How to Find a Lawyer in Richland County

If you’ve been arrested and cannot afford an attorney, you will be given a public defender for a lawyer. Also, the Public Defender Office is staffed by independent investigators, experts in forensics and case workers. Public Defenders are real attorneys, members of the State Bar and are completely licensed to practice law and represent you in court.

Have you or someone you know used a court appointed attorney? What was your experience?

Court records are public record and are available upon request to anyone who requests them – not just the person who they pertain to. Court records have a file with a sheet called a docket sheet and all of the documents and motions that have been filed. You can access your court case records using the internet service, or by going to the Clerk’s office of the Court.

The Richland County Clerk of Court is an official part of the court who maintains court records and controls access to them. The Clerk of Court also administer the oath for anyone testifying in court, and also read the court verdict when the jury has finished deliberations. All records, documents, and evidence related to your case are held at the office of the Clerk of Court.

Court costs and court fees are all costs from your case, such as for example filing fees, motion fees and various court charges. If you cannot afford these fees and have been assigned a Public Defender, you will not be responsible for these fees.

The Richland County court magistrate acts as the judge that presides on your case. Magistrate judges do different tasks, which include deciding a bail amount, writing arrest warrants, and overseeing initial court appearances and detention proceedings.

A pre-sentencing report is put together to include your background information and details of the defendant’s life and public history, which the judge will consider when decide your sentence. Information and personal details will be requested from the person on trial, his or her family, and if necessary the victim. Don’t forget that you should ask to see a copy of your pre-sentencing report before you are sentenced, and go over it and correct any mistakes in it.

After you are convicted of a crime, you will then get sentenced. The presiding judge in your case will weigh several options when determining your sentence, including community service, house arrest, and probation, to even incarceration in jail or prison. Depending on the particulars of your trial, the severity of your crime, and any sentencing guidelines that they judge will use, you could be taken into custody immediately, or you could be given a date to surrender and report to jail to serve your sentence.

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Are you trying to find out if some you know is incarcerated in jail, or has ever been in jail?

This is pretty easy to do, simply just go to the jail’s website, and search by:

• Their name.
• Date of birth.
• Their booking date if you know it.
• or inmate ID.

If you’re not sure if this person is in jail, you can call the jail confirm whether they’ve been arrested or not.

If you think you have a warrant out for your arrest, you are able to check the arrest warrants on the Richland County jail website or you are able to call the court directly. This requires a first and last name. Or, you can just go the jail in person and inquire at the information desk. You should be clear that if there is an arrest warrant out for you, you will be taken into custody immediately.

If you know the person’s first and last name, and their arrest date, contact the jail, either by phone, go there in person, or find out online. Records of arrests are a matter of public record and this information is available to anyone.

Civil processes are when you are served with legal papers, like a court order. You can find these by contacting the Sheriff’s office, by phone or online.

All convicted sex offenders must be registered and listed on either a national or state sex offender database. Those listed on these databases have been tried by jury and convicted in a court of law of a sex or kidnapping crime. You are able to view these listings online, but keep in mind that you can’t get the precise address, but only the block of the address that they registered.

Court Records are public records and available to anyone. Court Records include a case file that includes a docket and all filings and documents filed in your court case. You can access court records via the internet, or at Clerk of Court where the case was filed.

Each state maintains a record of people’s criminal history. These online databases are all connected and you can track criminal convictions from any other state. You can go to the courthouse and check in person or you can check online. It helps to know the county, and in the event that the crime was in a different state entirely, you may have to pay for a more complete search.

A search of someone’s criminal history you will get a report detailing any arrests, charges, or convictions that may be on a person’s record for any crimes, which can include:

• DUI or DWI.
• Drug crimes like possession or trafficking.
• Kidnapping.
• Sexual offenses including rape, assault.
• Violent crimes including assault, battery and murder.
• Theft, breaking and entering.

If you do a criminal records check, usually won’t find out if that person had:

• Speeding tickets.
• Lost their driver’s license or license revoked or suspended.
• Traffic accidents.
• Other moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

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

Have you ever tried to search for someone’s criminal records? Was it a difficult process? Did you do your search online or did you call the Richland County courthouse? Was it correct? There are lots of reasons that folks look up criminal records, and your comments might make it easier for others.

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Most Wanted

Everyone knows that the FBI keeps a list of the Top Ten Most Wanted Criminals. In Richland County, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department maintains their own list of the top most wanted criminals in the county.

FBI Top Ten Most Wanted List: Link


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

Just the thought of spending time in Richland County Jail is very scary, soon you will get used to the daily routine there. You will get an alarm to wake up every morning at 6am, and next you’ll have roll call. Then you will eat breakfast. When you finish eating breakfast you will work 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 Richland 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 Richland 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 process for sending money to someone in jail at Richland County Jail could change, so it would be best to visit the the Richland County Jail website when send money to someone in jail 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 Richland County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Richland 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 Richland 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.

Click here to leave a comment


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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:

• You have the right to protection from the accused.
• You have the right to notification.
• You have the right to attend proceedings.
• You have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• You have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• You have the right to restitution.
• You have the right to a speedy trial.
• You 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 tell about all about it

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 spent any time in Richland County Jail? Do you know anybody there? Have you ever been to visit a prisoner at Richland County Jail?

If so, then you should write your review about it. Write down your experience so that others can learn what to expect.

What to put in what you write:

• Jail conditions.
• Jail, yard and pod facility and layout
• Staff and guards
• Food and commissary
• Having Visitors
• The other inmates.
• Inmate safety
• Gangs
• Prisoner activities and programs


Click here to write a review

Tell Your Story

Anyone who’s been in jail has at least one story to tell about it. Why were you locked up? Were you fairly treated? How was day to day life at Richland County Jail? How did you get along with the other inmates? Did going to jail affect your life? How?

Speak Your Mind

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Make some good friends in jail? Are you trying to send a message to a friend from jail? Post a message to them below.

Say Hello to Richland County Jail


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