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🏛 State Directory

Prisons and Jails in Montana.

Montana Department of Corrections manages the Montana state correctional system. Montana's Public Inmate Access (PIA) system searches by DOC number or name. Montana is one of the largest states by land area with one of the smallest
Search a specific facility
2
State facilities
36
County jails
0
Federal facilities
1K+
State inmates

Montana State Prisons

2 facilities

Montana County Jails

36 facilities

Montana Department of Corrections

Montana's Public Inmate Access (PIA) system searches by DOC number or name. Montana is one of the largest states by land area with one of the smallest prison populations. The vast geography means families may face extremely long travel distances for visitation.

The official inmate search is available at app.mt.gov/pia. Federal inmates from Montana are often housed at FCI Sheridan (OR) or FCI Englewood (CO).

Visitation in Montana Facilities

Montana DOC visitor approval requires a visitor application. Processing takes 2 - 4 weeks. Montana's vast geography - nearly 600 miles wide - means some facilities are extremely difficult to reach. Deer Lodge (MSP) is about 170 miles from Missoula, 280 miles from Billings. Video visitation strongly recommended.

Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our Montana prison directory.

Sending Mail to Montana Inmates

Montana DOC mail requires the inmate's DOC number. Standard 4x6 photos accepted. Crossroads (CoreCivic) may have slightly different policies than state-operated MSP.

InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to Montana facilities. Want to receive letters without sharing your home address? Our Letters From Inmates service scans and delivers inmate mail to your account.

Phone Calls from Montana Facilities

Montana is not currently among the states that offer free inmate phone calls. GTL/ViaPath holds the Montana DOC contract.

Following the FCC's Martha Wright-Reed Order (effective April 6, 2026), per-minute rates for inmate calls are now federally capped at state and federal facilities. Find current carrier and rate information on each facility's page in our Montana prison directory.

Sending Money to Montana Inmates

Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for Montana:

  • JPay (primary for Montana DOC)
  • Money orders mailed to facility
  • CoreCivic systems at Crossroads

See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.

Reentry Resources in Montana

Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in Montana:

Frequently Asked Questions About Montana Prisons

How far is Montana State Prison from major cities?

Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge is in Powell County in the Rocky Mountain foothills - about 170 miles east of Missoula (roughly 2.5 hours), 280 miles west of Billings (about 4 hours), and 100 miles north of Butte (about 1.5 hours). Montana's vast distances make in-person visitation genuinely difficult for many families, particularly those in Billings or eastern Montana. Deer Lodge is a small town with limited lodging - plan accommodations well in advance if you're making a multi-day trip. GTL video visitation is available at most Montana DOC facilities and is strongly recommended as a practical alternative or supplement for families who can't make the drive regularly.

What is Crossroads Correctional Center?

Crossroads Correctional Center in Shelby is a privately-operated medium-security facility run by CoreCivic under contract with Montana DOC. Shelby is in Toole County in the far north of the state, about 90 miles south of the Canadian border and 90 miles north of Great Falls. CoreCivic operates Crossroads under MDOC standards, so Montana state inmates there have the same general rights and policies as those at state-operated facilities. Day-to-day procedures and contact information differ from MSP though - contact Crossroads directly at 406-434-2900 for visiting procedures. Your inmate's Montana DOC number still applies at Crossroads.

Does Montana have free prison phone calls?

No - Montana has not eliminated phone call fees. GTL/ViaPath holds the Montana DOC contract. The FCC's April 2026 rate caps apply to interstate calls from state facilities, reducing costs from historical highs, but calls are not free. Montana's small prison population and vast geography mean phone contact is often the primary means of connection for families who can't make the long drives to Deer Lodge or Shelby. Set up a GTL ConnectNetwork prepaid account rather than accepting collect calls, and consider GTL's digital messaging and video call features as supplements.

What is a Montana DOC number?

Every Montana state inmate is assigned a unique DOC number when they enter state custody. It must appear on all mail sent to MDOC facilities - whether at state-operated MSP or the CoreCivic Crossroads facility. Find it through Montana's Public Inmate Access system at app.mt.gov/pia by searching the inmate's full legal name. County jail detainees have their own booking numbers that are separate from DOC numbers - county detainees don't get a state number until they enter state custody after sentencing. Once assigned, the number is permanent for the sentence regardless of facility transfers.

How do I find someone in a Montana county jail?

Montana has 56 counties, most operating their own jails for pretrial detainees and sentences under a year. The Montana DOC PIA system covers state prison inmates only - it will not show county detainees. Contact the county sheriff's office directly to find anyone in a county jail. Cascade County Detention Center in Great Falls and Yellowstone County Detention in Billings are the two largest county facilities. Most Montana county sheriffs maintain publicly accessible online inmate rosters. For federal arrests, use the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov - Montana federal inmates are frequently housed at FCI Sheridan in Oregon.

What is the Montana Women's Prison?

Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge is in Powell County in the Rocky Mountain foothills - about 170 miles east of Missoula (roughly 2.5 hours), 280 miles west of Billings (about 4 hours), and 100 miles north of Butte (about 1.5 hours). Montana's vast distances make in-person visitation genuinely difficult for many families, particularly those in Billings or eastern Montana. Deer Lodge is a small town with limited lodging - plan accommodations well in advance if you're making a multi-day trip. GTL video visitation is available at most Montana DOC facilities and is strongly recommended as a practical alternative or supplement for families who can't make the drive regularly.

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