INTRO
Montana's Department of Corrections operates a small system - approximately 4,000 people across four state-operated facilities plus contract beds at several private and county facilities. The system is spread across a vast geography: Montana State Prison is in Deer Lodge in the western mountains, the Women's Prison is in Billings on the eastern plains, Pine Hills (youth) is in Miles City, and Riverside is in Boulder.
Two things distinguish Montana's dress code from every other state in this directory. First, dresses and skirts are prohibited entirely at secure DOC facilities - not just skirts above the knee, not just skirts with slits, but all dresses and all skirts. This is the broadest bottom-half garment prohibition in the entire 50-state directory. Second, hoodies and cowl neck sweaters are explicitly banned - not just items with excessive pockets, but specifically those two garment types by name.
Montana also operates Kids' Day visitation at the Montana Women's Prison - a structured family visit program held the third Saturday of every month in place of regular visiting.
Montana uses commercial bail bonds - bail_banned = false.
VISITOR APPLICATION - FACILITY BY FACILITY
Montana does not use a centralized statewide application portal. Each facility has its own process.
MONTANA STATE PRISON (MSP) - Deer Lodge:
Mail the completed visiting questionnaire to:
Mail Technicians
400 Conley Lake Road
Deer Lodge, MT 59722
Questions: (406) 415-6313 or CORMSPVisitApp@mt.gov
All applicants 18 and older must submit separate questionnaires. Children under 18 are included on the same questionnaire as their parent or court-appointed legal guardian.
Background check: all visitors are subject to criminal background checks.
Processing time: within 30 days of receiving the questionnaire, a staff member contacts the inmate in writing to notify them whether the application was approved or denied.
Notification: the inmate is notified, not the visitor directly. The inmate is responsible for communicating the decision to the visitor.
Appeal: disapproved applicants may appeal by completing the appeal section on the disapproval form received from the inmate and mailing it to the second shift captain within 14 days of the postmark on the notice.
One list at a time: visitors may be on only one inmate's visiting list at a time. Exception: if both inmates are immediate family members of the visitor, an exception may be granted.
Ongoing obligation: approved visitors must notify MSP of any changes to their name or other information on file.
MONTANA WOMEN'S PRISON (MWP) - Billings:
As of August 1, 2025, all visits must be scheduled online in advance.
Visitation address: 701 South 27th St., Billings, MT 59701
Contact: (406) 247-5118 (Martin Scheeler) or mscheeler@mt.gov
PINE HILLS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY (youth) - Miles City:
Schedule by calling (406) 232-1377, 24 hours in advance.
Visitation address: 4 N. Haynes Ave., Miles City, MT 59301
RIVERSIDE - Boulder:
All visits must be scheduled online in advance.
Visitation address: 2 Riverside Road, Boulder, MT 59632
Contact: (406) 247-5118 (Martin Scheeler) or (406) 247-5129 (Troy Hust)
CONTRACT FACILITIES:
Crossroads Correctional Center (CoreCivic, Shelby): Sat/Sun 8AM-4PM. Phone the facility before Thursday to schedule. Published rules (March 2026): shorts prohibited; dresses and skirts must extend to mid-thigh when seated; slits may not rise above mid-thigh when seated. Rules may differ slightly from state facilities - contact Crossroads directly for current policy.
Additional contract facilities: Dawson County Correctional Facility and others. Contact facility directly.
For all DOC facility application forms: cor.mt.gov/FriendsandFamily/In-Person-Visitation
SCHEDULING - FACILITY BY FACILITY
Montana State Prison: online scheduling required. Visit cor.mt.gov to schedule. Email CORMSPVisitApp@mt.gov or call (406) 415-6313 with questions. Arrive 30 minutes before scheduled visit.
Montana Women's Prison: online scheduling required (as of August 1, 2025). Arrive 30 minutes before scheduled visit.
Pine Hills CF: 24 hours advance notice by phone only: (406) 232-1377.
Riverside: online scheduling required.
SAU D Block at MSP: visitation held on Fridays. Call (406) 415-6313 with 2 weeks' notice to schedule.
There is no statewide scheduling window minimum equivalent to Kansas's 72 hours or Michigan's 48 hours. Each facility sets its own advance notice requirement - from 24 hours (Pine Hills) to 2 weeks (SAU D Block).
VISITING HOURS BY FACILITY
Montana State Prison (MSP):
High side: up to 5 visitors per visit; one visit per week
Low side: up to 3 visitors per visit; one visit per week
Low side schedule rotates every 4 weeks to give all units both morning and afternoon visits
Contact facility for current schedule: (406) 415-6313
Montana Women's Prison:
Tuesday and Friday: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Third Saturday of every month: NO regular visitation - reserved for Kids' Day
Pine Hills Correctional Facility:
Monday through Friday: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Holidays and special circumstances: by appointment only
Riverside:
Saturday and Sunday (general hours - confirm with facility)
Contact: (406) 247-5118
KIDS' DAY - MONTANA WOMEN'S PRISON
The third Saturday of every month at Montana Women's Prison is reserved for Kids' Day visitation. No regular visiting occurs on the third Saturday.
Kids' Day is a structured family visit program specifically designed for incarcerated mothers and their children. Contact MWP at (406) 247-5118 for Kids' Day scheduling and requirements.
This is the only state in the directory with a formally designated monthly Kids' Day that replaces standard Saturday visiting. Families planning a regular Saturday visit to MWP must confirm it is not the third Saturday of the month before traveling.
THE DRESS CODE - NO DRESSES, NO SKIRTS, NO HOODIES
Montana DOC's Visitor Dress Code (updated December 2022) is published at cor.mt.gov and applies to all secure DOC facilities. It contains two prohibitions unique in this directory:
NO DRESSES OR SKIRTS - AT ALL:
The dress code explicitly lists: "No dresses or skirts." This is a categorical prohibition - not skirts above the knee, not skirts with slits, not certain dress styles. All dresses and all skirts are prohibited at Montana DOC secure facilities. Wear pants. This is the most restrictive bottom-half garment rule in the 50-state directory.
NO HOODIES OR COWL NECK SWEATERS:
The dress code explicitly prohibits hoodies and cowl neck sweaters by name. Maine's MCC also prohibits sweatshirts of all kinds. Montana's published prohibition specifically names hoodies and cowl neck sweaters - not all sweatshirts, but those specific styles. A plain crewneck sweatshirt is not explicitly prohibited; a hoodie or cowl neck is.
SUNGLASSES:
Sunglasses are prohibited unless they are prescription eyewear. Remove regular sunglasses before entering.
Full dress code prohibitions (DOC Visitor Dress Code, December 2022):
- Form-fitting clothing that is revealing
- Clothing associated with gang dress
- Revealing shorts
- Transparent tops, skirts, or pants; undergarments must not be visible
- Clothing without proper undergarments (bra, slip, and underwear)
- Tops not long enough to cover skin when arms are raised overhead
- Revealing tops or tops with revealing necklines
- Cowl neck sweaters or hoodies
- Dresses or skirts of any kind
- Clothing resembling resident-issued clothing
- Clothing resembling correctional staff uniforms
- No shoes: shoes must be worn at all times
- Clothing with profane or derogatory designs
- Clothing promoting illegal drugs, alcohol, or sexual behavior
- Clothing that is obviously soiled or has large holes/tears
- Sunglasses (unless prescription)
Coats, vests, hats, and scarves: must be hung in the designated area upon entry. Jackets/coats with hoods must also be hung. Visitors may not remove clothing items they wore into the visiting room once inside.
Metal caution: visitors are cautioned against wearing metal items underneath clothing - any metal will trigger the detector and may require a clothed body search to identify the source.
Enforcement note: shift supervisors make final dress code decisions, and enforcement can vary. Bring a change of clothes in your car.
AFFECTIONATE BEHAVIOR
Brief hug of under 5 seconds and a closed-mouth kiss at the start and end of the visiting period are permitted. Hand holding is allowed when hands remain above the table in full view of staff. Caressing, massaging, and rubbing are not allowed.
CONTRABAND AND SEARCHES
All visitors are subject to criminal background checks. Any person who refuses to be searched will not be permitted to enter the facility. Vehicles are subject to search.
Contraband introduction is a criminal offense under Montana law. Do not bring tobacco, cell phones, drugs, weapons, or any prohibited items onto facility grounds.
ID REQUIREMENTS
Government-issued photo ID required for all adult visitors at every visit.
MINOR VISITOR RULES
Children under 18 are included on the same questionnaire as their parent or court-appointed legal guardian (at MSP). Once approved, an inmate's children may visit if accompanied by any adult family member on the inmate's visiting list - not just the parent who submitted the questionnaire.
At Pine Hills (youth facility): special rules apply - contact facility directly.
VIDEO VISITATION
Video visitation availability varies by facility. Check the specific facility page at cor.mt.gov for current video visit options and scheduling. The dress code applies to video visits.
FEDERAL BOP IN MONTANA
Federal inmates from Montana fall under BOP Residential Reentry Management Denver. There are no major federal BOP prisons physically located within Montana. Federal defendants from Montana are typically housed at FCI Sheridan (Oregon), FCI Safford (Arizona), or other regional facilities. Pull current placement from bop.gov/inmateloc/ or contact the U.S. Probation Office for the District of Montana.
BOP RRM Denver: 1961 Stout Street, Suite 1-4212, Denver, CO 80294
REENTRY CONNECTION
Montana DOC operates Connections Corrections Program (CCP) and prerelease centers statewide. See our Montana halfway houses page at inmateaid.com/halfway-houses/montana/ for statewide reentry resources.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can I wear a dress or skirt to visit a Montana state prison?
A: No - Montana DOC's dress code explicitly prohibits all dresses and all skirts at secure facilities. This is a categorical ban, not a length restriction. Wear pants.
Q: Can I wear a hoodie to visit a Montana state prison?
A: No - hoodies and cowl neck sweaters are explicitly prohibited in Montana's dress code. Leave hoodies in your car.
Q: How do I schedule a visit at Montana State Prison?
A: Online at cor.mt.gov, or contact the visitation office at (406) 415-6313 or CORMSPVisitApp@mt.gov. Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled visit. One visit per week; up to 5 visitors on the high side, 3 on the low side.
Q: What is Kids' Day at Montana Women's Prison?
A: The third Saturday of every month is reserved for Kids' Day - a structured family visit program for incarcerated mothers and their children. No regular visitation occurs on the third Saturday. Contact MWP at (406) 247-5118 to schedule Kids' Day visits.
Q: How long does the Montana State Prison visitor application process take?
A: Within 30 days of receiving your questionnaire, MSP staff contacts the inmate in writing with the decision. If denied, you may appeal within 14 days by mailing the completed appeal section to the second shift captain.
Q: Can I be on more than one inmate's visitor list in Montana?
A: Generally no - visitors may be on only one inmate's list at a time. An exception may be granted if both inmates are immediate family members of the visitor.
Q: Can sunglasses be worn during a Montana prison visit?
A: Only prescription sunglasses are permitted. Regular sunglasses must be removed before entering. TruthFinder WIDGET Search Montana inmate and arrest records COUNTY GRID All 56 Montana counties - pills linking to county visitation pages DATA SOURCES Montana DOC In-Person Visitation: cor.mt.gov/FriendsandFamily/In-Person-Visitation (prod-cor.mt.gov) Montana DOC Visitor Dress Code (December 2022): prod-cor.mt.gov/FriendsandFamily/FriendsFamilyLinksandDocuments/DOC-Visitor-Dress-Code_December-2022.pdf MSP Visitation: 400 Conley Lake Road, Deer Lodge, MT 59722 / (406) 415-6313 / CORMSPVisitApp@mt.gov MWP Visitation: 701 South 27th St., Billings, MT 59701 / (406) 247-5118 / Online scheduling as of Aug 1, 2025 Pine Hills CF: 4 N. Haynes Ave., Miles City, MT 59301 / (406) 232-1377 Riverside: 2 Riverside Road, Boulder, MT 59632 / (406) 247-5118 Crossroads CC (CoreCivic, Shelby): March 2026 facility document Kids' Day: MWP third Saturday monthly Montana DOC HQ: 5 South Last Chance Gulch, Helena, MT 59601 / (406) 444-3930 BOP RRM Denver: 1961 Stout Street, Suite 1-4212, Denver, CO 80294
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