Beaverhead Co Jail in Dillon, MT is a county detention facility operated by the Beaverhead County Sheriff's Office. Most people here are awaiting trial or sentencing - this is not a prison, and most stays are measured in days or months, not years. If someone you care about was just booked here, you have questions. Start with the one that matters most right now.
If you are not certain they are there, the fastest way to confirm is the Beaverhead County inmate search or InmateAid's inmate locator, which searches across Montana facilities by name.
Booking takes time - sometimes several hours after arrest. If the search comes back empty, wait a few hours and try again before assuming they have been transferred somewhere else. You can also pull their arrest record and booking details to confirm the charges and facility assignment. For the most direct answer, call Beaverhead Co Jail at 406-683-3700.
Most people booked at Beaverhead Co Jail appear before a judge within 24 to 48 hours. At that first appearance the judge sets the bail amount - or denies bail - based on the charges, the person's history, and whether they are considered a flight risk.
If bail is set, your family member can be released by paying the full amount or by using a bail bondsman, who typically charges 10 percent of the total as a non-refundable fee. If bail is denied or the amount is unaffordable, they remain at Beaverhead Co Jail until the case resolves. InmateAid's bail and bond guide walks through every option including what to do if you cannot afford a bondsman.
Right after arrest, your family member goes through intake at Beaverhead Co Jail - identity verification, medical screening, property inventory, and classification. Classification places them in a housing unit based on the charges, prior record, and intake behavior. It is not a punishment. It is how the facility manages a population that ranges from people picked up on minor warrants to individuals facing serious charges.
For the first 24 to 48 hours, phone access and visitation are typically unavailable while booking completes. Once they are assigned to a housing unit, those channels open up. InmateAid's what happens in jail guide covers the full intake process step by step so you know what to expect.
Your family member calls you - you cannot call them. Calls from Beaverhead Co Jail go through Reliance Telephone System and all calls are recorded except attorney calls. Set up a Reliance Telephone System account before the first call so the connection goes through without delay.
Phone contact is more important than most people realize going into this. A regular call - even a short one - makes a measurable difference in how someone holds up inside. Do not let the setup friction stop you. Visit InmateAid's jail calls page for step-by-step account setup, current rate information, and tips for keeping funds available.
Visitation hours at Beaverhead Co Jail are set by the facility and can change without much notice. Before making the trip, call 406-683-3700 to confirm current hours, any advance registration requirements, and what you are allowed to bring.
The most common mistake families make is showing up without confirming first - and that results in a wasted trip and a missed visit for your family member. General rules across most Montana county jails: dress conservatively, avoid colors that resemble inmate uniforms, leave your phone in your car, and bring valid government-issued ID. Children may be permitted with specific requirements depending on the facility. InmateAid's visitation guide has a full checklist you can run through before you go.
The Beaverhead County Detention Center, overseen by Sheriff Paul Craft, Undersheriff William Knox, and Jail Commander Daniel Fields, maintains a clear and structured visitation policy to ensure the safety and security of all individuals within the facility. Effective July 16, 2021, this policy outlines general visitation guidelines, visitor requirements, and procedures for special visits such as legal or religious visits.
General Visitation Guidelines
Visitation at the Beaverhead County Detention Center occurs on Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, scheduled on an hourly or half-hourly basis. Visitors are required to call the facility between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM on the day of visitation to secure an appointment. All visits are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. However, visitation may be canceled at any time, with cancellations requiring approval from the Sheriff, Undersheriff, or Jail Commander. Detention officers will make reasonable efforts to notify visitors of cancellations before their scheduled appointments.
Visitor Rules and Guidelines
Visitors must adhere to strict rules to ensure the safety and security of the facility. Violations may result in the denial of visitation or suspension of privileges. Key guidelines include the following:
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Eligibility: Visitors must be at least 18 years old. Individuals with any felony charges (pending or convicted) on their criminal record will not be allowed to visit. The Sheriff or Jail Commander reserves the right to deny visitation if it is deemed detrimental to the inmate or the security of the facility.
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Permitted Items: Visitors may only bring the following:
- One form of valid identification.
- A reasonable number of piercings or jewelry.
- Proper clothing that adheres to facility standards.
All other belongings, including backpacks, purses, or electronic devices, must be stored in the lockers provided at the Sheriff’s Office.
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Clothing Requirements: Visitors must wear appropriate attire at all times during the visit. The following clothing is strictly prohibited:
- Spandex tops or pants.
- Skirts or dresses shorter than knee-length or with buttons/snaps in the front or back.
- Transparent or revealing clothing.
- Shorts with slits or openings above mid-thigh.
- Low-cut, sleeveless, or cut off tops.
- Tight clothing revealing body shape or undergarments.
- Coats, trench coats, or large jackets.
- Bib overalls or ponchos.
Female visitors must wear a bra at all times. Visitors are subject to a search, which may include the use of a wand or pat-down.
Reasons for Denial of Visitation
Visitors may be denied access for several reasons, including but not limited to:
- Refusal to comply with a search.
- Suspicion or evidence of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Failure to provide proper identification or providing false information.
- Violations of facility rules or laws, including introducing contraband or inappropriate conduct.
- Harassment of staff or improper physical contact with an inmate.
Visitors who violate visitation policies may face indefinite or permanent suspension of privileges, with a written notice issued by the Jail Commander.
Special Visits
Legal Visits
Legal visits are granted as “special visits” and are limited to attorneys, law enforcement personnel, or state representatives. These visits are confidential and may occur during normal business hours between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM or 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM on weekdays. Scheduling conflicts and facility operations will be taken into consideration, and visits should be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance.
While legal visits may be visually monitored for safety purposes, they will not be overheard, recorded, or audibly monitored. If necessary, these visits may take place outside the detention center, provided appropriate measures are in place.
Religious Visits
Religious visits are also considered confidential and must be conducted in the designated visitation rooms of the Detention Center.
The Beaverhead County Detention Center remains committed to providing secure and fair visitation opportunities while maintaining a safe environment for all individuals within its care. Visitors are encouraged to review and comply with all policies to ensure smooth and respectful visits.
Money on the books - also called the commissary or trust account - gives your family member access to hygiene items, snacks, phone time, and postage. It is one of the most practical things you can do and it has a direct effect on their daily comfort.
Beaverhead Co Jail accepts deposits through approved channels that typically include online deposit, phone deposit, or a kiosk at the facility. Use your family member's full legal name and booking number exactly as they appear in the jail's system - any error in the name or number will delay or reject the deposit. InmateAid's send money page lists the specific deposit methods accepted at Beaverhead Co Jail and walks through the process.
A letter or a printed photo costs almost nothing to send and means far more than most people outside appreciate. Beaverhead Co Jail accepts incoming mail addressed to your family member at 2 S Pacific St #13. Put their full legal name and booking number on every piece of mail.
Standard rules at most Montana county jails: plain white paper only, no staples, no glitter, no stickers, no colored ink. Photos should be standard print size with nothing written on the back. Mail that does not meet the facility's standards will be rejected - and the facility may not notify you that it was. Keep it simple.
InmateAid's send mail service lets you write and send directly from your phone or computer. We print on approved stock and mail it for you, so rejection for formatting is not a risk.
Books and magazines must come new, ordered directly from the publisher or through an online retailer - not shipped from your home address. Facilities require this to prevent contraband. Order through Amazon or directly from the publisher. Anything shipped from a personal address will be turned away.
County jail procedures, visitation rules, phone rates, inmate search tools, bail processes, and what happens at release all vary by state. Montana has its own rules and its own agencies, and what applies in one state does not always apply here.
InmateAid's Montana prison resources hub covers all of it - written specifically for families navigating the Montana system. Start there when you need answers that go beyond what this facility page covers.
County jail time is hard in a way that is different from anything else. The uncertainty - not knowing how long, not knowing what comes next - wears on everyone. What you can control is the connection. Calls, letters, visits, money on the books. Every one of those things tells your family member that someone out here is paying attention and is not going anywhere.
InmateAid was built for exactly this. Use us.