By Patricia Jones The Butte jail roster is an official public record showing people currently held at the Butte-Silver Bow Detention Center in Montana. It can help family members, lawyers and other members of the public confirm whether someone has been booked into the facility and review the charges listed at the time of publication.
The roster changes frequently as people are arrested, released, transferred or taken to court. A person listed on an older roster may no longer be in custody, so users should always open the newest available version.
Where Can You Find the Official Butte Jail Roster?
The safest source is the City and County of Butte-Silver Bow’s official detention-center page. A link to the newest jail roster normally appears near the top of the page.
The roster is generally provided as a downloadable document. It may show information such as:
- The inmate’s full name
- Booking number
- Booking date
- Number of days in custody
- Statute numbers
- Listed offences
- Court or agency information
- Release date, when available
- The status or disposition of certain charges
The document may not contain a photograph, detailed case history or future court schedule. For more information about a criminal case, a person may need to contact the appropriate court clerk.
How Often Is the Roster Updated?
The Butte-Silver Bow website regularly publishes new roster documents. Some dates may have separate morning and evening versions because the jail population can change throughout the day.
A new arrest may not appear immediately. Booking officers must first process the person, record identifying information, take fingerprints and photographs, enter the charges and complete other intake procedures.
Similarly, someone may remain visible on a roster for a short period after being released if the online document has not yet been replaced. Calling the detention center may provide more recent confirmation when the information is urgent.
Does Being on the Roster Mean Someone Is Guilty?
No. A jail roster records custody and booking information. It does not establish that the person committed the listed offence.
Many people held in a county detention center are awaiting their first court appearance, trial, sentencing or transfer. Others may be held on probation violations, warrants, contempt orders or requests from outside agencies.
Criminal charges are allegations unless the person pleads guilty or is convicted in court. A listed charge may later be reduced, dismissed or changed by prosecutors or a judge.
The roster should therefore not be used to make assumptions about a person’s guilt, character or final case outcome.
About the Butte-Silver Bow Detention Center
The Butte-Silver Bow Detention Center is located at 155 West Quartz Street, Butte, Montana 59701. Its main telephone number is 406-497-1189.
The facility was built in 2004 and operates throughout the year. According to the county, it employs 28 detention officers and has space for 72 inmates.
Adults arrested in the area are brought to the booking section, where officers ask intake questions, photograph and fingerprint them, and enter the arrest information. The county says a $25 booking fee is assessed on arrestees.
People who cannot post bond, or whose alleged offences are not bondable, are classified before being assigned to a housing unit. Classification considers factors such as criminal history, behaviour in custody, security risk and physical or mental-health needs.
Can You Visit Someone Listed on the Roster?
The detention center assigns visitation days according to the inmate’s housing pod. The inmate is responsible for arranging the visit.
Visitors must bring photo identification. Cell phones are not permitted, and the county states that visitors may bring only their vehicle key into the visitation area.
The published schedule assigns different pods to Tuesday through Sunday. Visitors should call before travelling because an inmate may be moved, released, taken to court or temporarily unavailable. Facility rules and visitation arrangements can also change.
How Can You Send Mail or Money?
Butte-Silver Bow uses special procedures for inmate mail intended to reduce contraband. Nonlegal correspondence should not simply be mailed to the detention center without checking the current mailing instructions.
The county publishes separate guidance for letters, money and telephone services. It also states that inmates cannot receive incoming telephone calls. Friends and relatives should verify the inmate’s booking name and follow the current official instructions before sending mail or funds.
How Can You Receive Release Notifications?
People who need continuing custody updates may use Montana’s VINE notification service. VINE can provide information about an offender’s location or custody status and allows users to register for notifications concerning certain changes.
The Montana Department of Corrections identifies VINE as a free, confidential service available by telephone and online. However, users should still confirm county-jail information directly with the detention facility when immediate accuracy is important.
The Butte jail roster is useful for an initial custody check, but it is only a snapshot taken when the document was generated. The newest official roster, detention-center staff and court records remain the best sources for confirming an inmate’s present location and legal status.