Search the Roster, Then Route the Record Correctly
The public detention list is a starting point—not a real-time court record. It updates every four hours, may lag behind an actual custody change and does not include federal inmates.
Use this guide to search the current roster document, identify the correct court, verify bond and release information, and follow current visitation, communication, mail, deposit and records procedures.
Choose the Information You Actually Need
Searching for a person, confirming a hearing, paying bond, requesting a mugshot and adding account funds are separate tasks handled by different systems.
Use the Correct Official Source
Do not enter a real name, date of birth, address or case number into this helper. It only sends you to the correct official system.
Cascade County Source Finder
How to Search the Cascade County Jail Roster
Begin on the County Website
Start from the Sheriff’s official roster page rather than a copied jail list, sponsored background-check result, social-media screenshot or archived document.
Read the Disclaimer Before Opening the List
The county explains that the information updates every four hours, can be behind the actual custody status and does not include federal inmates.
Open the Current Roster Document
Use the “current inmate roster” link on the county page. The document may open through Microsoft SharePoint or a browser PDF viewer.
Search the Legal Surname First
Search the full last name, then try a former surname, maiden name, partial spelling, hyphenated variation or apostrophe-free version.
Compare Multiple Record Details
Check age, booking date, arresting agency, charges and bond information. A name-only match is not enough when names are common.
Verify the Legal and Custody Status Separately
Use the correct Montana court for the legal case and use Montana DOC or the federal locator when the person is no longer in county custody.
After reviewing the process, open the official Cascade County Inmate Roster page.
What to Do When the Roster Document Will Not Open
The county’s current-roster link may open through Microsoft SharePoint. Browser privacy settings, expired sessions, pop-up blocking or a mobile PDF viewer can interfere with access.
| Problem | Practical fix | Avoid this mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft sign-in screen | Return to the official county roster page and reopen its current link in a private or incognito window. | Do not create an unrelated paid Microsoft account. |
| Blank document window | Allow pop-ups for the county page, refresh once and try another browser. | Do not assume a blank viewer means the person is not in custody. |
| Search finds no name | Download the document and use a PDF reader’s search function. | Do not rely only on the browser’s webpage search when the PDF is embedded. |
| Phone cannot search | Save the document to Files or Downloads and reopen it in a PDF application. | Do not scroll hundreds of entries manually before trying document search. |
| Old cached roster appears | Return to the county page, reload it and use its current link again. | Do not use a search-engine preview or old downloaded copy as current proof. |
How to Search on Common Devices
- Windows: press Ctrl + F.
- Mac: press Command + F.
- Android: use Find in page or the PDF magnifying-glass tool.
- iPhone or iPad: use Find on Page or save the PDF to Files.
- Search the surname first instead of the complete name.
- Try the first four or five letters when spelling is uncertain.
How to Use the Four-Hour Update Rule
The official page promises regular four-hour updates, not fixed public clock times. A particular entry can still be delayed by booking, identity verification, medical screening, court paperwork, transfer processing or data publication.
Four-Hour Recheck Planner
This creates a practical reminder four hours from the current Mountain Time. It does not predict an official county publication time.
Call instead of waiting when the answer affects urgent medication, immediate safety, a same-day hearing, bond payment, transportation or release pickup.
Does the Record Match More Than the Name?
Check only details you already know independently. Do not type the person’s actual information into this page.
What the Roster Fields Can and Cannot Prove
| Possible roster field | Useful for | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|
| Name and age | Separating people with similar names. | A single matching detail proves identity. |
| Booking or jacket number | Following up with detention staff. | It is the court case or Montana DOC number. |
| Booking date and time | Matching the approximate custody event. | It is the arrest time or next hearing. |
| Arresting agency | Identifying the likely court and report route. | That agency controls every later decision. |
| Charges | Understanding the alleged custody reason. | The charge is a conviction or final filed offense. |
| Bond amount | Starting a jail or court inquiry. | It is current, payable or the only hold. |
| Release or status field | Identifying a recorded custody change. | Every release condition or later booking is shown. |
A booking is not a conviction. Charges can be amended, dismissed, reduced or resolved differently after the public roster is generated.
Why Someone May Not Appear in the Roster
Booking Is Incomplete
The person may still be in transport, identification, screening or intake processing.
Name Format Differs
The record may use a legal, former, maiden or differently punctuated name.
Recent Release
A bond payment or court order may have changed the status before the next public update.
Transfer Occurred
The person may have moved to another county, Montana DOC or another agency.
Federal Custody Applies
Federal detainees are specifically excluded from the public county roster.
There Is a Case but No Custody
A citation, warrant or criminal case can exist without a current detention entry.
Custody Verification Call Script
“I am trying to confirm whether [full legal name] is currently in Cascade County custody. The possible arrest occurred around [time] through [agency]. I do not see the person in the current public roster. Should I allow another update, try another name format or contact another court or facility?”
If a displayed entry appears factually wrong, the official roster page directs users to call the Detention Center at 406-454-6820.
Why the Current Online Roster May Not Show Mugshots
Cascade County stopped displaying booking photographs on its public online roster in 2025. A missing photo therefore does not mean there was no booking or that the roster entry is incomplete.
The Sheriff’s official Records fee schedule still lists paid booking-photo copies for people who need a record for an appropriate purpose.
| Records service | Posted fee | Posted hours |
|---|---|---|
| Black-and-white mugshot | $3 | 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Color mugshot | $5 | 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Notarized black-and-white mugshot | $8 | 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Notarized color mugshot | $10 | 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| In/out release letter or local background check | $10 | 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Additional notarization | $5 | Confirm before travelling |
Verify availability first. A listed fee does not guarantee that a particular photograph or letter is legally releasable or immediately ready.
After identifying the record you need, review the official Records Fee Schedule PDF.
Which Court Should You Check?
The roster may identify an arresting agency, charge or court. Use those clues to avoid calling the wrong clerk.
Court and Agency Router
| Court | Common route | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Cascade County District Court | Felony and other Eighth Judicial District matters | 406-604-7796 |
| Cascade County Justice Court | Sheriff, Highway Patrol, Transportation and Fish, Wildlife and Parks traffic or misdemeanor cases | 406-604-7787 or 406-604-7788 |
| Great Falls Municipal Court | Great Falls Police municipal citations and cases | 406-771-1380 |
Search Montana Court Records
Montana provides separate portals for District Courts and Courts of Limited Jurisdiction. Online information is a starting point; verify urgent hearings and deadlines directly with the clerk.
Use the official Montana Public Access Portal page after identifying the likely court.
Use the Cascade County Clerk of District Court page for District Court records and public-calendar guidance.
Use the official Justice Court page for qualifying county and state-agency misdemeanor matters.
Bond and Release Information Needs Live Verification
A bond amount on the roster is not a complete payment instruction. The amount may have changed, may apply to only one case or may not resolve another warrant, hold or jurisdiction.
- Confirm the inmate’s full legal name and roster identifier.
- Identify the court attached to each charge or warrant.
- Ask whether the displayed amount is still current.
- Ask whether the bond is cash, surety or subject to another condition.
- Ask whether another county, state or federal hold exists.
- Confirm who accepts payment and which payment methods are allowed.
- Ask whether payment creates release eligibility or only starts processing.
- Save the receipt and transaction reference.
Do not send bond through Access Corrections or Securus. Those services are for inmate accounts or communication, not court bond.
Release Timing
Release can be delayed by court paperwork, identity checks, property return, transportation, additional holds or a transfer. Do not arrange a long-distance pickup from an estimated roster status alone.
Bond Verification Call Script
“I am calling about [full legal name and roster identifier]. The public roster displays a bond amount. Is that amount still current, which court controls it, what payment method is accepted, and are there any other holds that would prevent release?”
Public Defender and Legal-Help Contact
The roster and court portals can show public information, but they cannot advise a defendant whether to pay, plead, waive a right or file a motion.
Montana Office of State Public Defender — Cascade County615 2nd Avenue North, 3rd Floor
Great Falls, MT 59401
Telephone: 406-770-3200
- Prepare the defendant’s legal name.
- Record the court and case number when available.
- Write down the next known hearing date.
- Keep booking and court numbers separate.
- Explain any urgent deadline or custody issue.
Legal consequence warning: obtain legal advice before making a payment or statement that could act as a plea, waiver or admission.
In-Person Visitation Is Currently Suspended
The live Sheriff’s Office page states that in-person inmate visitation is cancelled until further notice because of construction. Do not travel based on the older visitation PDF alone.
The current alternative is Securus Video Connect and eMessaging. Call the Detention Center before travelling because the live construction notice can change sooner than the older PDF.
Standby Rules From the County’s Visitation PDF
These details help visitors prepare only after the Sheriff confirms that on-site visitation has resumed.
| Posted PDF rule | Standby detail |
|---|---|
| Weekend schedule | Saturday and Sunday, 8:30 a.m.–4:45 p.m. |
| Visit allowance | One 45-minute noncontact visit per weekend |
| G and H units | 8:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. |
| J and K units | 12:30–4:45 p.m. |
| Arrival | No more than 15 minutes before the scheduled time |
| Visitor limit | Up to four people, including children |
| Identification | Current, unexpired state or federal photo ID |
| Screening | Every visitor must pass the metal detector |
Standby Visitor Checklist
- Bring only accepted identification and two car keys on a bare ring.
- Do not bring a purse or wallet into the visiting area.
- Wear clothing that complies with the posted dress restrictions.
- Do not wear a metal-underwire bra.
- Supervise children continuously.
- Bring infant items only in the limited forms listed by the PDF.
- Never introduce contraband or visit while intoxicated.
After staff confirm that in-person visits have resumed, review the official ADC Visitation Rules PDF.
Phone Calls, Video Connect and eMessaging
Cascade County identifies Securus Technologies as its inmate telephone, Video Connect and eMessaging provider.
- Confirm the inmate remains in Cascade County custody.
- Use the legal name shown by the current roster.
- Select the correct Cascade County facility.
- Review the provider’s live price before funding.
- Treat telephone, video and messaging funds as separate from commissary and bond.
- Do not discuss evidence, witnesses or legal strategy on nonprivileged communications.
- Save payment and customer-support reference numbers.
Securus customer support: the Sheriff lists 800-844-6591 for billing and access help, 24 hours a day.
After confirming the correct facility and inmate, use the official Securus Technologies portal.
How Cascade County Inmate Mail Is Processed
Personal mail is opened, inspected and scanned through the Digital Mailing Center for delivery to the inmate’s tablet. The original envelope and contents are discarded after scanning.
Cascade County Detention Facility[Inmate’s Full Legal Name]
3800 Ulm North Frontage Road
Great Falls, MT 59404
The Sheriff also lists “Cascade County Sheriff’s Office” as an acceptable facility heading when the inmate’s full name and same address are used.
| Mail element | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Envelope length | Ten pages or fewer |
| Page size | No larger than 8.5 × 11 inches |
| Photograph size | No larger than 5 × 7 inches |
| Sender information | Full sender name and address required |
| Third-party mail | Not accepted |
| Books, magazines and packages | Not accepted through personal mail |
Items the Sheriff Says Not to Send
- Cash
- Polaroid photographs or nude images
- Blank envelopes, paper or stamps
- Photocopies or laminated items
- Stickers, sticky notes or internet printouts
- Newspaper clippings
- Books, magazines or packages
- Gang, drug, alcohol, violence or sexually explicit material
- Illegal substances or contraband
Never send an irreplaceable original. Birth certificates, driver’s licenses, Social Security cards, green cards and original photographs cannot be returned after scanning and destruction.
Legal or Time-Sensitive Papers
The public personal-mail rules do not provide a complete privileged-mail procedure. Call 406-454-6820 before sending an original court document or other time-sensitive legal material.
Review the live Sheriff’s Office inmate-mail rules before mailing anything.
Inmate Deposits, Care Packages, Calls and Bond Are Different
| Purpose | Official route | Do not confuse it with |
|---|---|---|
| Inmate spending account | Mailed money order, Sheriff’s lobby kiosk or Access Corrections | Court bond or Securus communication funds |
| Approved care package | Access Securepak | A package mailed directly to the detention center |
| Calls, video or messages | Securus Technologies | Commissary or bond |
| Bond | Detention center and controlling court instructions | Any inmate-service provider |
Mailed Money Order
[Inmate’s First and Last Name]3800 Ulm North Frontage Road
Great Falls, MT 59404
- Confirm current custody before paying.
- Use the complete legal name.
- Confirm whether an inmate identifier is required.
- Review transaction fees and purchase limits.
- Save the receipt or money-order stub.
- Do not mail cash.
After verifying the correct inmate, use the official Access Corrections portal for supported online deposits.
For facility-approved products rather than account money, use the official Access Securepak catalog.
How to Share Urgent Medication or Safety Information
The public Sheriff pages do not provide a detailed family medical-information procedure. Use direct detention contact when staff urgently need to know about medication, withdrawal, disability, suicide risk or another serious concern.
- Call the Detention Center at 406-454-6820.
- State that the information concerns an urgent health or safety issue.
- Provide the inmate’s legal name and approximate booking time.
- Prepare the medication name, dosage, prescribing provider and pharmacy.
- Do not mail medication or bring it without staff instructions.
- Call 911 when an immediate life-threatening emergency exists outside the facility.
How to Request a Law-Enforcement Investigative Report
The online inmate roster is not the initial investigative report. The county-hosted report form routes qualifying reports through the Cascade County Attorney’s Office.
Which Reports May Use the County Attorney Form?
- Cascade County Sheriff’s Office initial investigative reports
- Montana Highway Patrol reports
- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reports
- Great Falls Police felony reports
Great Falls Police misdemeanor and traffic reports should be requested through the Great Falls City Attorney’s Office rather than this county form.
Fee, Payment and Processing Requirements
| Requirement | Official PDF instruction |
|---|---|
| Administrative search fee | $15, nonrefundable |
| Possible processing time | Thirty days or more |
| Accepted payment | Business check, cashier’s check or money order |
| Not accepted | Cash, personal checks, credit cards or debit cards |
| Signature | The request form includes a sworn signature and notary section |
| Possible response | Approved, approved with redactions or denied |
Prepare the Form Before Notarization
- Report number, when known
- Reporting agency
- Incident date and address
- Primary officer, when known
- Names of parties in the report
- Requester name, mailing address and telephone number
- Reason for requesting the record
- Case number when requesting as a defendant or victim
Redactions are possible. Confidential criminal-justice information and private information may be withheld or removed even after the search fee is paid.
After identifying the reporting agency and preparing the required details, open the official Law Enforcement Reports Request PDF.
How to Report Sexual Abuse or Sexual Harassment
The Adult Detention Center and Regional Prison provide several reporting methods. Reports can be made anonymously, and another person can report on an inmate’s behalf.
Reporting From Inside
- Dial 1-1-777.
- Tell any staff member, volunteer or contractor.
- Tell medical or mental-health staff.
- Submit a grievance or kite.
- Report to the PREA coordinator.
Reporting From Outside
- Call 406-268-1330.
- File a misconduct referral at the Sheriff’s Office.
- Report on behalf of an inmate who cannot report safely.
- Call 911 when immediate danger is active.
Do not wait for a roster refresh, video visit or mailed letter before reporting an immediate safety concern.
Review the official PREA reporting PDF.
What the Latest Aggregate PREA Report Shows
The Sheriff’s February 2026 aggregate report records 38 PREA investigations in 2024 and 34 in 2025. These totals represent reported allegations and investigations—not 72 substantiated incidents.
The report states that training for employees, contractors, volunteers and inmates remains ongoing.
Check State, Federal or Another Montana County
Montana DOC Offender Search
Use the state system when the person may have transferred to a Montana prison, regional correctional placement or DOC supervision.
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Use the federal locator for Bureau of Prisons custody. The Cascade County public roster expressly excludes federal inmates.
Yellowstone County
Check this guide when the arrest, booking or transfer may involve Billings or Yellowstone County.
Missoula County
Use this guide when the person may be in Missoula County’s current, released-inmate or court-schedule systems.
Flathead County
Use this guide when the arrest, court matter or transfer may involve Kalispell or Flathead County.
Unknown Montana Court
Use Montana’s Court Locator when the roster or arresting agency does not clearly identify the court.
Confirm the custody type before paying. A county account, Montana DOC account, Securus account and federal account are not interchangeable.
Cascade County Detention Center Contact Information
Cascade County Sheriff’s Office / Adult Detention Center3800 Ulm North Frontage Road
Great Falls, MT 59404
Main detention and Sheriff contact: 406-454-6820
Non-emergency Sheriff’s Dispatch: 406-454-6979
Fax: 406-454-6948
Records front counter: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Securus support: 800-844-6591 Cascade County Courthouse
415 2nd Avenue North
Great Falls, MT 59401
Clerk of District Court: 406-604-7796
Justice Court: 406-604-7787 or 406-604-7788
Justice Court hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Great Falls Municipal Court
Civic Center, 2 Park Drive South
Great Falls, MT 59401
Main line: 406-771-1380
Before driving: confirm current custody, construction restrictions, the correct court or office, accepted identification, current counter hours and the required payment method.
Use Public Booking Information Responsibly
- Do not treat an arrest, charge or bond as proof of guilt.
- Do not republish an old roster as current custody information.
- Do not use a purchased mugshot to harass, shame or threaten anyone.
- Do not expose victim, child, witness, medical or immigration documents.
- Do not make final employment, housing or licensing decisions from the roster alone.
- Verify important information through the court or a licensed attorney.
Cascade County Jail Roster FAQs
How do I search the Cascade County jail roster?
Open Cascade County’s official Inmate Roster page, follow the current-roster link and search the legal surname in the document. Compare multiple booking details before relying on a result.
How often is the Cascade County inmate roster updated?
Cascade County says the roster is updated regularly every four hours. It may still lag behind a new booking, transfer, court action, bond payment or release.
Are federal inmates included in the Cascade County roster?
No. Cascade County expressly states that federal inmates are excluded from the public county roster.
Why is someone missing from the Cascade County roster?
The person may still be processing, may be listed under another name, may have been released or transferred, may be in Montana DOC custody or may be in federal custody.
Does the online roster show Cascade County mugshots?
Cascade County stopped displaying booking photographs on its online roster in 2025. The Sheriff’s Records fee schedule lists paid black-and-white, color and notarized mugshot copies.
Are in-person visits currently available?
The current Sheriff’s Office page states that in-person inmate visitation is cancelled until further notice because of construction. Securus Video Connect and eMessaging remain available.
How does Cascade County inmate mail work?
Personal mail is opened, inspected and scanned for delivery to the inmate’s tablet. Original mail is discarded after scanning, and each envelope is limited to ten pages.
How do I add money to an inmate account?
The Sheriff’s Office lists a mailed money order, the lobby kiosk and Access Corrections. Care packages use Access Securepak, and communication funds use Securus.
Can an inmate receive an incoming telephone call?
Ordinary incoming calls are not provided through the public inmate telephone service. Cascade County uses Securus Technologies for inmate calls, Video Connect and eMessaging.
Which court handles a Cascade County booking?
The court depends on the case. Felony matters generally route to District Court, qualifying Sheriff and state-agency misdemeanors route to Justice Court, and Great Falls Police municipal citations route to Great Falls Municipal Court.
How do I request a Cascade County report or mugshot?
Use the correct county report form or Sheriff’s Records service. The investigative-report form lists a 15-dollar nonrefundable search fee, and the Records fee schedule separately lists mugshots and release letters.
How can sexual abuse or harassment be reported?
Reports can be anonymous. An inmate can dial 1-1-777, notify staff or submit a grievance or kite. An outside person can report on an inmate’s behalf by calling 406-268-1330.
Final Cascade County Verification Checklist
- The search began on the official county roster page.
- The current document—not a cached screenshot—was searched.
- Enough time was allowed for the four-hour update interval.
- The record matches more than the name alone.
- Federal-custody exclusion was considered.
- The booking identifier was not confused with a court or DOC number.
- The arresting agency and correct court were identified.
- Every bond amount and possible hold was confirmed before payment.
- Access Corrections and Securus were not used for court bond.
- In-person visitation was not assumed to be open.
- No irreplaceable document was placed in personal mail.
- Commissary, communication, care-package and bond payments remained separate.
- The correct report office and payment method were confirmed.
- Urgent medical or PREA concerns were reported directly.
- No arrest or booking record was treated as proof of guilt.
Independent guide: Jail-Roster.org does not operate the Detention Center, inmate roster, Montana courts, Securus, Access Corrections, Access Securepak, Montana DOC or the Bureau of Prisons. Current official information controls whenever procedures change.