Lewis and Clark County Jail Roster 2026: Inmate Search

Lewis & Clark County, Montana • Helena custody guide • verified August 20, 2026

Read the Roster, Decode Every Hold, Then Use the Court That Actually Controls the Case

Lewis and Clark County publishes a compact jail-roster PDF, but the most useful information is often buried inside the Hold Reasons column. One entry can involve a local charge, warrant, probation or parole hold, DOC sentence, book-and-release matter or another agency.

This guide shows how to open the freshest county roster, avoid mistaken mugshot searches, identify the correct Helena court, verify bond and release, and follow the current rules for NCIC communication, CorrectPay commissary, scanned personal mail, legal mail, medical concerns, records, property and transfers.

Current Detention Center 221 Breckenridge Ave, Helena, MT 59601.
Custody questions Call 406-447-8232.
Book & release County lists operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Communication NCIC handles current phone, messaging and video services.

Check the Roster’s Printed Date Before Searching a Name

Lewis and Clark County’s roster is distributed as a PDF rather than a permanent person-by-person web page.

During this source audit, the official PDF displayed “Jail Roster Printed on August 20, 2026” at the top. The last page also contains a total-record count.

Do not hard-code the inmate count. The population changes. The useful freshness signal is the printed date on the PDF, not a number copied into an article days or weeks earlier.

Before Using a Saved PDF

  • Return to the county Detention Center page.
  • Open its current inmate-roster link again.
  • Check the printed date at the top.
  • Confirm that the final page loaded completely.
  • Do not rely on an old browser tab or downloaded copy for time-sensitive custody.

Choose the Exact Question You Need Answered

The roster, warrant lists, courts, records office, inmate accounts and Montana DOC all answer different questions.

Start From the Sheriff’s Detention Center Page—not a Search-Engine Copy

The Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Detention Center page links directly to the county’s Current inmate roster.

Starting from the county page matters because the PDF URL can change versions while old PDFs remain indexed or saved locally.

The county does not publish a dependable every-X-minutes refresh promise. Treat the PDF as the current public report, then call when the answer is changing quickly.

After understanding the limitation, open the official Lewis and Clark County Detention Center page and select Current inmate roster.

Which Official Source Should You Use?

Do not enter a real inmate’s name, DOB or case number here. This helper only identifies the correct official destination.

Lewis & Clark Source Finder

Select the task that matches your question.

What to Do When the Roster PDF Will Not Search Properly

Problem Practical fix Avoid this mistake
Browser Find shows nothing Use the PDF viewer’s own search or magnifying-glass tool. Do not assume the name is absent before using PDF search.
Mobile PDF is hard to search Save the PDF to Files/Downloads and reopen it in a PDF reader. Do not manually scroll every page first.
Old roster appears Return to the county Detention Center page and reopen Current inmate roster. Do not use an old search preview as current proof.
Full name finds nothing Search only the surname or first several letters. Do not require exact punctuation or spacing on the first try.

Common Search Shortcuts

  • Windows: Ctrl + F.
  • Mac: Command + F.
  • Android: PDF search / magnifying-glass tool.
  • iPhone/iPad: Find or save the PDF to Files and search there.
  • Search the surname before the complete full name.

How to Search the Lewis and Clark County Roster Correctly

1

Open the Fresh County PDF

Start from the Sheriff’s Detention Center page and check the roster’s printed date before searching.

2

Search the Legal Surname

Try the last name first. Use maiden, hyphenated or alternate versions when needed.

3

Compare More Than the Name

Compare age, sex and booking information to reduce wrong-person matches.

4

Save the Booking Number

The booking number is useful when calling the Detention Center, but it is not the court case number.

5

Read Every Hold Reason

One person can have several separate charges, warrants, sentences or agency holds.

6

Move to the Correct Court or Custody System

Use Justice Court, Helena Municipal Court, District Court, Montana DOC or another agency depending on the hold.

What the Lewis and Clark County Roster Columns Mean

The current PDF format audited for this guide uses these main columns:

Roster column Useful for What still needs verification
Name Finding a possible custody match. Identity when names are similar.
Age Separating people with similar names. Exact identity when important.
Sex Additional record matching. Do not use one field alone to identify someone.
Booking Date & Time Matching the jail intake. Exact arrest, offense or court time.
Booking # Jail follow-up. Court docket number separately.
Hold Reasons Charges, warrants, sentences, detainers and other-agency involvement. Court outcome and current release effect.

A charge, warrant or hold reason is not a conviction. Use the responsible court for public case outcomes.

Use Hold Reasons to Find the Next Official Source

Hold-Reason Decoder

Choose the wording closest to the roster.

The Current Roster Is Not a Public Mugshot Gallery

The current Lewis and Clark County roster audited for this guide is a text/table PDF. Its visible columns are Name, Age, Sex, Booking Date & Time, Booking # and Hold Reasons.

There is no dedicated booking-photo column in the current roster format.

A missing mugshot does not mean a person was not booked, and a mugshot copied by a third-party website does not prove current custody.

If You Need an Arrest or Booking-Related Record

Contact the regional law-enforcement Records Division and explain exactly what record you need. Availability depends on record type and legal release restrictions.

Records: 406-447-8469 .

Why Someone May Have a Case but Not Appear in the Roster

No-Result Troubleshooter

Select the situation that best matches.

Current Pretrial Snapshot

On August 20, 2026, Lewis and Clark County reported 321 individuals actively assigned to Pretrial Services across 402 active cases.

The county explains that active people in this count have been released from the Detention Center and are being monitored in the community.

An active case and an empty jail-roster search can therefore both be correct at the same time.

Lewis & Clark Justice Court and Helena Municipal Court Have Separate Warrant Lists

Do not treat “Helena warrant search” as one database.

Lewis & Clark Justice Court Warrants

In May 2026, Lewis and Clark County launched a new online arrest-warrant list specifically for warrants under Justice Court jurisdiction.

Open Justice Court Arrest Warrant List

Do not confront or attempt to apprehend anyone based on an online warrant listing. Verify with the responsible court or law enforcement.

Warrant Does Not Equal Jail Custody

A person can have an active warrant without appearing in the jail roster, and a person in jail can be held for reasons unrelated to the warrant you found.

Justice Court, Helena Municipal Court or District Court?

Court Typical custody clue Current contact
Lewis & Clark Justice Court County/state-agency misdemeanors, many initial felony filings, outside-county warrants and probation-violation initial appearances. Criminal: 406-447-8202
228 Broadway, Room 102
Helena Municipal Court City of Helena misdemeanors, citations, city ordinances and Municipal Court warrants. 406-447-8466
First Judicial District Court Felony cases and other District Court matters after the case moves into District Court. Clerk: 406-447-8216
228 Broadway, Room 104

Felony Cases Can Start in Justice Court

Justice Court says nearly all felony cases occurring in Lewis and Clark County are initially filed there. A preliminary hearing may be scheduled, and the felony is generally filed into District Court around that stage.

Once the case moves to District Court, further court-status questions should be directed to District Court rather than repeatedly searching Justice Court.

District Court Calendar Freshness

The county’s District Court calendar page states that schedules are updated on Friday at 3:00 p.m. and remain subject to change.

Never rely on an old court-calendar screenshot when missing a hearing could create a warrant or other legal consequence.

Why an In-Custody Defendant May Appear at 8:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m.

Justice Court Prisoners

Prisoners in the Lewis and Clark Detention Center currently make initial appearances by closed-circuit television at 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Open Justice Court Prisoner Information

These are published routines, not a guarantee of one person’s hearing. Holidays, court orders, case type and scheduling can change the actual appearance.

Some Newly Booked Defendants Can Speak With Defense Counsel Before First Appearance

Lewis and Clark County Criminal Justice Services describes a Meaningful First Appearances initiative.

The program was implemented in Helena Municipal Court in November 2024 and expanded to Justice Court in January 2025.

Its purpose is to give newly booked people an opportunity to meet with a defense attorney before their first appearance so relevant information can be brought to the judge earlier.

Information That Can Matter at the First Appearance

  • Public Safety Assessment information.
  • Criminal-history context.
  • Employment.
  • Housing.
  • Other circumstances relevant to release conditions.

Public Defender Appointment

Justice Court’s own FAQ says a person who cannot afford an attorney may ask the judge about appointed counsel. The court determines appointment eligibility, after which Public Defender qualification paperwork may be required.

Open the Montana Office of State Public Defender

Do Not Pay Bond Until Every Hold Is Checked

The Lewis and Clark roster can show several separate hold reasons for one person. Paying one matter does not automatically clear another warrant, P&P hold, sentence, District Court hold or outside-agency detainer.

  • Confirm current jail custody.
  • Save the booking number.
  • Read every hold reason.
  • Identify the court or agency tied to each matter.
  • Verify the current bond amount.
  • Ask whether any no-bond or nonlocal hold exists.
  • Confirm the correct payment recipient.
  • Confirm the accepted payment method.
  • Ask whether payment makes the person release-eligible.
  • Do not arrange pickup until release processing is actually complete.

Bond Verification Call Script

“I am checking current bond and release information for [full legal name], booking number [if known]. The roster shows [hold reason]. Which court or agency controls this matter, is the bond still current, and is there another hold that would prevent release?”

Detention Center: 406-447-8232 .

Pretrial Services Can Explain an Active Case With No Jail Entry

On August 20, 2026, Lewis and Clark County reported 321 people actively assigned to Pretrial Services across 402 active cases.

The county defines these active people as defendants who were assigned to Pretrial Services, released from the Detention Center and are being actively monitored in the community.

These figures are a dated program snapshot, not a jail-population count. They help explain why a court case can remain active after a person disappears from the inmate roster.

Pretrial Services Does Not Mean the Case Ended

A defendant on pretrial release may still have court dates, release conditions and an active prosecution.

Review Lewis and Clark County Criminal Justice Program Data

What the Lewis and Clark County Bond Review Roundtable Does

Lewis and Clark County Criminal Justice Services developed a Bond Review Roundtable to review certain people held on cash bonds they cannot afford.

The multidisciplinary group can review factors such as bond, criminal history, jail behavior and individual circumstances and may recommend potential release to Pretrial Services to the presiding judge.

Review Court Services and Diversion

Current Lewis and Clark County Visitation Rules

Normal Saturday, Sunday and Holiday Visits

Rule County-published detail
General visitation 8:00 a.m.–9:30 p.m.
Midday meal interruption 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Evening meal interruption 4:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
Normal visit limit One 20-minute visit per inmate per day.
Identification Visitor photo identification required.
Minimum adult age Normally 18 or older.

The Inmate Must Submit Visitor Details

The inmate’s request must include every intended visitor’s complete:

  • Name.
  • Address.
  • Date of birth.

Immediate-family minors may visit when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Intoxicated, disrespectful or unruly visitors can be refused and may lose future visitation access.

Attorney Visits

Attorney visits are not limited in frequency. The county requests that they occur between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. when possible.

Calls, Messaging and Video Visits Through NCIC

Lewis and Clark County currently uses NCIC Inmate Communications.

Phone Rules

  • Telephone access begins after booking is completed.
  • Housing areas contain inmate telephones.
  • Ordinary incoming calls are not accepted.
  • Approved inmates may receive voicemail.
  • Local, long-distance and international calls are billed per minute.
  • The county says there is no connection fee.
  • Three-way calls are prohibited.

The county displays the current voice-call rate chart as an image. Because rate images can change, this guide does not hard-code an unverified voice-call per-minute amount.

Messaging and Remote Video Rates Currently Published

Service County-published amount
Video visit $0.25 per minute
Message $0.25 per message
Picture or video message $0.35 each

Lobby Video Visitation

  • Staff approval is required.
  • Lobby video is free.
  • It can be available seven days per week outside lockdown periods.
  • Lockdown hours vary by inmate housing.
  • Lobby visits are limited to one 30-minute call in a 12-hour period.
  • Pod video sessions are limited to 15 minutes.

If a no-contact court order exists, communication through phone, messaging or video can violate that order.

NCIC support: 800-943-2189 .

Open the official NCIC account portal

CorrectPay, Lobby Kiosk, Mailed Funds and NCIC Are Not the Same Thing

Lewis and Clark County’s own Detention Center page mentions more than one money route. The safest approach is to identify the account purpose first.

Route County description Important caution
CorrectPay Specifically listed for credit-card deposits to the inmate’s commissary account. Confirm inmate and facility before submitting.
Lobby kiosk Cash or credit-card deposits at the Detention Center. Fees apply.
Mailed check / money order Cashier’s check, bank check or money order under the county’s published LCSO instructions. Do not include personal inmate mail.
NCIC The visitation section says money can also be added to an account through NCIC and warns it cannot be accessed immediately. Confirm the exact account purpose before treating it as commissary.

CorrectPay Credit-Card Fee

The county currently lists:

  • $4 deposit fee.
  • Plus 4% of the funded amount for card processing.

Lobby Kiosk Fees

  • Cash: $4 funding fee per transaction.
  • Credit card: $4 funding fee plus 4% processing.

Mailed Commissary Funds

Payable to: LCSO

LCSO
c/o Kaleb Metzger
406 Fuller Ave.
Helena, MT 59601
  • Print the inmate’s first and last name on the memo line.
  • Include your full return address on the envelope.
  • Mail the payment by itself.
  • No personal checks.
  • Do not include a personal letter in the payment envelope.

Commissary, NCIC communication funds and court bond are separate. Depositing into one does not pay another.

Open CorrectPay after confirming current custody

Personal Inmate Mail Goes to the Longview, Texas Processing Center

Since July 1, 2023, ordinary inmate mail—except legal and medical mail—is routed through the county’s Texas scanning process.

Inmate Name
Inmate Number
Lewis and Clark County Detention Center
PO Box 591
Longview, Texas 75606

Exact Personal-Mail Limits

  • Include inmate name.
  • Include Sheriff’s Office / booking / identifying number.
  • Include a return address.
  • Maximum paper size is 8.5 × 11 inches.
  • Maximum of 5 pages per mailing.
  • Write only on the front side of each page.
  • Maximum of 1 photo per mailing.
  • More than one photo causes the entire mailing to be returned.
  • No legal mail at the Texas address.
  • No medical mail at the Texas address.
  • No magazines.
  • No newspapers.
  • No bulk mail.
  • No books at the Texas processing address.

Never send an irreplaceable original. The county says material sent to the Texas processing address is destroyed after it is processed and electronically delivered. It is not returned or released.

What the Inmate Receives

Mail is scanned at the processing center and made available electronically through facility kiosks or tablets.

Medical, Medication or Behavioral-Health Concern

The Sheriff’s current contact page lists Detention Center Medical Services: 406-447-8256.

Have This Information Ready

  • Full legal name.
  • Booking number or inmate identifier if known.
  • Specific health or safety concern.
  • Medication name and dose if relevant.
  • Prescribing provider.
  • Known allergies or major conditions.
  • Withdrawal, seizure, diabetes, pregnancy or suicide-risk information when relevant.

Behavioral Health Services Inside the Detention Center

County Criminal Justice Services describes two principal detention behavioral-health functions:

  • Behavioral-health therapy, including crisis stabilization and de-escalation.
  • Care coordination designed to help people transition back into the community.

MAT Bridges

Lewis and Clark County also operates a Medication Assisted Treatment Bridges program for people with opioid-use disorder, combining medication, counseling and connections to community treatment.

Medical Services: 406-447-8256 .

Review official Behavioral Health Services

Who Has the Inmate’s Personal Property?

The Sheriff’s Property & Evidence page says most property carried at booking is retained by Detention Center staff for safekeeping.

Property can instead enter the Property & Evidence system if it has evidentiary value or is otherwise held by that office.

10-Day Safekeeping Deadline

If property is held in Property & Evidence for safekeeping rather than as evidence, the county says it must be retrieved within 10 days after release or it can be disposed of under applicable Montana law.

Property & Evidence Office
Law and Justice Center
406 Fuller Ave.
Helena, MT 59602

Phone: 406-447-8250
Appointment only
Tuesday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Closed noon–1:00 p.m. and county holidays

Call first and ask whether Detention, Property & Evidence or another agency actually has the item.

How to Request Lewis and Clark County Law-Enforcement Records

The regional Records Division is the central repository for reports generated by:

  • Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
  • Helena Police Department.
  • East Helena Police Department.

Call for Service vs Case Report

Record What it contains Current access note
Call for Service Basic call date/time, officers and brief incident description. Current listed fee: $5.
Case Report Officer report(s) for an investigated case. Generally confidential criminal-justice information; a court order may be required. Current listed approved-report fee: $15.
Full background check State-level criminal-history search. Use Montana DOJ rather than the county jail roster.

Records Contact

Records clerks are currently listed Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., excluding City of Helena holidays.

Records: 406-447-8469 .

Full Montana background checks: 406-444-3625 .

Review official Support Services / Records information

District Court and Justice Court Record Search Fees

Clerk of District Court

  • $1 per page through the first 10 pages.
  • $0.50 per page thereafter.
  • Search fee: $2 per year, per name, up to seven years.
  • $1 per name for each additional year after seven years.
  • Allow about 10 business days for copy/search processing.

Requests can currently be emailed to cdcsearches@lccountymt.gov .

Open District Court copy/search instructions

Justice Court

  • Records are public records.
  • The court currently says it does not have a public-access terminal.
  • Search fee: $2 per year, per name.
  • Copies: $0.25 per page.
  • Postage may apply.
  • Searches are completed as staff time permits.

Open Justice Court Record Searches

Lewis and Clark County Coordinates Statewide Transports and Extraditions

The Sheriff’s transport division coordinates movement into and out of the Detention Center and out-of-state extraditions.

The county specifically lists transports involving:

  • Montana State Prison.
  • Montana State Women’s Prison.
  • Montana State Hospital.
  • Montana Department of Corrections facilities.
  • Other statewide detention facilities.
  • Medical appointments.
  • Mental-health transports.
  • Out-of-state extraditions.

If a person disappears from the roster after a DOC sentence or other-agency hold, ask the Detention Center where the person was moved before assuming release to the community.

Transportation Officer: 406-438-1974 .

Check Montana DOC or Federal Custody

Montana Department of Corrections

Use Montana Offender Search when a DOC sentence, state placement, probation/parole matter or transfer points away from county custody.

Open Montana Offender Search

A U.S. Marshals or immigration detainer does not guarantee immediate appearance in the Bureau of Prisons system.

Lewis and Clark County Jail, Court and Records Contacts

Office Contact Use it for
Detention Center 221 Breckenridge Ave
Helena, MT 59601
406-447-8232
Custody, visits, release, mail and facility questions.
Detention Medical 406-447-8256 Medical-service routing.
Sheriff 406 Fuller Ave
Helena, MT 59601
406-447-8204
Sheriff’s administration.
Justice Court 228 Broadway, Room 102
Helena, MT 59601
Criminal: 406-447-8202
Justice Court criminal matters, warrants and qualifying initial appearances.
District Court Clerk 228 Broadway, Room 104
Helena, MT 59601
406-447-8216
First Judicial District / felony court records.
Helena Municipal Court 406-447-8466 City misdemeanor cases and Municipal Court warrants.
Records Division 406 Fuller Ave
Helena, MT 59601
406-447-8469
Available Sheriff, Helena Police and East Helena Police records.
Property & Evidence 406 Fuller Ave
406-447-8250
Evidence and certain safekeeping property.

The county currently displays a phone-system transition notice. If a number temporarily fails, recheck the county contact page before assuming the office or number permanently changed.

Use Roster, Warrant and Mugshot Information Responsibly

  • A booking is not a conviction.
  • A warrant is not proof of current jail custody.
  • A mugshot is not proof of guilt.
  • A booking number is not a court docket number.
  • A Book & Release entry does not guarantee every other hold is cleared.
  • A DOC label does not prove the person has already reached a state prison.
  • A blank roster search does not mean no criminal case exists.
  • An active case can continue while the defendant is on pretrial release.
  • Do not use a stale downloaded PDF as proof of present incarceration.
  • Do not harass, threaten, stalk or publicly shame someone because of a jail record.
  • Use the responsible court for final public case outcomes.
  • Use a licensed attorney for legal advice.

Lewis and Clark County Jail Roster FAQs

Where is the official Lewis and Clark County jail roster?

The Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Detention Center page links to the current inmate roster PDF. The PDF itself displays a printed date, so check that date before relying on a saved or downloaded copy.

Does the Lewis and Clark County roster include mugshots?

The current roster format audited for this guide uses columns for name, age, sex, booking date and time, booking number and hold reasons rather than a dedicated mugshot column. Contact the appropriate records office if you need an arrest or booking-related record that may be legally releasable.

What does Book and Release mean on the Lewis and Clark County roster?

Book and Release is a custody-processing label associated with a matter that may not by itself require continued detention. It does not mean every other charge, warrant or hold is cleared, so read the entire hold-reasons field.

How do I check a Lewis and Clark County warrant?

Lewis and Clark County Justice Court maintains its own online arrest-warrant list. Helena Municipal Court maintains a separate city warrant list. Use the court that issued the warrant and do not treat a warrant listing as proof of current jail custody.

When do inmates make their first court appearance in Helena?

Lewis and Clark County Justice Court currently lists prisoner initial appearances at 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Helena Municipal Court separately lists qualifying in-custody city defendants at 8:00 a.m. Monday through Friday.

What are Lewis and Clark County inmate visitation hours?

The county currently lists normal visitation on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., with meal interruptions from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The inmate must submit the required visitor information.

Where do I send personal mail to a Lewis and Clark County inmate?

Ordinary personal mail is currently sent to Lewis and Clark County Detention Center, PO Box 591, Longview, Texas 75606 with the inmate name, inmate number and return address. Legal and medical mail use the Helena facility address.

How many pages and photos can I mail to an inmate?

The county currently limits scanned personal mail to no more than five pages, front side only, with a maximum of one photo per mailing. The maximum accepted paper size is 8.5 by 11 inches.

How do I add commissary money in Lewis and Clark County?

The county specifically lists CorrectPay for credit-card commissary deposits and a lobby kiosk for cash or card deposits. It also publishes mailed cashier’s checks, bank checks or money orders under specific instructions. Confirm the account purpose before using NCIC because communication funding and commissary should not be confused.

Why can someone have an active criminal case but not be in the jail roster?

A defendant can be released while the criminal case remains active, including under Pretrial Services. A missing roster result can also reflect recent processing, another name format, book-and-release processing, transfer or another agency’s custody.

Final Lewis and Clark County Verification Checklist

  • You opened the roster from the official Detention Center page.
  • You checked the PDF’s printed date.
  • You did not rely on an old downloaded roster.
  • You used PDF search rather than only browser page search.
  • You compared name, age, sex and booking information.
  • You saved the booking number separately from the court case number.
  • You read every hold reason.
  • You did not treat a mugshot search as the same thing as current custody.
  • You checked the correct Justice or Municipal warrant list.
  • You did not confront anyone because of an online warrant.
  • You identified Justice, Municipal or District Court correctly.
  • You verified the actual court appearance rather than assuming 8 a.m. or 1 p.m.
  • You checked every hold before paying bond.
  • You did not confuse Pretrial Services with case dismissal.
  • You confirmed visitor approval before travelling.
  • You separated NCIC communication funds from CorrectPay commissary.
  • You reviewed CorrectPay/kiosk fees before depositing.
  • You limited personal mail to five pages, front side only.
  • You sent no more than one photo in a personal mailing.
  • You did not send legal or medical mail to Texas.
  • You did not send an irreplaceable original to the scanning center.
  • You contacted Medical Services before sending medication or medical material.
  • You identified whether Detention or Property & Evidence holds property.
  • You used the Records Division for law-enforcement records.
  • You used Montana DOJ for a full state criminal history.
  • You checked Montana DOC or federal custody after a possible transfer.

Independent guide: Jail-Roster.org does not operate Lewis and Clark County Detention Center, the county roster, Lewis and Clark County courts, Helena Municipal Court, NCIC, CorrectPay, Montana Public Defender, Pretrial Services, Montana DOJ, Montana DOC or the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Current official records, court orders and facility instructions control whenever information changes. Source review completed August 20, 2026.