Yellowstone County Detention Facility
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- Facility Type
- County Facility
- Security Level
- Pretrial / Sentenced
- Inmate Capacity
- Not available
- Established
- Not available
- Operated By
- Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office
Yellowstone County Detention Facility Inmate Communication Overview
Yellowstone County Detention Facility is the county jail in Billings, Montana, operated by the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office. The facility is at 3165 King Ave E, Billings, MT 59101. For bond questions, call Facility Booking at 406-256-6881. For inmate service requests, contact the Sheriff's Office Civil Division at 406-256-2959.
All communication services at the facility run through NCIC, not Securus. Set up a COMMUNICATIONS account at ncic.com or by calling 1-800-943-2189 to receive phone calls and participate in video visits and messaging. Do not set up a Securus or AdvancePay account for this facility; those products are not how communication works here. The official county pages name no phone, video, or messaging rates, so confirm the current cost with NCIC before funding an account.
All visits are electronic. Use a smartphone, a computer with a webcam, or a kiosk in the facility lobby. Create an account and schedule a visit at Videovisit.ncic.com. Every inmate gets two free video visits a week, and additional visits may be purchased by the inmate or friends and family. In-person visits will not happen in the near future due to staffing and security issues. Visits and inmate schedules may be canceled due to facility operations and emergencies.
Money uses two separate accounts. The TRUST account, sometimes called the commissary account, pays for snacks, hygiene items, and similar purchases. Fund it at team3.Inmatecanteen.com, at the Blue Kiosk in the facility lobby, or by mailing a money order (no cash or checks) made out to the inmate's full name to: Inmate's Full Name, Inmate's Jacket Number, ATTENTION MAIL OFFICER, 3165 King Ave E, Billings, MT 59101. Mail without 'Attention Mail Officer' in the address will be returned to sender. The COMMUNICATIONS account pays for phone time, extra video visits, and electronic messages. Inmates may move money from TRUST to COMMUNICATIONS, but not the other way. Fees apply.
Directory sources report that personal mail goes to a scanning address, not the facility: Inmate's Full Name and Jacket Number, Yellowstone County Detention Facility, PO Box 591, Longview, TX 75606. No official Yellowstone County page found states this address, so confirm the current mail address and format with the facility before sending anything. Letters may be mailed, and personal checks and medications are not accepted. No messages are passed to inmates unless they are verifiable emergencies, such as a death in the family or emergency surgery.
Facility Information
Contact details and location information for this correctional facility.
Address
3165 King Avenue East, Billings, MT 59101
Main Phone
(406) 256-6881
Administrative line — not for inmate calls
Visit and Contact Details
Inmate search, mail, visiting hours, costs, commissary, and bail information for this facility.
Personal mail address is not stated on official county pages. Directory sources report: Inmate's Full Name and Jacket Number, Yellowstone County Detention Facility, PO Box 591, Longview, TX 75606. Confirm before sending. Money orders go to the facility: Inmate's Full Name, Inmate's Jacket Number, ATTENTION MAIL OFFICER, 3165 King Ave E, Billings, MT 59101.
Include the inmate name and ID on all mail.
Visiting Hours
All visits are electronic only. Schedule at Videovisit.ncic.com. Every inmate gets two free video visits a week. In-person visits will not happen in the near future due to staffing and security issues.
Commissary / Sending Money
TRUST (commissary) account: team3.Inmatecanteen.com, Blue Kiosk in the facility lobby, or mailed money order (no cash or checks) to ATTENTION MAIL OFFICER, 3165 King Ave E, Billings, MT 59101. COMMUNICATIONS account (phone/video/messages): ncic.com or 1-800-943-2189. Fees apply. Transfers TRUST to COMMUNICATIONS only.
Bail / Bond
Fines and bonds are handled at the courts during regular business hours; after hours at the Detention Facility. Bond inquiries: Facility Booking, 406-256-6881.
Communication Options
Available communication services at Yellowstone County Detention Facility.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Provider: NCIC
Messaging through NCIC. Set up a COMMUNICATIONS account at ncic.com or 1-800-943-2189, per the county FAQ page.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
Provider: NCIC
All visits are electronic through NCIC. Schedule at Videovisit.ncic.com. Two free video visits per week. In-person visits will not happen in the near future.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Photo policy is not stated on the official county pages. Confirm with the facility.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: NCIC
Phone calls through NCIC. Set up a COMMUNICATIONS account at ncic.com or 1-800-943-2189, per the county FAQ page.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Provider: InmateCanteen
Two accounts: TRUST (commissary) via InmateCanteen, Blue Kiosk, or mailed money order to ATTENTION MAIL OFFICER; COMMUNICATIONS (phone/video/messages) via ncic.com or 1-800-943-2189. Fees apply. Transfers TRUST to COMMUNICATIONS only.
Communication Providers at Yellowstone County Detention Facility
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
NCIC
All communication services run through NCIC, per the county FAQ page. COMMUNICATIONS account at ncic.com or 1-800-943-2189. Funds phone time, extra video visits, and messaging.
View NCIC ServicesInmateCanteen
TRUST (commissary) account funding at team3.Inmatecanteen.com or the Blue Kiosk in the facility lobby, per the county FAQ page. Mailed money orders go to ATTENTION MAIL OFFICER.
Communication Rules at Yellowstone County Detention Facility
- All calls are monitored and recorded.
- Inmates must be on approved contact list.
- All visits are electronic through NCIC. In-person visits will not happen in the near future.
- Money uses two accounts: TRUST for commissary, COMMUNICATIONS for phone, video, and messages. Transfers go TRUST to COMMUNICATIONS only.
- Mailed money orders must say ATTENTION MAIL OFFICER or they will be returned to sender.
- Three-way calling is prohibited.
- Follow facility mail rules for all correspondence.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Cascade County Regional Correctional Facility
Frequently Asked Questions: Yellowstone County Detention Facility
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- Which provider handles phone calls at Yellowstone County Detention Facility?
- NCIC handles phone calls. Set up a COMMUNICATIONS account at ncic.com or by calling 1-800-943-2189. Do not set up a Securus or AdvancePay account for this facility.
- How do I find someone at Yellowstone County Detention Facility?
- Contact the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office in Billings Montana directly.
- How do I send money to someone at Yellowstone County Detention Facility?
- It depends on which account you are funding. For the TRUST (commissary) account, use team3.Inmatecanteen.com, the Blue Kiosk in the facility lobby, or mail a money order (no cash or checks) made out to the inmate's full name to: Inmate's Full Name, Inmate's Jacket Number, ATTENTION MAIL OFFICER, 3165 King Ave E, Billings, MT 59101. Mail without 'Attention Mail Officer' will be returned. For the COMMUNICATIONS account, fund it at ncic.com or by calling 1-800-943-2189. Fees apply.
- How do phone calls work at Yellowstone County Detention Facility?
- Inmates place outgoing calls through NCIC. Set up a COMMUNICATIONS account at ncic.com or 1-800-943-2189 and add funds to accept calls. Inmates cannot receive incoming calls.
- Can I do a video visit with someone at Yellowstone County Detention Facility?
- Create an NCIC account and schedule at Videovisit.ncic.com. Visits are electronic only, through a smartphone, a computer with a webcam, or a kiosk in the facility lobby. Every inmate gets two free video visits a week, and additional visits may be purchased. In-person visits will not happen in the near future.
- How do I send mail to someone at Yellowstone County Detention Facility?
- Directory sources report personal mail goes to: Inmate's Full Name and Jacket Number, Yellowstone County Detention Facility, PO Box 591, Longview, TX 75606. No official Yellowstone County page found states this address, so confirm the current mail address and format with the facility before sending anything. Letters may be mailed; personal checks and medications are not accepted.
- How do I block calls from Yellowstone County Detention Facility?
- You can decline individual calls, or contact NCIC to block your number. Declining a call does not remove you from the approved list. To stop calls entirely, ask NCIC support for a full block.
- What happens if someone is transferred from Yellowstone County Detention Facility?
- People sentenced to longer terms are transferred to a state or federal facility, where the provider setup is different. Check the new facility's communication options right after a transfer.
- Can someone at Yellowstone County Detention Facility call me?
- Yes, if your number is on their approved call list and you have a funded NCIC COMMUNICATIONS account. You cannot call the facility to reach an inmate.
- Why did a call from Yellowstone County Detention Facility not go through?
- Common causes: no funds in the NCIC COMMUNICATIONS account, your number is not on the approved list, or your phone blocked the call. Check your account balance, ask the inmate to confirm your number is listed, and check your phone's call blocking settings.
- Does Yellowstone County Detention Facility use Securus or NCIC?
- NCIC. All communication services run through NCIC, per the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office FAQ page. Set up a COMMUNICATIONS account at ncic.com or by calling 1-800-943-2189. Do not set up a Securus or AdvancePay account for this facility.
- What is the difference between a TRUST account and a COMMUNICATIONS account at Yellowstone County Detention Facility?
- The TRUST account, sometimes called the commissary account, pays for snacks, hygiene items, and similar purchases. The COMMUNICATIONS account pays for phone time, extra video visits, and electronic messages. Inmates may move money from TRUST to COMMUNICATIONS, but not the other way. Fees apply.
Troubleshooting at Yellowstone County Detention Facility
Fix the most common problems families hit with calls, video visits, money, and messaging.
- Why am I not receiving calls from an inmate?
- Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. If expected calls are not coming through, check your phone's spam or silence-unknown-callers setting, since carriers often block jail numbers. Save the facility's number as a contact, confirm your number is on the inmate's approved list, and check whether your carrier blocks collect or prepaid calls. If several expected calls fail, contact the facility's phone provider support.
- Why is my inmate not showing up in search?
- New arrivals can take 24 to 72 hours to appear in search results, and people in transfer may temporarily disappear from listings. Try alternate spellings and name variations, and make sure you are searching the right system: the federal BOP locator only covers federal inmates, while county and state searches are separate. Some records are withheld for protective custody or sealed cases. If it has been more than a few days, call the facility's records office.
- I sent money but it is not showing in the inmate's account. What should I do?
- Allow processing time first. Electronic deposits can take hours and money orders can take much longer. Check your receipt and confirm the inmate's name and ID matched. Do not send a second payment until the first one is traced, since duplicate payments are hard to reverse. Contact the money-transfer provider's support with your receipt or confirmation number. If the inmate was recently transferred, funds may follow after a delay.
- Why was my video visit cancelled or cut off?
- Most cancellations come from connection problems or conduct-rule violations. Stay in frame, keep your ID ready, follow the dress code, keep other people off camera, and avoid profanity. Visits can also be cancelled for facility lockdowns or schedule changes. For refunds, contact the video provider's support with your visit details.
- What should I do if the facility changed its communications provider?
- Create an account with the new provider, since old accounts and balances do not transfer automatically. Ask the old provider whether refunds are available for unused balances. Confirm the new provider's phone, video, and messaging setup before your next visit or call.
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