Can the Jail Pass a Message to My Loved One? Emergency Communication Rules at Yellowstone County
Need the jail to pass a message to someone inside? Yellowstone County only does this in verifiable emergencies.
Mail, photos, messaging, and phone/call options for staying in touch.
Yellowstone County Detention Center offers remote video visits through NCIC. Each inmate has access to an in-cell tablet or kiosk and gets two free video visits per week. To visit, create an NCIC account, then schedule and connect at Videovisit.ncic.com. You can join from a smartphone, laptop, or any computer with a camera and microphone. Public kiosks are also available in the facility lobby. Need more call or visit time beyond the free visits? Add funds to the inmate's communications account at www.ncic.com or by calling 1-800-943-2189. Video services are monitored and billed, so check balances and vendor rules before booking extra time.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
Need the jail to pass a message to someone inside? Yellowstone County only does this in verifiable emergencies.
Yellowstone County Detention uses two separate accounts for inmate funds. Choosing the right one from the start ensures your person can actually use the money for what they need, whether that's commissary items or phone and video access.
At Yellowstone County, money doesn't go into one bucket. There are two separate accounts—TRUST (commissary) and COMMUNICATIONS—and picking the right one matters if you want funds used the way you intend.
Contacting someone at Yellowstone County Detention Center is simple once you know the main rule: personal mail goes through a scanning address, while legal mail goes directly to the jail.
Mail at Yellowstone County Detention Facility runs on two separate tracks. Getting this right determines whether your letter reaches the person you're writing to—or goes nowhere. Personal mail isn't accepted directly at the jail. Instead, a third-party vendor scans it and delivers it to the inmate electronically. Legal mail works differently: send it directly to the facility's street address, not the scanning address. This setup exists because of contraband concerns. Think of "personal letters" and "legal mail" as two completely different processes with different addresses and rules. Send personal mail to the jail? It won't follow the right system. Send legal mail through the scanning address? It won't be treated as legal mail.
Sending mail to someone at Yellowstone County Detention works differently than you might expect: your letter goes to a third-party vendor in Texas, gets scanned, and is delivered electronically.
Personal mail to someone at Yellowstone County Detention doesn't go directly to the jail. Instead, a third-party vendor scans it and delivers it electronically. That's why your envelope goes to a Texas P.O. Box, not the detention center.
Sending mail to someone at Yellowstone County Detention? The key is knowing whether your letter counts as legal mail or personal mail. The facility handles them differently, and mixing them up can delay delivery.
At Yellowstone County,
Getting a quick, accurate answer about someone at Yellowstone County Detention Center comes down to calling the right office. Here's who handles what—service requests, booking and bond questions, programs, billing, and property pickup.
Need help with an inmate-related request at Yellowstone County Detention? Calling the right office first saves time. Here's who to contact.
Trying to get help for someone at Yellowstone County Detention? Calling the right number first saves a lot of frustration. Here's who to contact based on what you need.
Create an NCIC account first, since it is required to schedule and conduct video visits. Then schedule your electronic visit at Videovisit.ncic.com.
Each inmate receives two free remote video visits per week.
Add funds at www.ncic.com or by calling 1-800-943-2189. This covers additional call or visit time beyond what is free.
Putting money on someone's account at Yellowstone County Detention Facility is straightforward once you know which account you're funding. The TRUST account covers commissary. The COMMUNICATIONS account handles calls, video, and messages.
Looking for someone on the Yellowstone County Jail roster? How you type their name makes all the difference. Start with the format below—then try the backup options if you don't get a match.
Sending money to someone at Yellowstone County Detention Center means choosing the right account and the right method. The facility uses separate accounts for commissary and communications, so decide what you're paying for before you send anything.