Montana Title 41. Minors § 41-5-322. Release from custody--detention--shelter care

(1) Whenever a peace officer believes, on reasonable grounds, that a youth can be released to a responsible person, the peace officer may release the youth to that person upon receiving a written promise from the person to bring the youth before the juvenile probation officer at a time and place specified in the written promise, or a peace officer may release the youth under any other reasonable circumstances.

(2) Whenever the peace officer believes, on reasonable grounds, that the youth must be detained, the peace officer shall notify the juvenile probation officer immediately and shall, as soon as practicable, provide the juvenile probation officer with a written report of the peace officer's reasons for holding the youth in detention. If it is necessary to hold the youth pending appearance before the youth court, then the youth must be held in a place of detention, as provided in 41-5-348, that is approved by the youth court.

(3) If the peace officer believes that the youth must be sheltered, the peace officer shall notify the juvenile probation officer immediately and shall provide a written report of the peace officer's reasons for placing the youth in shelter care. If the youth is then held, the youth must be placed in a shelter care facility approved by the youth court.