Billings police will resume conducting DUI blood draws at the Yellowstone County jail after the county struck a new agreement with a medical provider, ending a budget squeeze that forced the department to pay hospital rates roughly double the jail facility’s cost.

The pause in jail access began in January of the previous year when the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office contracted with a medical provider that did not offer blood-draw services at the detention facility. Billings police and other law enforcement agencies were forced to route suspects to local hospitals instead, where costs ran $275 per draw compared to $150 at the jail.

Over the past 12 months, Billings police conducted 145 hospital blood draws at a total expense of $37,240. The new arrangement will reduce that burden significantly. The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Billings Police Department, and Montana Highway Patrol will now share access to jail blood draws, with each agency paying $150 per draw from its own budget rather than relying on the county’s general fund.

Cost Structure and Approval

Under the previous setup, blood draws at the jail were covered through the sheriff’s office budget at no direct cost to Billings police. The shift to agency-funded draws marks a change in how law enforcement budgets are allocated countywide, though the per-draw cost remains substantially lower than hospital alternatives.

The Billings City Council approved the budget adjustment Monday night to accommodate the new expense structure. Captain Brandon Smart of the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the operational advantages of the jail facility. “The security at the hospital was not near with the security we have in place already here within our walls,” Smart said, adding that the arrangement “totally saves money.”

Broader Context

The resumption of jail-based blood draws reflects a common challenge for law enforcement agencies nationwide: managing the cost of DUI investigations within constrained budgets. Blood-alcohol testing is a critical component of impaired-driving cases, and the location where samples are drawn can significantly affect departmental expenses and operational efficiency.

Montana Highway Patrol also benefits from restored jail access, as do local sheriff’s deputies. The agreement removes the logistical burden of transporting suspects to hospitals, which also frees up patrol time and reduces liability exposure during transport.

Yellowstone County’s new medical contract resolves a contractual gap that had disrupted standard procedures across multiple agencies. The arrangement demonstrates how county-level service contracts can ripple across local law enforcement operations, underscoring the interconnected nature of criminal justice infrastructure in Montana’s largest city.