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173 46-18-201 77 46-18-202 154 46-18-203 10 46-18-204 4 46-18-205 1 46-18-211 46-18-212 1 46-18-213 3 46-18-219 1 46-18-220 21 46-18-221 32 46-18-222 5 46-18-223 46-18-224 16 46-18-225 33 46-18-231 42 46-18-232 1 46-18-233 5 46-18-234 2 46-18-235 24 46-18-236 3 46-18-237 51 46-18-241 30 46-18-242 59 46-18-243 27 46-18-244 2 46-18-245 21 46-18-246 5 46-18-247 1 46-18-248 8 46-18-249 2 46-18-250 3 46-18-251 7 46-18-255 1 46-18-256 46-18-261

Mont. Code Ann. § 46-18-201

(2001)

Sentences that may be imposed

(1) (a) Whenever a person has been found guilty of an offense upon a verdict of guilty or a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, a sentencing judge may defer imposition of sentence, except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, for a period:

(i) not exceeding 1 year for a misdemeanor or for a period not exceeding 3 years for a felony; or

(ii) not exceeding 2 years for a misdemeanor or for a period not exceeding 6 years for a felony if a financial obligation is imposed as a condition of sentence for either the misdemeanor or the felony, regardless of whether any other conditions are imposed.

(b) Except as provided in 46-18-222, imposition of sentence in a felony case may not be deferred in the case of an offender who has been convicted of a felony on a prior occasion, whether or not the sentence was imposed, imposition of the sentence was deferred, or execution of the sentence was suspended.

(2) Whenever a person has been found guilty of an offense upon a verdict of guilty or a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, a sentencing judge may suspend execution of sentence, except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, for a period up to the maximum sentence allowed or for a period of 6 months, whichever is greater, for each particular offense.

(3) Whenever a person has been found guilty of an offense upon a verdict of guilty or a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, a sentencing judge may impose a sentence that may include:

(a) a fine as provided by law for the offense;

(b) payment of costs, as provided in 46-18-232, or payment of costs of court-appointed counsel as provided in 46-8-113;

(c) a term of incarceration at a county detention center or state prison, as provided in Title 45, for the offense;

(d) commitment of:

(i) an offender not referred to in subsection (3)(d)(ii) to the department of corrections, with a recommendation for placement in an appropriate correctional facility or program; however, all but the first 5 years of the commitment to the department of corrections must be suspended; or

(ii) a youth transferred to district court under 41-5-206 and found guilty in the district court of an offense enumerated in 41-5-206 to the department of corrections for a period determined by the court for placement in an appropriate correctional facility or program;

(e) with the approval of the facility or program, placement of the offender in a community corrections facility or program as provided in 53-30-321;

(f) with the approval of the prerelease center or prerelease program and confirmation by the department of corrections that space is available, placement of the offender in a prerelease center or prerelease program for a period not to exceed 1 year;

(g) chemical treatment of sex offenders, as provided in 45-5-512, if applicable, that is paid for by and for a period of time determined by the department of corrections, but not exceeding the period of state supervision of the person; or

(h) any combination of subsections (2) through (3)(g).

(4) When deferring imposition of sentence or suspending all or a portion of execution of sentence, the sentencing judge may impose upon the offender any reasonable restrictions or conditions during the period of the deferred imposition or suspension of sentence. Reasonable restrictions or conditions imposed under subsection (1)(a) or (2) may include but are not limited to:

(a) limited release during employment hours as provided in 46-18-701;

(b) incarceration in a detention center not exceeding 180 days;

(c) conditions for probation;

(d) payment of the costs of confinement;

(e) payment of a fine as provided in 46-18-231;

(f) payment of costs as provided in 46-18-232 and 46-18-233;

(g) payment of costs of court-appointed counsel as provided in 46-8-113;

(h) with the approval of the facility or program, an order that the offender be placed in a community corrections facility or program as provided in 53-30-321;

(i) with the approval of the prerelease center or prerelease program and confirmation by the department of corrections that space is available, an order that the offender be placed in a prerelease center or prerelease program for a period not to exceed 1 year;

(j) community service;

(k) home arrest as provided in Title 46, chapter 18, part 10;

(l) payment of expenses for use of a judge pro tempore or special master as provided in 3-5-116;

(m) with the approval of the department of corrections and with a signed statement from an offender that the offender's participation in the boot camp incarceration program is voluntary, an order that the offender complete the boot camp incarceration program established pursuant to 53-30-403;

(n) any other reasonable restrictions or conditions considered necessary for rehabilitation or for the protection of the victim or society; or

(o) any combination of the restrictions or conditions listed in subsections (4)(a) through (4)(n).

(5) In addition to any penalties imposed pursuant to subsection (1), if the sentencing judge finds that the victim of the offense has sustained a pecuniary loss, the sentencing judge shall require payment of full restitution to the victim as provided in 46-18-241 through 46-18-249.

(6) In imposing a sentence on an offender convicted of a sexual or violent offense, as defined in 46-23-502, the sentencing judge may not waive the registration requirement provided in Title 46, chapter 23, part 5.

(7) If a felony sentence includes probation, the department of corrections shall supervise the offender unless the court specifies otherwise.

Opinions construing this section

173 opinions
2026 MT 180N Aug 4, 2026 Affirmed
State v. Richards
Dissenting by Laurie McKinnon · 4 to 1
5). A district court shall “require payment of full restitution” as part of a criminal sentence if it finds that the victim has sustained a pecuniary loss. Section 46-18-201(5), MCA. If the court awarded damages under (1)(a) then it was incorrect as a matter of law because civil plaintiffs are not awarded damages for mileage, missed work,
2026 MT 143 Jul 7, 2026 Affirmed in part, reversed in part
State v. K. Morris
Majority by Cory J. Swanson · 5 to 0
operly “relied on the professional recommendation [of] the [psychosexual evaluation]” because § 46-18-111(1)(b)(i), MCA, mandates its consideration. While § 46-18-201(4), MCA, extends a district court broad discretion to impose conditional restrictions on a defendant’s liberty during the suspended portion of his sentence, here we
2026 MT 135 Jun 30, 2026 Reversed
State v. T. Hagberg
Majority by Cory J. Swanson · 4 to 3
46-18-231(3), MCA, may be harmonized with mandatory fine provisions by means of the express authority granted to sentencing judges to suspend sentences under § 46-18-201(2), MCA. Cole, ¶ 11. Under Cole, the sentencing court must impose the mandatory fine under the appropriate sentencing statute, determine the defendant’s ability to
2026 MT 79 Apr 21, 2026 Reversed
State v. C. Horn
Majority by Jim Rice · 4 to 0 with 3 concurring
ding that Cole lacked the ability to pay. Cole, ¶ 4. We affirmed, explaining that pursuant to § 61-8-731(1)(a)(iii), MCA (2019), along with §§ 46-18-231 and 46-18-201, MCA (2019), sentencing courts must consider a defendant’s ability to pay when imposing a mandatory minimum fine and may suspend the portion a defendant lacks the
2026 MT 77 Apr 14, 2026 Reversed
State v. Trombley
Majority by Beth Baker · 4 to 0 with 3 concurring
ion omitted). We noted that the plain language of § 46-18-231(3), MCA, makes “no exceptions for statutes that establish a mandatory minimum fine” and that § 46-18-201(2), MCA, grants a sentencing judge express authority to “suspend execution of [a] sentence, unless specifically provided by statute.” Cole, ¶ 11 (internal quotati
Official Annotations archive.org, 2001 edition
History:
En. 95-2206 by Sec. 1, Ch. 196, L. 1967
Rep. and re-en. by Sec. 31, Ch. 513, L. 1973
Amd. Sec. 36, Ch. 184, L. 1977
Amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 436, L. 1977
Amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 580, L. 1977
Amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 584, L. 1977
R.C.M. 1947, 95-2206(1), (2), (4)
Amd. Sec. 21, Ch. 116, L. 1979
Amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 322, L. 1979
Amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 587, L. 1979
Amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 198, L. 1981
Amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 207, L. 1981
Amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 415, L. 1981
Amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 189, L. 1983
Amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 581, L. 1983
Amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 205, L. 1985
Amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 524, L. 1985
Amd. Sec. 104, Ch. 370, L. 1987
Amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 610, L. 1987
Amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 626, L. 1987
Amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 293, L. 1989
Amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 575, L. 1989
Amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 42, L. 1991
Amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 105, L. 1991
Amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 554, L. 1991
Amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 564, L. 1991
Amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 794, L. 1991
Amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 802, L. 1991
Amd. Sec. 65, Ch. 10, L. 1993
Amd. Sec. 43, Ch. 262, L. 1993
Amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 365, L. 1993
Amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 579, L. 1993
Amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 125, L. 1995
Amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 394, L. 1995
Amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 407, L. 1995
Amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 482, L. 1995
Amd. Sec. 214, Ch. 546, L. 1995
Amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 181, L. 1997
Amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 189, L. 1997
Amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 322, L. 1997
Amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 341, L. 1997
Amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 375, L. 1997
Amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 525, L. 1997
Amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 52, L. 1999 (HB 48 - McGee, Dan (R) HD 21)
Amd. Sec. 19, Ch. 395, L. 1999 (HB 209 - Shockley, Jim (R) HD 61)
Amd. Sec. 16, Ch. 432, L. 1999 (HB 203 - Shockley, Jim (R) HD 61)
Amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 505, L. 1999 (HB 115 - McGee, Dan (R) HD 21)