Cascade County Arrest Records

Under Montana State statutes, law officers have the legal right to apprehend and detain individuals who commit criminal acts or persons they suspect of committing crimes. Law enforcement may also take individuals into custody if the court issues arrest warrants. Such actions are typically documented as arrest records, accessible through online and offline repositories or as part of Cascade County court records.

The Cascade County Sheriff's Office, Great Falls Police Department, Montana Highway Patrol, and other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies create these documents when they take individuals into custody for violating the laws.

Individuals arrested for crimes within Cascade County are detained at the Cascade County Detention Center (the primary detention facility within the county). If the center is overcrowded, Cascade County law enforcement agencies may transfer convicts to correctional facilities in neighboring Counties or state prisons.

Are Arrest Records Public in Cascade County?

Yes, Cascade County arrest records are public and accessible to the interested public. However, there are access restrictions to some Cascade County arrest records for privacy and security reasons. Also, Cascade County arrest record custodians may redact some information from the publicly accessible versions. Under the Montana Public Records Act, arrest records and information relating to the following are not publicly accessible:

• Juvenile records
• Records relating to ongoing law enforcement or judicial investigations
• Sealed or expunged records
• Victim or witness information
• Mental or medical health records
• Personally identifying information such as Social Security Numbers, home addresses, and financial account numbers.

Notwithstanding the restrictions, Cascade County exempted arrest records are accessible to the documents' subjects, authorized entities, and persons with judicial orders.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Arrest records contain information about arrests. Generally, this information includes:

• The name, date of birth, gender, ethnicity, and physical description of the record owner
• Date, time, and location of the arrest
• Charges against the arrestee
• Booking number and mugshots
• Name and badge nu5of the officer responsible for the arrest
• Bail amount or bond information
• Court information (if the arrest results in a court appearance).

Cascade County Arrest Statistics

There was a steady increase in the number of arrest incidents within Cascade County between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2023. The FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) arrest statistics show that the Cascade County Sheriff's Office and the Great Falls Police Department reported 4,127 arrests to the UCR database in 2023. The previous year, law enforcement agencies apprehended 3,690 individuals for various offenses within Cascade County. Also, there were 3,441 and 3,226 arrests within the county in 2021 and 2020; within this timeframe, 65% of Cascade County arrestees were males (9,546), while females accounted for 35% (5,136).

Between 2020 and 2023, larcenies and simple assaults were the most prevalent arrestable offenses; they accounted for 37% of all arrests within this period. The table shows the number of arrest incidents reported to the UCR program by the Cascade County Sheriff's Office and the Great Falls Police Department between 2020 and 2023.

Find Cascade County Arrest Records

Several government resources are available for finding Cascade County arrest records. Individuals seeking access to arrest records should download the Cascade County Inmate Roster PDF and view the arrest records of the county's inmates.

Also, Cascade County arrest records are accessible through the Montana Judicial Branch Public Access Portals; these documents are available as part of Cascade County criminal court records.

Alternatively, Cascade County arrest information seekers should visit local police departments or the Cascade County Sheriff's Office at:

3800 Ulm N Frontage Road,
Great Falls,
MT 59404.

Free Arrest Record Search in Cascade County

Members of the public seeking free Cascade County arrest information should download the Cascade County Inmate Roster PDF and view the arrest records of Cascade County Detention Center inmates for free. Alternatively, record seekers should search online for free access to Cascade County arrest information; these documents and information may be accessible for free through third-party websites that have databases on Montana law enforcement records.

Cascade County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Cascade County arrests and criminal records are related but different documents. Arrest records and criminal records provide crucial information for criminal investigations. However, both documents differ in content and legal consequences.

Cascade County arrest records

Cascade County arrest records are law enforcement-generated documents that give detailed accounts of the arrest of individuals. These documents are created by law officers when they take offenders into custody. Cascade County arrest records contain the personal details of individuals taken into custody by law enforcement within the county, the reasons for their arrests, and the conditions for their release. Arrest records may not pose significant problems unless they lead to criminal trials; an arrest is not evidence of guilt.

Cascade County criminal records

Cascade County criminal records are court-generated documents that detail the criminal histories of individuals prosecuted under the Cascade County criminal trial system. These documents encompass Cascade County arrest records and case files on trials, convictions, and incarceration of criminal offenders within Cascade County. Unlike arrest records, Cascade County criminal records are confirmatory documents; they prove that their owners are convicts of criminal acts. Cascade County criminal records may negatively impact social status or influence employment, education, and housing opportunities.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Cascade County and other parts of the United States, arrest information may stay on a record indefinitely unless the court seals or removes the arrest record. Under the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) § 46-18-1101 through § 46-18-1111, Cascade County arrest record owners may petition the court to seal or remove their arrest information if they fulfill the qualifying requirements.

Expunge Cascade County Arrest Records

Per Section 46-18-1101 through 46-18-1111 of the Montana Code Annotated, an individual may petition the court to seal or remove a Cascade County arrest records if:

• The arrest is for a misdemeanor offense and did not lead to a conviction
• The arrest record is for a non-violent felony conviction
• The owner of the record is between the ages of 18 and 25 years (youthful offender) at the time of committing the offense
• The owner of the records observed a 3-year waiting period for misdemeanors or 5 years for felonies after completing the sentence for their offense.
• There is no subsequent arrest during the waiting period.

Eligible candidates seeking to seal or remove their Cascade County arrest information from their records should:

• Gather all documents that may aid the expungement petition (these include arrest records from the Cascade County Sheriff's Office or the Montana Department of Justice criminal history check, court disposition documents, and proof of completion of sentence)
• Visit the Cascade County Clerk of Court Office and obtain an Expungement/Removal Request Form or download it online
• Complete the expungement form, attach the supporting documents, enclose a check/money order to cover the filing fees (the exact amount is obtainable through the Clerk of Court Office), and file a petition through the Cascade County Clerk of Court Office at:

415 2nd Avenue, N
200A,
Great Falls,
MT 59401

• Send notice of the petition to the Cascade County Attorney's Office and the law enforcement agency responsible for the arrest.
• Attend court hearings relating to the petition to explain why the court should seal or remove the arrest information.
• Wait for the court to review the application and come to a decision. If the court grants the petition, it will issue orders for the sealing or removal of the arrest record.
• Follow up and ensure that the relevant agencies complied with the court orders.

Cascade County Arrest Warrants

Cascade County arrest warrants are documents issued by judges/magistrates of the Cascade County District and Justice Courts and the Great Falls Municipal Court authorizing law officers to arrest individuals. A judge or magistrate may issue an arrest warrant if law enforcement approaches the court with evidence of probable cause for a criminal act. Also, judges/magistrates may issue arrest warrants against individuals who disobey court orders, engage in domestic violence or abuse, pose a danger to the public, or intend to avoid prosecution for crimes by fleeing the jurisdiction.

Generally, a legally valid arrest warrant must outline the following information:

• Name, gender, known aliases, and physical description of the subject/defendant
• Date of issuance of the warrant
• Name, location, and seal of the issuing authority
• Charges against the subject/defendant and the sections of the laws allegedly violated
• Statement of probable cause
• Instructions to law enforcement on how to execute the warrant
• Geographical area where the warrant is executable
• Name and signature of the issuing judge/magistrate.

Do Cascade County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Cascade County arrest records do not expire. In the U.S. and its component states, arrest warrants do not have expiration dates. They remain active until law enforcement takes the subjects into custody. Notwithstanding, arrest warrants will become inactive at the demise of the subjects or if the courts cancel them.