Where to Find Montana Inmate Records

Inmate records contain information about inmates’ location, prison terms, criminal history, and personal data. In Montana, the Department of Corrections oversees state correctional facilities. Persons convicted of offenses against the state, punishable by imprisonment for more than one year, are held in state correctional facilities. Persons convicted and sentenced by the courts to prison terms of no more than one year face incarceration in county jails and other municipal detention facilities. County Sheriffs and jail administrators oversee county jails and maintain inmate registers or rosters.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in Montana?

Yes, incarceration records are public information in Montana. The state’s Public Records Law guarantees access to records generated and maintained by government agencies. The Department of Corrections makes incarceration records available on a public website. Similarly, some Montana counties, such as Missoula and Yellowstone, make inmate records available on public websites.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

What Information is Contained in a Montana Inmate Record?

Montana inmate records contain information about incarcerated persons, including the inmate’s location, criminal history, and personal identification. Some contents of a Montana inmate record include:

• Department of Corrections ID number
• Names and aliases
• Date of Birth
• Gender
• Race or ethnicity
• Nationality
• Fingerprints
• Photograph
• Location
• Incarceration date
• Possible release date

Where do I Look Up an Inmate in Montana?

Government websites, third-party websites, and public records requests are avenues for interested parties to lookup inmates. Requesting parties may use the Correctional Offender Network Search to lookup inmates in the Department of Corrections custody. The website allows users to lookup inmate information using simple search criteria. Similarly, interested parties may lookup inmates in county jail using the search tools and jail roster each county provides. Inmate information is also available through third-party search tools/websites and public records requests. While third-party websites are typically not affiliated with government agencies, third-party websites offer an easy way to lookup inmate records.

Interested parties may also lookup inmates by submitting public records requests to the Department of Corrections, the County Sheriff, or the Jail administrator in each county.

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in Montana?

To conduct an inmate search in Montana, interested parties may use the Correctional Offender Network Search for persons imprisoned in state facilities or otherwise in the Department of Corrections’ custody. Requesting parties can search using the inmate’s name and Department of Corrections ID number. In cases where there is more than one inmate with the same name, requesting parties may filter search results using booking photographs, ID number, and birth date. Similarly, counties like Yellowstone and Missoula provide simple name search jail rosters. The rosters include inmates’ booking number and the charges/nature of the offense.

Interested parties may request physical copies of Department of Corrections inmate records by submitting written requests to:

Montana Department of Corrections
5 S. Last Chance Gulch
PO Box 201301 Helena, MT
59620–1301

Requesting parties may also submit records requests by email to corpio@mt.gov. For county and other municipal inmate records, requesting parties may contact the County Sheriff or the local jail administrator. Government agencies may charge a fee to produce copies of inmate records. However, public inmate records are free for public inspection.

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in Montana?

Under the state’s Public Records Laws, government agencies, such as the Department of Corrections, and county jail administrators, make inmate records freely available online. Although government agencies may charge a fee to produce physical copies of inmate records, members of the public may inspect inmate records for free and interested parties may conduct inmate searches at no cost. Some third-party websites also offer inmate information at no charge.

How to Find Old Inmate Records in Montana

The Correctional Offender Network Search provides information on inmates’ correctional status, whether such persons are in the custody of or supervised by the Department of Corrections. Alternatively, interested parties may find old inmate records by contacting the Department of Corrections helpdesk by email at corpio@mt.gov or by mail at:

Montana Department of Corrections
5 S. Last Chance Gulch
PO Box 201301 Helena, MT
59620–1301

Third-party archives also provide old inmate records.

How do I Find Inmate Death Records in Montana?

The Department of Corrections provides information about inmates who die in custody on its website. The state’s public records act guarantees public access to public records, including inmate death records. In Montana, inmate death records contain information about the manner, circumstances, and cause of inmate deaths as determined by a county coroner. Inmate death records also include the inmate’s Department of Corrections ID number, name, and location at the time of death.

How do I Conduct a Federal Prison Inmate Search?

To search for inmates incarcerated in federal correctional facilities, interested parties may use the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Inmate Locator. Much like state government search tools, the BOP website provides information and allows users to search for federal prison inmates using search criteria such as:

• Names
• FBI number
• BOP Register number
• INS number
• Race
• Age
• Gender

How Long Does it Take For An Inmate’s Information to Be Published in Montana Inmate Locator?

Booking and processing times differ from one Montana correctional facility to the other. However, most inmate locators are updated daily with new information. Some rosters, such as the Missoula County Daily Inmate Roster, are updated in real-time. This means that inmate information may be published faster on some locators and rosters than others.