Flathead County Arrest Records

Flathead County arrest records are official documents that detail a person's arrest by law enforcement agencies within the county. Generally, an arrest becomes necessary if there is enough evidence that an individual:

• Has committed a crime
• Is actively committing a crime
• About to commit a crime
• Poses a public threat
• Flout court orders or summons.

In Flathead County, the following law enforcement agencies generate arrest records:

• The Flathead County Sheriff's Office
• Local police departments
• The Montana Highway Patrol
• The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park.

Flathead County law enforcement agencies detain arrestees awaiting trials or convicts serving short-term or long-term sentences at the Flathead County Detention Center. Flathead County arrest records provide valuable information on criminal cases in the county’s court system. Therefore, they are a crucial component of the Flathead County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Flathead County?

Yes, arrest records are public in Flathead County. The Montana Public Records Act stipulates that public custodian agencies must grant access to public records on request (including Flathead County arrest records) at reasonable times.

However, some arrest records are exempt from public disclosure in Flathead County. These include:

• Juvenile records
• Expunged or Sealed records
• Arrest records relating to ongoing law enforcement or judicial investigations
• Records of victim of witness information.

A record seeker must have legal authorization or obtain a subpoena to access exempted arrest records in Flathead County.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

An arrest record contains information relating to arrests. Typically, an arrest record includes but is not limited to

• Personal information of the owner of the record (such as full name, date of birth, gender, physical description)
• Fingerprints and mugshots
• Date, time, and location of the arrest
• Name of the arresting agency and officer
• Charges against the arrestee
• The booking number and the detention facility
• Bail and Bond
• Case number (if applicable).

Flathead County Crime Rate

Data from the FBI Crime Explorer show that larceny-theft is the most recurring crime in Flathead County. In 2022, the Flathead County Sheriff's Office reported 1,041 violent and property-related crimes; larceny-theft accounted for 596 incidents. Also, larceny-theft accounted for over 54% and 56% of violent and property-related incidents in 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Flathead County Arrest Statistics

Data from the FBI Crime Data Explorer indicates a decline in Flathead County arrests from 2020- 2022. In 2022, the Flathead County Sheriff's Office reported 375 arrests for various Offenses (adult and juvenile) to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). This figure is lower than the 443 and 428 arrests for 2021 and 2020. The table below outlines the Flathead County Sheriff's Office arrest statistics by age and gender from 2022 to 2020.

Find Flathead County Arrest Records

Flathead County arrest records are accessible through various government resources. To access Flathead County arrest records:

• Visit the Flathead County Sheriff's Office Jail Roster webpage and view current inmates. Search by using the inmate's last name or a booking date.
• Log in to the Montana Department of Corrections Inmate Search Portal and provide the Inmate’s first and last names. Select Montana in the state criteria. Click search to access Flathead County arrest records.
• Log in to the Montana Department of Corrections portal. Click the Find an Offender link to access the search portal and search for Flathead County arrest records through offenders’ records.

Alternatively, visit, call, send a mail or email to the Flathead Sheriff's Office using the contact below:

The Flathead County Sheriff's Office

920 South Main Street
Suite 100
Kalispell,
MT 59901
Phone: (406) 758-5585

Email: socontactus@flathead.mt.gov

Free Arrest Record Search in Flathead County

To access Flathead County arrest records for free:

• Log in to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office Jail Roster webpage and use names or booking numbers to access inmates’ arrest records.
• Visit the Montana Department of Corrections Inmates Search portal and use names to look for Flathead County arrest records.
• Search for Flathead County arrest records online through third-party websites. Some private websites may offer free access to Flathead County public records.
• Visit local Libraries in Flathead County; they may provide free access to arrest records through their databases.

Get Flathead County Criminal Records

Criminal records are official documents comprising individuals' arrest records and other documents relating to crime prosecutions. Flathead County arrest records provide comprehensive details of criminal activities and their trials with the justice system.

In Flathead County, law enforcement agencies and the District, Justice, City, and Municipal Courts maintain criminal records.

To access Flathead County criminal histories:

• Visit, call, or send a written request to the Flathead County Clerk of Court at:

800 South Main Street
Room 114
Kalispell,
MT 59901
Phone: (406) 758-5526
Email: crcontactus@flathead.mt.gov

• Log in to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office Jail Roster website to view criminal records of current inmates records.
• Contact the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office through calls, mail, or in-person visits and request access to the county's criminal records.
• Search for Flathead County criminal records online repositories; some private websites may have databases on Flathead law enforcement and court records.
• Visit the Montana Department of Justice—Division of Criminal Investigation's Criminal History Online Public Record Search Portal and enter your name and birth date to look for records relating to criminal convictions in Flathead County.

Flathead County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Flathead County arrest and criminal records are valuable tools for maintaining law and order. However, there are distinctions between both records.

An arrest record relates to an individual’s arrest and custody by law enforcement. In contrast, a criminal record provides a complete account of a person's standing with the legal justice system within Flathead County.

In Flathead County, an arrest record contains the details of an individual's apprehension by law enforcement agencies; they serve as the starting point for the criminal justice process. On the other hand, a criminal record encompasses the arrest, conviction, sentencing, and incarceration of offenders.

Also, an arrest record does not indicate guilt or lead to a conviction, but a criminal record may confirm guilt of a crime.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

According to Montana law, an arrest record remains on an individual's criminal record indefinitely unless they take legal action to expunge or seal it. A petition to the court will determine if the individual is eligible for expungement or sealing of the arrest records.

Expunge Flathead County Arrest Records

The Montana Code Annotated Title 46, Chapter 18, Section 1104 provides the legal framework for eligibility of criminal records expungement in Flathead County. Notwithstanding, not all arrest records are eligible for expungement.

To seal or remove an arrest record in Flathead County, the individual must meet these eligible requirements:

• There is dismissal, or there is an acquittal of charges against the arrestee
• The petitioner must complete the sentence for the conviction resulting from the arrest
• There must be no subsequent criminal convictions from the petitioner after five years of completing the sentence for the conviction.
• The petitioner must undergo fingerprinting for validation
• A person may petition for expungement not more than once.

In Flathead County, eligible persons seeking to expunge or seal arrest records should

• Confirm eligibility to expunge or seal arrest records
• Obtain copies of the arrest records and court documents relating to the case
• Prepare a legal petition for sealing or expungement of the records. The petition should contain
  • Full name and identity number
  • The arrest details
  • Reasons for requesting to expunge or seal the record
• Pay applicable fees and submit the petition to the Flathead County District Court Clerk’s Office.
• Serve a copy of the petition to the Flathead County Attorney’s Office
• Attend the court hearing to present the case and answer questions from the judge or counter objections from the prosecutor’s office
• If the court grants the petition, it will order to seal or expunge the arrest record
• Obtain a copy of the court order and follow up to ensure that the relevant agencies comply with the court order in compliance with Title 46, Chapter 18, Section 1110 of the Montana Code Annotated.

Flathead County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge/magistrate authorizing law enforcement officers to take an individual into custody. Per Montana Code Annotated Chapter 6, Title 46, Section 201, the court may issue an arrest warrant if there is probable cause.

To obtain an arrest warrant in Flathead County, law enforcement agencies must provide evidence that an individual committed or may commit an arrestable offense, flout a court order or summon, or is a public risk.

Typically, an arrest warrant contains

• The name and signature of the issuing judge/magistrate
• The issuing court and the date of issuance
• Full name, aliases, physical description, last known address, and date of birth of the individual named in the warrant
• The charges against the subject
• Time, date, and location of the offense
• An order to arrest the subject of the warrant.

Flathead County Arrest Warrant Search

For information on Flathead County active arrest warrants:

• Log in to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office Warrants webpage and view information on Flathead County wanted persons
• Visit, call, or send a mail to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office for information on active arrest warrants
• Contact the Flathead County Clerk of Court Office; they may provide information on court-issued active warrants
• Search for Flathead County arrest warrants online through third-party websites.

Do Flathead County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Flathead County arrest warrants do not expire. Arrest warrants remain active regardless of time. However, Flathead County arrest warrants will become inactive if

• Law enforcement apprehends the subject
• A judge recalls the warrant
• The named person dies.