Gallatin County Arrest Records

In Gallatin County, arrests become necessary when an individual is suspected of breaking the law and must be taken into custody to ensure they appear in court. Arrests may also be necessary if a person's actions threaten others or the community.

Various law enforcement agencies, such as local police departments, the county sheriff’s office, and the Montana Highway Patrol, can perform an arrest. Upon arrest, offenders are typically held in the Gallatin County Detention Center. The agency primarily responsible for maintaining and generating arrest records in Gallatin County is the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office. Arrest records are considered part of public records and can often intersect with Gallatin County Court Records, serving as sources for background checks, court proceedings, and more.

Are Arrest Records Public in Gallatin County?

Under the Montana Public Records Act, every person has a right to examine and obtain a copy of the state's public information. However, public officers are allowed to withhold information concerning individual or public safety or the security of public facilities such as schools, jails, correctional facilities, and prisons if releasing that information could endanger the safety of facility staff, the public, students, or inmates. This means specific details in the arrest records that pertain to safety and security concerns may be exempt from public disclosure. Thus, an individual's eligibility to access arrest records will depend on whether the disclosure would compromise the safety or security of the involved individuals or facilities.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A public arrest record in Gallatin County may include the following information:

• Personal Information: This consists of the individual's full legal name, known aliases, physical attributes such as height, complexion, hair and eye color, and date of birth and gender.
• Arrest Details: Key details like the date, time, and location of the arrest, the type of offense (whether it's a misdemeanor or a felony), and specific charges.
• Agency Information: Information about the arresting agency, such as the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office, and the name of the officer involved.
• Booking Data: Includes fingerprints, mugshots, and identifiable marks such as tattoos or scars, along with the time of booking.
• Judicial Information: Identifies the court jurisdiction handling the case proceedings.
• Release Information: Information regarding bail amount, conditions for release, and the date and time when the release occurred.

Gallatin County Crime Rate

In 2022, the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office reported 499 crime incidents, according to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). The County recorded 112 violent crime incidents, including two homicide incidents, 24 rape incidents, and 86 aggravated assault incidents. The county also saw many property crimes, with 387 incidents reported. The majority of these were larceny incidents, totaling 312. Theft, the most common property crime, illustrates the prevalence of theft in Gallatin County. Additionally, 49 motor vehicle theft incidents and 25 burglary incidents were recorded. These figures highlight that property crimes continue to constitute a significant portion of the total criminal activity in the county.

Gallatin County Arrest Statistics

The 2022 arrest statistics for Gallatin County, as reported by the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), offer a detailed view of law enforcement activity concerning crimes against individuals and property. The data indicates that Driving Under the Influence (DUI) led to the number of arrests, with 132. This was followed by 65 arrests for simple assault, 35 for aggravated assault, and 15 arrests related to drug abuse.

Find Gallatin County Arrest Records

Individuals can obtain Gallatin inmate records from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office – detention center webpage. The webpage provides an online roster accessible to both the public and internal users. Records can be searched by inmate name, arrest date, release date, race, sex, cell block, etc. A date search will list all inmates incarcerated on that particular day, with the option to click on an inmate's name for detailed information. A general search without any criteria will display a list of all current inmates in the detention center. For information about inmates currently in custody, individuals may visit the courthouse or contact the Gallatin County Detention Center at:

Gallatin County Detention Center
605 South 16th Avenue
Bozeman, MT 59715
United States
Phone: (406) 582-2130
Fax: (406) 582-2479

Free Arrest Record Search in Gallatin County

The official website of Gallatin County provides a Public Records Request portal allowing interested persons to submit new records requests or track existing ones. To submit a new request, interested persons must select the ‘New Request' icon and choose the appropriate form to complete. Interested parties can obtain police reports from the Law & Justice Center by mailing or faxing a request to:

Law & Justice Center
615 S. 16th Avenue
Bozeman, MT 59715
Phone: (406) 582-2005

Alternatively, interested persons may visit MontanaArrests.org, which allows interested persons to conduct a name-based search for arrest records in Montana. Interested persons may also visit InfoTracer, a third-party provider with a search-by-name option for finding arrest records.

Get Gallatin County Criminal Records

Gallatin County criminal records include details about arrests, charges, convictions, and sentencings. The Montana Department of Justice provides access to public records for those interested in Gallatin County criminal records, including criminal records for background checks, through the linked website.

Criminal records, including arrest and prosecutor/court information on felony and misdemeanor charges, are accessible to the public. However, criminal records deferred and later dismissed cannot be released. Interested persons may do an online name-based search or mail-in fingerprint check. They may also visit the Montana Department of Justice in person.

For Online Name-Based Requests:

• Visit CHOPRS – Criminal History Online Public Record Search and click on the public user “Start Service” button (or the registered user “Start Service” button to log in with the interested person’s name and password if they are a registered user)
• Input the individual's complete name, date of birth, Social Security number, and up to four alias names.
• Pay the $20.00 fee for each record search by credit card or eCheck.

For Mail-In Name-Based Checks:

• Send a request including the subject's name, nicknames, aliases, date of birth, maiden name, social security number, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Include a $15 check for the fee.
• Mail to: Montana Criminal Records.

Mail-In Fingerprint Checks

• Include an applicant fingerprint card including signatures from both the individual and the official taking the fingerprints, the individual’s contact information such as email or phone number, the subject's name, nicknames, aliases, date of birth, maiden name, social security number, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Include a $10 check for the fee.
• Mail to: Montana Criminal Records.

In-Person Requests:

• Visit the Montana Department of Justice, Criminal Records and Identification Services Section at:

Montana Criminal Records
P.O. Box 201403
Helena, MT 59620-1403
Email: dojcriss@mt.gov
Phone: (406) 444-3625
Fax: (406) 444-0689

Gallatin County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Gallatin County, an arrest record is created when law enforcement detains an individual suspected of a crime. This record contains essential information such as the person's name, date of arrest, charges, and the arresting agency. Arrest records do not establish guilt or innocence and are generally accessible to the public. On the other hand, criminal records are generated after a person is convicted in court. These records offer a detailed account of the arrests, offenses, bail information, convictions, prosecutions, and sentences of the subject, and they stay on the record of the subject unless they are restricted or exempted.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Montana, including Gallatin County, arrests may remain on a person's record indefinitely unless expunged. Under Montana law 46-18-1104, a person convicted of one or more misdemeanor offenses can petition to expunge their arrest records, investigation, detention, and any related court proceedings. However, this petition for expungement can only be submitted once in a person's lifetime.

Expunge Gallatin County Arrest Records

Under Montana law 46-18-1104, a person may petition a district court for an order requiring the expungement of all records of arrest, investigation, and detention, if any, and any court proceedings that may have been held related to one or more misdemeanor offenses or offenses. However, a person may only petition for an expungement once in their lifetime. Anyone looking to delete their arrest record in Gatlin County can do so by following these steps:

• Petition the District Court: The individual must file a petition with the District Court requesting the expungement of qualified misdemeanor records.
• Notify the Prosecution Office: The petitioner's attorney must notify the prosecution office responsible for the conviction.
• Notify the Victim: The prosecution office must try to notify any potential victims.
• Court Decision: The District Court will determine whether to grant the expungement order.
• Fingerprinting: If the court grants the expungement, law enforcement must fingerprint the petitioner on a blue applicant's fingerprint card (FD-258).
• Complete Expungement Form: The petitioner must access and complete the Expungement/Removal Request Form available on the Montana Department of Justice website.
• Submit Required Documents: The petitioner will send the fingerprint card, completed expungement form, and the court order to the Criminal Records and Identification Services Section (CRISS) at P.O. Box 201403, Helena, MT 59620.
• Verification by CRISS: CRISS will verify that the petitioner has not previously used this law for expungement and confirm the petitioner's identity using the fingerprint card.
• Removal of Records: CRISS will remove the arrest and conviction data from the Criminal History Record once verified.
• Application may take 30 days to process.

Gallatin County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants in Gallatin County are typically issued after law enforcement, or a prosecutor presents evidence to a judge or magistrate that there is probable cause to believe a person has committed a crime. An arrest warrant in Gallatin County may include:

• Name of the Individual.
• Description of the offense/crime.
• The name of the judge or magistrate who issued the warrant and the court that authorized it.
• The specific instructions to law enforcement on how to execute the warrant, including any conditions or limitations.
• Bond Information (if applicable).

Gallatin County Arrest Warrant Search

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office's official website allows interested parties to look up active warrants in the county. To find active warrants in Gallatin County, follow these steps:

Visit the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office website.

• Click on the "Warrants" tab.
• Enter the first and last name of the person you're searching for.
• Click the "Search" button.
• The results will show a list of all active arrest warrants for that individual, including the warrant number, issuing agency, the offense charged, and bond amount (where applicable).

Alternatively, interested persons may visit MontanaArrests.org, which allows them to conduct a name-based search for arrest records and active warrants. They may also contact the Sheriff's Office for more details about the warrant.

Do Gallatin County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Gallatin County, warrants remain active and do not expire until one of the following conditions is met:

• The police arrest the person named in the warrant.
• The issuing judge or magistrate recalls the warrant.
• The charges against the individual are dismissed.