Ravalli County Arrest Records

As defined by MT Admin Rules 23.12.431, an arrest record is a formal document created by a criminal justice organization that details the circumstances surrounding an individual's arrest. It includes the name, address, time of the accused's arrest, outstanding accusations against them, and details about their bond and court appearance.

In Ravalli County, the Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records. Arrest records are also closely related to other public records. For example, interested parties will find arrest records in Ravalli County Court Records. These documents are made available to the public via the Internet or in person at the office of the relevant custodian. Arrest records are used for various reasons by various people or organizations.

• When determining a sentence, the court may refer to the arrest of the accused.
• Arrest records are valuable for law enforcement when conducting fresh investigations and identifying criminals.
• Landlords may look into a prospective tenant's arrest history to protect current renters and their properties.
• Lenders use arrest records to assess a borrower's credibility.

Are Arrest Records Public in Ravalli County?

The Montana Public Records Act guarantees public access to records kept by public officials. Since the agency responsible for creating arrest records is the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office, arrest records are public information. Interested parties may obtain arrest records during regular business hours. Nevertheless, the law forbids the release of some arrest records. Only law enforcement officials, the subject of the documents, and their close relatives are permitted access to confidential arrest records. MCA Section 44-5-103(3) exempts the following types of arrest records from disclosure in Montana:

• Records of Juvenile Arrests.
• Details on the victim (MCA § 44-5-311).
• Arrest logs of a current investigation.
• Intelligence and criminal investigation data.
• Fingerprints and photos are used for intelligence or investigative purposes.

Record seekers can find these publicly available records through the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office. County residents will find the office at the following location:

Ravalli County Sheriff's Office
205 Bedford Street
Suite G
Hamilton, MT 59840

Ravalli County Arrest Statistics

In 2023, the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office made 829 arrests. The office arrested more men than women, with 545 of the arrestees being male while 284 were female. All other offenses had the highest number of arrests, with 340 arrests.

Find Ravalli County Arrest Records

People can contact or visit the Ravalli County Jail to learn about a current inmate. The Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office manages the county jail. Interested parties can visit the office to find this information at:

Ravalli County Sheriff's Office
205 Bedford Street
Suite G
Hamilton, MT 59840

The Ravalli Sheriff's Office also keeps data about prisoners in Ravalli County via its inmate locator. Enter details like your first and last names and reservation date to query the system.

Ravalli County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrests and criminal records show the different stages of the legal process. An arrest record is produced by the detaining agency when they take someone into custody by the police on suspicion of a crime. An arrest record includes essential information like the arresting agency, charges, the date of the arrest, and the individual's identification. Additionally, these openly available records do not prove guilt or exonerate somebody of a crime. A record custodian may also omit some information to protect privacy.

On the other hand, a person's criminal record encompasses a person’s entire criminal history. It includes thorough information on their arrest, charges, and sentencing after they are found guilty in court. Criminal records are often unavailable and may be expunged or sealed, mainly where children are involved. A criminal history may significantly impact a person's future. This is particularly relevant to employment, housing, and professional licensure.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Ravalli County, when a person is arrested but not found guilty, the arrest does not remain on their record. The Montana Criminal Records & Identification Services Section (CRISS) automatically deletes them. However, arrests in which the perpetrator was found guilty are permanent until the record holder takes steps to delete them.

MCA § 46-18-1103 provides for expungements in Ravalli County. An expungement is the permanent removal, deletion, or erasure of an arrest record from the Montana Department of Justice's criminal history record information system. Expungements are limited to non-conviction cases and certain misdemeanors. A person convicted of one or more misdemeanor offenses in one or more proceedings or courts without prior expungements is eligible for expungement under § 46-18-1104.

According to MCA §44-5-202, the Montana Criminal Records & Identification Services Section (CRISS) automatically expunges all non-conviction arrest data. Additionally, parties do not require a Record Removal Form for cases after July 1, 2017. Petitioners can expunge their records before that date by sending a Record Removal Form to:

Montana Criminal Records & Identification Services Section
2225 11th Ave.
P.O. Box 201403
Helena, MT 59620
E-mail: dojcriss@mt.gov
Phone: (406) 444-3625
Fax: (406) 444-0689

According to MCA § 46-18-1105, anyone arrested for a misdemeanor offense may petition the Ravalli County District Court. Interested parties will find the court at the following address:

Ravalli County District Court
Ravalli County Courthouse
205 Bedford Street, Suite D
Hamilton, MT 59840
Phone: (406) 375-6710
Fax: (406) 375-6721

Ravalli County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal court or magistrate's order that allows law enforcement to detain someone they suspect of committing a crime in Ravalli County. Before issuing a warrant, the court must establish probable cause with an affidavit and supporting paperwork. The warrant contains the complete name, birth date, physical description, suspected offense, and the issuing judge's information. The Ravalli County Sheriff's Office is where anybody looking for records can look up active arrest warrants. The office can be found at:

Ravalli County Sheriff's Office
205 Bedford Street
Suite G
Hamilton, MT 59840

Do Ravalli County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants in Ravalli County are valid until the individual named on the warrant is taken into custody, the warrant is recalled by the judge or magistrate who issued it, or the charges against the person are withdrawn. Parties can check if an arrest warrant is still in effect by going to the Ravalli County Sheriff's office at:

Ravalli County Sheriff's Office
205 Bedford Street
Suite G
Hamilton, MT 59840