Montana Criminal Records at a Glance
Montana criminal records are maintained by the Montana Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation. Background checks are available to the general public with arrest and court information on felony and misdemeanor charges. The Criminal History Online Public Record Search (CHOPRS) provides online access. Montana DOJ operates the Sexual or Violent Offender Registry.
1Montana Statewide Criminal Search Resources
- Montana DOJ, Background Checksdojmt.govGeneral public may receive arrest and court information on felony and misdemeanor charges.
- CHOPRS, Criminal History Online Public Record Searchdoj.egovmt.comOnline criminal history public record search for Montana.
- Montana Sexual or Violent Offender Registrydojmt.govMontana registration and notification for sexual or violent offenders.
- Montana Public Access Portal, Court Recordscourts.mt.govTrial court public record portal.
- vinelink.vineapps.com vinelink.vineapps.comSearch offenders in Montana custody and register for victim notification.
2Montana County Sheriff Reports & Criminal Records
Montana’s Department of Justice provides CHOPRS (Criminal History Online Public Record Search), which allows the general public to search Montana criminal history records online. This level of direct public access to the state repository is more open than many states.
- Beaverhead County Sheriffs Officebeaverheadcountymt.govContact the sheriffs office for crime news and reports for Beaverhead county.
- Big Horn County Sheriffwww.bighorncountymt.govFind jail information and crime news for Big Horn county.
- Blaine County Sheriffblainecounty-mt.govGet news of criminal activity in Blaine county at the sheriffs office.
- Butte Silver Bow County Sheriffs Officewww.co.silverbow.mt.usRequest news of criminal activity in the area from the Butte Silver Bow county sheriffs office.
- Carbon County Sheriffs Officeco.carbon.mt.usObtain crime reports and news from the Carbon county sheriffs office.
- Carter County Sheriffs Officecartercountymontana.squarespace.comThe sheriffs office has crime news and reports for the Carter county area.
- Cascade County Sheriffs Officewww.cascadecountymt.govRequest criminal reports and news from the Cascade sheriffs office.
- Chouteau County Sheriffchouteaucountysheriff.comFind criminal records, view active warrants, sex offender registry and the current jail roster.
- Dawson County Sheriffs Officewww.dawsoncountymontana.orgFind criminal investigations news and information on outstanding warrants.
- Deer Lodge County Law Enforcementwww.anacondadeerlodge.mt.govRequest news of criminal activity in the area from the Deer Lodge county law enforcement department.
- Fallon County Sheriff Officefalloncountymt.govGet news of criminal activity in Fallon county at the sheriffs office.
- Flathead County Sheriffs Officeflatheadcountysheriff.comFind most wanted criminals, outstanding warrants, crime statistics and jail information.
- Gallatin County Sheriffs Officewww.gallatin.mt.govGet information on criminal investigations, most wanted criminals, warrants list and sex offender registry.
- Glacier County Sheriffs Officeglaciercountymt.govContact the sheriffs office for crime news and reports for Glacier county.
- Golden Valley County Sheriffs Departmentgvcomt.wordpress.comObtain crime reports and news from the Golden Valley county sheriffs office.
- Hill County Sheriffs Officewww.hillcounty.usThe sheriffs office has crime news and reports for the Hill county area.
- Jefferson County Sheriffs Officejeffersoncounty-mt.govGet news of criminal activity in Jefferson county at the sheriffs office.
- Judith Basin County Sheriffs Officewww.co.judith-basin.mt.usThe sheriff of Judith Basin has information on crime in the area.
- Lewis and Clark County Sheriffs Officewww.lccountymt.govFind criminal investigations department, view outstanding warrants and local sex offenders.
- Madison County Sheriffs Officemadison.mt.govFind sheriffs arrest reports, sex offender registry and other crime news.
- McCone County Sheriffs Officemcconecountymt.govObtain criminal records, sex offender information and other sheriffs news for McCone county.
- Meagher County Sheriffs Officemeagherco.comContact the sheriffs office for crime news and reports for Meagher county.
- Mineral County Sheriffs Officeco.mineral.mt.usThe sheriffs office has crime news and reports for the Mineral county area.
- Missoula County Sheriffs Officewww.missoulacounty.usFind jail and inmate information and news of criminal activity in Missoula county.
- Park County Sheriffs Officewww.parkcounty.orgContact the sheriffs office for crime reports for Park county.
- Philliips County Sheriffs Officephillipscountysheriff.orgView outstanding warrants, information on current scams and weekly news from the Phillips county sheriff.
- Pondera County Sheriffs Officewww.ponderacountymontana.orgFind information on criminal investigations and other sheriffs news for Pondera county.
- Powder River County Sheriffs Officeprco.mt.govObtain crime reports and news from the Powder River county sheriffs office.
- Prairie County Sheriffs Officewww.prairiecounty.orgInformation on criminal activity, local sex offenders and victims services from the Prairie county sheriffs office.
- Ravalli County Sheriffs Officeravalli.usFind news of current investigations, adult detention center and crime stoppers information.
- Richland County Sheriffs Officewww.richland.orgView list of outstanding warrants, find information on crime prevention and the county jail.
- Roosevelt County Sheriffs Officercso17.orgContact the Roosevelt county sheriffs office for news of crime in the area.
- Sanders County Sheriffs Officeco.sanders.mt.usFind sheriffs news and reports for Sanders county.
- Stillwater County Sheriffs Officewww.stillwater.mt.govThe sheriffs office has crime news and reports for the Stillwater county area.
- Sweet Grass County Sheriffs Officesgcountymt.govRequest information on criminal activity in Sweet Grass county.
- Teton County Sheriffs Officewww.tetoncomt.orgFind news of criminal and civil warrants and other sheriffs reports for Teton county.
- Toole County Sheriffs Officewww.toolecountymt.govFind news of criminal investigations and county jail and inmate information for Toole county.
- Valley County Sheriffs Departmentwww.valleycountymt.govView current jail roster, outstanding warrants and local sex offender information for Valley county.
- Yellowstone County Sheriffs Officewww.yellowstonecountymt.govView most wanted criminals list and sheriffs maps, search for local sex offenders and current inmates.
3Federal & National Authoritative Sources
These federal and national sources complement Montana's state-level records. They are the authoritative sources you should cross-check when Montana state records are incomplete or out-of-state activity matters.
NSOPW, National Sex Offender Public Website
The Department of Justice's single national search across every state, territory, and tribal registry. Authoritative for offender status but does not include every historical conviction.
https://www.nsopw.gov/ (nsopw.gov)
The Department of Justice's single national search across every state, territory, and tribal registry. Authoritative for offender status but does not include every historical conviction.
https://www.nsopw.gov/ (nsopw.gov)
FBI, Identity History Summary Check
How to request your own FBI rap sheet (CJIS Identity History Summary) under Title 28 CFR § 16.30, 16.34. $18 fee, fingerprint submission required.
https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/need-an-fbi-service-or-more-information/identity-history-summary-checks (fbi.gov)
How to request your own FBI rap sheet (CJIS Identity History Summary) under Title 28 CFR § 16.30, 16.34. $18 fee, fingerprint submission required.
https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/need-an-fbi-service-or-more-information/identity-history-summary-checks (fbi.gov)
FBI UCR, Uniform Crime Reporting
The FBI's aggregate crime statistics program. Useful for context on offense frequency but not a record of individual persons.
https://ucr.fbi.gov/ (ucr.fbi.gov)
The FBI's aggregate crime statistics program. Useful for context on offense frequency but not a record of individual persons.
https://ucr.fbi.gov/ (ucr.fbi.gov)
Frequently Asked Questions
Montana Criminal Records, FAQ
Is there a single nationwide criminal record search?
No public one. The FBI's Interstate Identification Index (III) is nationwide but is only accessible to law enforcement agencies and approved employers under Public Law 92-544. Individuals can order their own rap sheet through the CJIS Identity History Summary service.
What is the difference between state and FBI record checks?
A state check searches one state's conviction database. The FBI III check searches every state that participates in III. Both are fingerprint-based.
Can arrests without conviction appear on a background check?
Yes, on some. State BCI responses vary, a few states return arrests without disposition for up to seven years, others redact non-conviction arrests. The FCRA (15 U.S.C. § 1681c) caps non-conviction arrests on consumer reports at 7 years.
How long does an expungement take?
It is a court process governed by state statute, typically 60 - 180 days from petition to order, plus another 60 - 90 days for agency updates.