Montana Criminal Records

Where can I find criminal records In Montana?

The Division of Criminal Investigation of the Montana Department of Justice provides an online criminal record search service. It's open to public users and for users registered on the official Montana State website. To perform a successful search on the Division of Criminal Investigation's website, users must input the first and last name and the date of birth of the subject of the investigation. Public users are charged $11.50 per request, payable by credit card or eCheck. In the case of registered users, the whole amount of requests is billed to the user at the end of the month. Being a registered user costs a yearly fee of $100 and gives access to all eGovernment Services on the Montana state sites. There is a different way of looking up the database of the Division of Criminal Investigation of the state of Montana. It's possible to perform background checks via mail. This way of conducting background checks enables the use of fingerprint cards, and it has a fee of $10.

Are criminal records public in Montana?

The laws of the state of Montana are quite restrictive when it comes to criminal background checks. Privacy laws limit how much information about felony charges or misdemeanor charges can be gathered through a standard background check. All deferred and dismissed criminal records are not available to the general public. Members of the law enforcement organizations in need of criminal records for criminal justice purposes can access all the information available to the Montana Department of Justice.

Where can I find sex offenders in Montana?

The Montana Department of Justice also provides a very well-managed service called Sexual or Violent Offender Registry (SVOR). This registry provides meticulous information on all sex offenders or violent offenders living in the Montana area. The service is completely free, and every check-up comes with a detailed map. The records of the sexual offenders are very complete, including known aliases and specific reasons why they are inscribed in the registry. In the case of the violent offenders, the information on the record is limited, unless they are non-compliant registrants. The database of the SVOR can be accessed online.

Where can I find inmates in Montana?

The Montana Department of Corrections also has a comprehensive database accessible to any public user and completely free of charge. The search engine is powerful and easy to handle. It allows searches by name, year of birth, gender, race, and/or "active offender type" -inmate, on parole, on federal custody, escaped, deported, and so on-. The results offered by the Montana Department of Corrections' search engine are incredibly detailed, giving information on all the details relevant to the subject of the report, including body markings and tattoos and the reason for the conviction. The database of the Montana Department of Corrections can be accessed online.

Can I expunge my criminal record in Montana?

Since 2017, it has been possible to expunge all misdemeanors from criminal records in Montana. This does not apply to felonies or sex offenses, as well as certain misdemeanors. Five years must have passed since the end of the misdemeanor to qualify for expungement.

How do I expunge my misdemeanors in Montana?

After checking to see if one is eligible or not for expungement, you can file a petition for expungement to the court where the case was heard. The court would grant the expungement if five years passed. Victims of the misdemeanor will be notified of the expungement, and then the misdemeanor(s) will be removed from all online and physical databases.

Are arrest records available to the public in Montana?

Like criminal records, arrests are also available to the public for the most part. Montana contains certain laws that prevent certain criminal record information from being accessible. Arrests are different than crimes because they do not indicate whether someone is guilty or not.

Can my employer see my arrests in Montana?

The state laws prevent employers from inquiring about prior arrests when applying for a job. This protects people from discrimination since people with a history of arrests could be completely innocent and never committed a crime. This is not the same for convictions, which employers may still ask about.

Do I need a lawyer to expunge my record in Montana?

A lawyer is highly recommended when trying to expunge a record in Montana. When filing for expungement, the victim of the misdemeanor being expunged may object to this. Hiring a lawyer will increase the chances of the expungement going through drastically, and they will also do the work of filing it for you.

How far back do criminal record checks go in Montana?

Montana is one of the seven-year states, which means that they have a law in place that prevents background checks from going farther than seven years of criminal history. This law was put in place to protect people who have changed since committing a crime because having a criminal record makes it much harder to find a job in Montana.

How long does a DUI stay on your record in Montana?

A DUI is a misdemeanor, so it can be filed for expungement after five years of the end of the sentence. However, DUI's will also go on one's driving record for three years. Multiple DUI offenses can lead to much more severe sentences than the first-time offense, with a fourth-time offense being a felony.

Is it possible to get off the sex offender registry in Montana?

Level one sex offenders may go to court after ten years and request removal from the sex offender registry. However, all other sex offenders must stay on the registry for life. The levels in the sex offender registry are classified by the potential to re-offend. The higher levels are more likely to re-offend and have harsher requirements.

What is considered a misdemeanor in Montana?

A misdemeanor in Montana is the lesser classification of a crime and is penalized less than a felony. They are also able to be removed from your criminal record and sometimes do not carry any prison sentence. The maximum jail time for a misdemeanor is one year. Examples of misdemeanors include driving under the influence, shoplifting, and public indecency.

What is considered a felony in Montana?

Felonies are the more severe crime in Montana and carry much harsher sentences, including the death penalty. They cannot be removed from one's record and impact one's life even after serving a sentence through insurance rates, the likelihood of getting a loan, and getting hired. Examples of felonies include rape, murder, arson, and certain assault offenses.

Are juvenile criminal records public in Montana?

All juvenile criminal offenses will remain on one's record until one turn 18. At that point, they will be sealed and hidden to the public. Doing this prevents children, especially minorities, from struggling in trying to get a higher education or job for bad decisions made in the past.

Will employers ask about juvenile criminal records in Montana?

Employers are barred from asking about juvenile criminal records in Montana. If you have a juvenile criminal record, you have the right to say no to inquiries about if you've ever been convicted of a crime.