Law enforcement agencies in Gallatin County report about 4,250 arrests yearly out of an estimated 31,800 arrests in Montana. Under the State's Public Records Law, most public records, including arrest records in Gallatin County, are accessible to the public. Members of the public may view it for free, but must pay between $0.15 and $30 to obtain copies of the records.
Although arrest records are public, court orders and statutes restrict the disclosure of some records. These include medical, juvenile, ongoing investigations, and sealed records. While some arrest records are available to the public, certain entities still have the legal authority to view all records. These include the Gallatin County Attorney's Office, the Sheriff's Office, local Police Departments, and individuals named on records.
Individuals may obtain arrest records for Gallatin County through various government agencies, including the Sheriff's Office, local Police Departments, and the Montana Department of Justice.
The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office provides a Records Request Portal where individuals may access arrest records. They must select the "New Request" icon and choose the appropriate form to complete. Alternatively, they may submit the request in person during regular business hours to obtain copies of arrest records from their office at:
Gallatin County Sheriff's Office
677 Laura Louise Lane
Bozeman, MT 59718
Phone: (406) 582-2005
Individuals may contact the police department for arrest records in the jurisdiction where the arrest occurred. Some police departments have an online portal for requesting arrest records; others may require the public to fill out a form to access them. Alternatively, record seekers may visit the police department to view or obtain copies of the records. They must pay for the copies of the records. Some Police Departments in the county include:
The Division of Criminal Investigation under the Montana Department of Justice (DOJ) maintains a central repository for criminal records, including arrest records. Individuals can access arrest records from the DOJ by making online name-based requests, mail-in name-based checks, mail-in fingerprint checks, or in-person requests. The DOJ also provides the Criminal History Online Public Record Search Portal for the public to access arrest records. This portal requires the records requester to submit the offender's name and date of birth to access the document.
Individuals requesting records must include the offender's fingerprint card and submit the request by mail to Montana Criminal Records. They must provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope along with a check or money order for the processing fee. Alternatively, they may visit the office for in-person requests at:
Montana Department of Justice
Criminal Records and Identification Service Section
P.O. Box 201403
2225 11th Avenue
Helena, MT 59601-1403
Arrest information is included in District, City, and Municipal criminal court records where arrests led to charges. The Gallatin County Clerk of District Court offers a Public Records Portal where members of the public may access arrest records. Individuals may contact the Clerks of the appropriate courts for criminal records, including arrest records. They can also find Gallatin County arrest records by visiting reputable third-party websites like InfoTracer.
Gallatin County has an arrest rate of 3,341.5 arrests per 100,000 residents. Below is an overview of the arrest statistics for both adults and juveniles in Gallatin County:
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Robbery | 15 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 150 |
| Larceny | 1,662 |
| Fraud | 197 |
| Damage | 690 |
| Forgery | 50 |
| Burglary | 110 |
| Arson | 4 |
| Aggravated Assault | 271 |
| Simple Assault | 560 |
| Kidnapping | 28 |
| All Other Offenses | 487 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 4,224 |
Source: Montana Incident-Based Reporting System
It is situated in Gallatin county, Montana with a total number of 110 employees - 7 female, 51 male officers and 52 civilians. Gallatin County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is MT0160000, it belongs to the Mountain division in the West region with a region code of Region IV.
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Belgrade Police Department | 91 East Central | 406-388-4262 |
| Bozeman Police Department | 615 South 16th Avenue | (406) 582-2000 |
| Manhattan Police Department | 207 South 6th St. | 406.284.6630 |
| West Yellowstone Police Department | 124 Yellowstone Ave_x000D_ | 406-646-7600 |