Inmate records in Montana are created when someone is arrested and then updated every time something happens in the inmate's life. The first form filled out is a RAP sheet. This document is completed by the law enforcement agency who arrests the suspect. It usually includes the person's name, address, physical description, mug shot, and then details about their crime. The Montana Department of Correction s (MDOC) is the government agency in charge of inmate records and keeps them updated daily. The MDOC has a website connected to a massive inmate database so that anyone can perform an inmate locator quickly and easily.
The Montana Department of Corrections oversees the entire prison system and all facilities. They are the central repository for inmate records. The state has a dedicated website specifically for finding someone located in a Montana jail or prison. Follow the instructions below to find a Montana inmate:
The general public can also use the Infotracer tool to quickly look someone up to find arrests and criminal records, court cases, assets, divorces, inmate records and more.
The state of Montana has a unique prison system in that although they do have a few state prisons, they rely heavily on contracted facilities. The entire system is overseen and managed by the Montana Department of Corrections and Director, Reginald D. Michael. The Montana prison system consists of:
Unlike most states, Montana does not have any federal prisons. Federal prisoners who commit federal crimes on Montana soil must be shipped to other locations. They do, however, have five state prisons and seventeen private/contracted prisons they use extensively to hold felons requiring custody. They also have two juvenile detention facilities that house the male and female youth offenders in the state. Montana has thirteen county jails that hold pretrial offenders and sentenced individuals with short stays.
Montana’s prison system holds 3,814 residents in various kinds of correctional facilities, from which 1,730 residents are held in state prisons, 14 in federal prisons, and 589 in local jails.
Correctional Facilities: | Totals: |
---|---|
Federal Prisons | 14 |
State Prisons | 1,730 |
Local Jails | 589 |
Private Prisons | 1,481 |
Montana has five state prisons; each is designed for a specific demographic and purpose. Some hold only male inmates, and others are specifically for women. Riverside helps women who have undergone trauma heal while they rehabilitate from their crimes. The state prisons in Montana include:
All of these facilities are overseen and managed by the Montana Department of Corrections.
The Montana state prison inmate locator makes it very easy to find a prison inmates located in state prison. They have a dedicated website specifically designed to allow public inmate offender searches. Simply, follow the instructions below:
Montana's county jails hold arrested suspects and pretrial detainees awaiting sentencing. These facilities are managed and run by the local county police or Sheriff's departments. The list includes:
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 523 | 488 | 497 | 515 | 491 | 589 |
Male | 512 | 485 | 491 | 502 | 467 | 574 |
Female | 11 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 24 | 15 |
The process for finding someone in a Montana jail is different than someone located in state or private prison. Due to the fact that all the jails are run by local law enforcement, the inmates are not included in the online database. Therefore, anyone wanting to perform a Montana jail inmate locator search must contact the county Sheriff's Office or local police department directly to get information. Some of these law enforcement agencies have their own websites with lists of inmates or a search feature.
The state of Montana has two main juvenile detention centers. One is for boys only, and the other is for girls. The state also has a youth transition center in Great Falls that helps youth offenders re-enter society smoothly following incarceration. All three facilities are overseen and managed by the Montana Department of Corrections. The facilities include:
Juvenile records in most states are completely confidential until the person is 18 years old. Therefore, online searches for Montana juvenile detention center inmates won't be possible. However, someone can contact either the Montana Department of Corrections or the facility directly to obtain information on someone staying there. Family, friends, and authorized agents will have an easier time getting information.
The state of Montana extensively uses outside resources to shoulder some of the responsibility of the corrections system. They use seventeen contracted facilities. Some are prerelease centers to help transition inmates before they go back into society. The list of private prisons in Montana include:
Even though many inmates reside in a private prison in Montana, the Department of Corrections inmate locator keeps all inmate records in the centralized database making it easy for someone to find a Montana inmate in a private prison. Simply follow these instructions:
Montana has only 7,400 inmates in prison and jail. The majority (3,700) are in state prisons or private facilities. Eighteen hundred are in local jails and detention facilities. Another 1,400 reside in federal prisons in other states. One-hundred-seventy are in youth detention centers, and another 300 are in Indian Country facilities. The top reason that people are incarcerated in Montana is drug charges. Some other popular offenses that land an inmate in a Montana prison are DUIs, theft, burglary, and criminal endangerment. Most Montana inmates have committed non-violent crimes.
Montana’s incarceration rate for year-end 2016 under state prison or local jail jurisdiction per 100,000 population was 364, which is lower than an average incarceration rate by 19%. The number of Montana prisoners at the year-end of 2016 was 3,814, from which 11% were female prisoners, whereas the number of male prisoners was 3,405 in 2016.
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 367 | 358 | 357 | 360 | 355 | 364 | 350 |
Male | 651 | 633 | 631 | 641 | 631 | 646 | 617 |
Female | 81 | 80 | 81 | 76 | 76 | 79 | 79 |
Montana contracts with seventeen private prison facilities. Seven of those are designed to work as pre-release centers to help transition inmates before they are released. These facilities help inmates to get jobs, find housing, and educate them on how to be good members of society. They also provide treatment if needed, for mental illness and substance abuse issues.
Parole is granted to prisoners who behave well while incarcerated and who do not pose a threat to society. The Montana parole board reviews each inmate's case, and they release some inmates early who meet these requirements. Parole is a supervision program where an inmate is released with the agreement that they will follow strict rules, including regular check-ins with their parole officer. If the parolee disobeys the orders of the parole board, they will return to prison to finish up their stay.
Type of Parole Entry: | Number of Parolees: |
---|---|
State Parole Population: | 1,074 |
Entries: | 533 |
Exits: | 551 |
Change in 2016: | -1% |
As an alternative to prison, a Montana judge can instead order probation. Probation is also a supervision program where the offender is released and allowed to go home and resume life, but they must follow strict court-ordered rules. These rules include regular visits with a probation officer and sometimes drug tests. If the probationer violates any of these rules, his or her probation will be revoked, and they will go to prison.
Type of Parole Entry: | Number of Parolees: |
---|---|
State Probation Population: | 9,132 |
Entries: | 4,444 |
Exits: | 4,143 |
Change in 2016: | 3% |