Montana Inmate Search
Table of Contents
How Are Inmate Records in Montana Created and Stored?
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.
How Does a Montana Inmate Locator Work?
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:
- Visit the Montana Department of Corrections inmate locator website .
- You can choose to search by either MDOC Number (prisoner ID) or name.
- Enter your search criteria and hit the "Submit" button.
- You will now see the name, date of birth, and status of all inmates who match your criteria.
- Review the results and then refine your search by clicking on one of the names to see further details.
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.
What Does Montana’s Prison System Look Like?
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:
5 State Prisons- 17 private/contracted prisons
- 0 Federal prisons in the state
- 2 juvenile detention facilities
- 13 county jails
Did you Know?
- 0.36% of people in Montana are under correctional control, from which 9,132 are on probation, and 1,074 are on parole.
- Every year, about 1,233 people walk out of prison gates in Montana, but people go to jail 1.1 times more each year
- 89% of prison inmates in Montana are male, 11% female.
- From 1979–80 to 2012–13, state and local government expenditures on corrections in Montana increased by 296 percent (from $58,275,159 to $231,032,000).
- Between 2007 and 2016, the Montana prison population increased by 10%
Types of Jails and Prisons in Montana
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.
How Many People are Locked up in Montana?
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 State Prisons
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:
- Missoula Assessment and Sanction Center (MASC)
- Montana Correctional Enterprises (MCE)
- Montana State Prison (MSP)
- Montana Women's Prison (MWP)
- Riverside Recovery & Reentry Program (women only)
All of these facilities are overseen and managed by the Montana Department of Corrections.
How to Search for State Prison Inmates in Montana
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:
- Visit the Montana Department of Corrections inmate locator website .
- You can choose to search by either MDOC Number (prisoner ID) or name.
- Enter your search criteria and hit the "Submit" button.
- You will now see the name, date of birth, and status of all inmates who match your criteria.
- Review the results and then refine your search by clicking on one of the names to see further details.
Montana County Jails
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:
- Dawson County Corrections.
- Yellowstone County Detention Facility.
- Cascade County Sheriff's Office / Detention Center.
- Missoula County Detention.
- Gallatin County Detention Center.
- Butte Detention Center.
- Broadwater County Sheriff.
- Ravalli County Adult Detention.
- Lewis & Clark County Jail.
- County Jail in Kalispell.
- Lincoln County Jail.
- Lake County Jail.
- Fergus County Sheriff & Jail.
Montana's County and Local Jail Prison Population During 2011-2016 years
| 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 |
How to Perform a Montana Jail Inmate Search
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.
Montana Juvenile Detention Centers
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:
- Pine Hills Youth Correctional serves delinquent boys
- Riverside Youth Correctional Facility, a 20-bed facility for girls
- Youth Transition Centers, Great Falls
How to Search for Juvenile Detention Center Inmates
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.
Montana Private Prisons
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:
- Missoula Pre-release Center
- WATCH West - Warm Springs
- Connections Corrections Program (CCP West)
- Sanction, Treatment, Assessment & Revocation Centers (START)
- Butte Pre-release Center
- Connections Corrections Program (CCP East)
- Bozeman Pre-release Center
- Elkhorn Meth Treatment
- Helena Prerelease Center
- Great Falls Pre-release Center
- Great Falls Regional Prison
- Crossroads Correctional Center
- Nexus Meth Treatment
- Alpha House Pre-release Center
- Passages (pre-release center, & SMART facility)
- Glendive Regional Prison
- WATCH East - Glendive
How to Search for an Inmate in a Montana Private Prison
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:
- Visit the Montana Department of Corrections inmate locator website .
- You can choose to search by either MDOC Number (prisoner ID) or name.
- Enter your search criteria and hit the "Submit" button.
- You will now see the name, date of birth, and status of all inmates who match your criteria.
- Review the results and then refine your search by clicking on one of the names to see further details.
Why are People Incarcerated in Montana?
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 and Statistics
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 |
Where Do Montana Inmates Go When They are Released?
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.
How Does Parole Work in Montana?
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.
Parole Population
| Type of Parole Entry: | Number of Parolees: |
|---|---|
| State Parole Population: | 1,074 |
| Entries: | 533 |
| Exits: | 551 |
| Change in 2016: | -1% |
How Does Someone Get Probation in Montana?
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.
Probation Statistics
| Type of Parole Entry: | Number of Parolees: |
|---|---|
| State Probation Population: | 9,132 |
| Entries: | 4,444 |
| Exits: | 4,143 |
| Change in 2016: | 3% |