Montana Inmate Search

As of 2022, the operational capacity of Montana's state prison facilities is about 2,741 inmates, which often fluctuates downwards each year due to the unavailability of beds and increased inmate population. By the 2022 year-end, for example, the inmate population across state prisons was 2,984 inmates, with some of these inmates housed in contracted correctional facilities and county jails. There are at least 36 jails across the 56 counties in Montana, mostly operated by the Sheriff's office of the respective county. Notably, not all inmates held up in county jails are convicted of county offenses. Some offenders are held up for having been convicted of federal offenses.

Generally, an inmate search tool in Montana provides information regarding the status of individuals incarcerated in a Montana correctional facility. Interested persons may also confirm visiting schedules through some inmate search tools or contact information of the correction center. This can help friends and families of inmates stay connected with their loved ones, keep tabs on their incarceration status, and maintain a social bond with them. A strong social bond is crucial to keeping an inmate well-grounded and helping them manage the anxiety that comes with being incarcerated or readjusting into society upon their release.

What is Montana Inmate Lookup?

Montana inmate lookup involves searching for information about inmates currently held in any of the state's correctional facilities. Interested persons may look up a Montana inmate by utilizing the Montana Department of Correction's (MDOC) Offender Search online tool or by calling the MDOC at (406) 444-3930. However, the MDOC's Offender Search online tool only contains information on convicted felons in the state of Montana. Some county jails, such as Cascade County Detention Center, also have a publicly available roaster through which interested persons may look up an inmate.

Inmate search tools and look-up services provide a view of transparency into the state's justice and correctional system. By granting members of the public access to inmate information, interested persons (especially inmates' loved ones) can monitor the progress of an inmate's case and have a sense of when they will be out of the correctional system. With a Montana inmate lookup, anyone may access an inmate's information including the inmate's full name and aliases, the correctional facility they are in, the charges leading to their incarceration, sentencing details, and the inmate's possible release date.

Additionally, interested persons can make plans around visitation through inmate lookup services, as some inmate tools provide information on visitation schedules. Alternatively, interested persons may contact the MDOC or relevant Sheriff's Office for inquiries on visitation schedules. Such visitations generally help inmates maintain frequent contact with their loved ones while in prison, and ultimately keep their family bonds, which is crucial to how they process their time during incarceration and how they adapt upon their release.

What Information Can You Find in a Montana Inmate Search?

When conducting inmate searches in Montana, some of the information that is typically available to members of the public includes:

• Inmate's full name, including their aliases
• Inmate's date of birth
• Gender and race
• Inmate's correctional facility
• The charges for which the inmate is held up
• Sentencing details and possible release date
• Department of Corrections ID number

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 that 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 Corrections (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 lookup quickly and easily.

What Does Montana's Prison System Look Like?

Montana's state prison system comprises four state-run correctional institutions under the supervision and oversight of the state's Department of Correction (MDOC). These facilities offer custody services, care, and programming for individuals under the MDOC's supervision to assist them to readjust seamlessly into society and avoid recidivism, upon release. Montana's state-run prisons are evenly distributed in different parts of the state. Additionally, the state utilizes at least 16 contracted facilities. These facilities also hold inmates and offer inmate programs and care while reducing the burden of correctional care on state prisons.

Over 1,000 employees work in the various state-run prison facilities across Montana, with a budget of over $200,000,000. As of 2022, the Montana state prison system under the MDOC had an operational capacity of 2,741 inmates. State-run correctional facilities in the commonwealth are categorized into varying security levels, including low, medium, high, and maximum security levels.

The low and medium-security prisons in Montana generally hold inmates who pose no significant security risk. Although inmates incarcerated in medium-security prisons in Montana may have demonstrated a readiness to adhere to institutional rules, they may still pose a security risk. On the other hand, the maximum-security correctional facilities in the state hold inmates who need direct and constant supervision and pose a severe security risk.

Types of Correctional Facilities in Montana

The state of Montana has four state prisons. Each houses a different demographic and has specific levels of custody. The Montana Department of Corrections (MDOC) oversees each of these facilities along with the reentry programs and services. The MDOC and Montana Board of Crime Control also oversee various juvenile detention centers that house and educate youth offenders.

There are no federal prisons in Montana. Individuals adjudged to have violated federal laws are held up in any designated state-operated or contracted correctional facilities or county jails. Many counties in Montana also have county jails to hold suspects awaiting trial.

Montana State Prisons

Montana has four state-operated correctional facilities and at least 16 contracted correctional facilities to assist with dealing with overcrowding and staffing concerns affecting the efficiency of the state-operated facilities. Each correctional facility serves a different demographic, has various custody levels, and offers varying programs to assist offenders with prison time and adjusting to society upon their release. Below is the list of all state prison facilities in Montana:

• Montana State Prison
• Riverside Special Needs Unit
• Montana Women's Prison
• Pine Hills Correctional Facility

Likewise, some of the contracted facilities include:

• Alpha House Prerelease Center
• Butte Prerelease Center
• Crossroads Correctional Center
• Elkhorn Treatment Center
• Helena Prerelease Center
• WATCh West - Warm Springs

Montana County Jails

In addition to the state-operated and contracted correctional facilities, Montana has over 30 jails across 56 counties. These jails are primarily operated by the respective county Sheriff's Office, and some jails also have juvenile detention facilities. Most jails hold offenders convicted and sentenced to county jail time, which is usually for less than a year, and inmates who are awaiting trial.

Many of the local Sheriff's Offices and police stations maintain a public jail roaster, which is a part of a county's jail records, through which interested persons may conduct an inmate search and look up individuals incarcerated in county jail facilities. Notable county jails in Montana include:

• Broadwater County Detention Center
• Cascade County Detention Center
• Dawson County Correctional Facility
• Gallatin County Detention Center
• Jefferson County Detention Center
• Lewis & Clark County Detention Center
• Missoula County Detention Facility
• Park County Detention Center
• Ravalli County Detention Center
• Valley County Jail
• Yellowstone County Detention Facility

Montana Juvenile Detention Centers

The Montana Department of Corrections and the Montana Board of Crime Control (MBCC) are the two agencies primarily responsible for juvenile justice and programs across the state. County executives typically administer and operate juvenile detention centers within their county, while the Department of Corrections administers statewide juvenile detention. These facilities hold youth offenders, which are typically individuals between the ages of 10 and 17, who have been convicted of an offense, adjudicated as delinquents, or placed in detention programs while awaiting a future court date.

Juvenile offenders in these facilities typically receive education, rehabilitation, victim services, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services. These facilities include the following, and interested persons may contact the MBCC at (406) 444-3604 on the procedure and possibility of conducting a juvenile inmate search:

• Riverside Youth Correctional Facility
• Pine Hills Youth Correctional Facility
• Cascade County Juvenile Detention Center
• Missoula County Detention Facility

Montana Community Correctional Facilities

The Montana Department of Corrections oversees the state's community correctional facilities and generally operates under two major initiatives. These are the statewide network of Community Justice Support Centers (CJSC) and the Trial Court Community Service Program.

The Trial Court Community Service Program maintains public safety by organizing closely monitored community work services as an intermediate sanction to the state criminal justice system. Currently, there are several community service program offices in Montana across different counties.

While attendance at the Community Justice Support Centers (CJSC) may be a condition of pre-release supervision or parole, it is typically ordered by the court. The state also has several community justice support centers across different counties. The different CJSC programs are designed to improve participating offenders' lives and help them avoid further involvement in the state's criminal justice system.

Why are People Incarcerated in Montana?

Title 45 of Montana Code Annotated 2023 outlines the offenses for which a person may be incarcerated in the state. These offenses are largely categorized as offenses against the person, offenses against property, offenses against public order, and offenses relating to dangerous drugs. Sexual offenses are further categorized under offenses against the person.

Offenses against the person that results in incarceration include homicide, assault, kidnapping, and violation of an order of protection. Sexual offenses also fall under this category. Examples of sexual offenses include sexual assault, sexual intercourse without consent, indecent exposure, and aggravated sexual intercourse without consent. Offenses against property that carry an imprisonment term include arson, criminal trespass and burglary, and theft.

Examples of offenses against public order that typically result in imprisonment include offensive, inhumane, and indecent conduct and drug-related offenses include criminal distribution of drugs, criminal possession of drugs, altering drug labels, criminal production or manufacture of dangerous drugs, and fraudulently obtaining dangerous drugs.

Offenses are further classified as violent and non-violent offenses. Essentially, violent offenses involve the use or threat of a dangerous weapon, while non-violent offenses do not. Violent offenses are considered more serious offenses and attract more severe penalties. Examples include homicide, armed robbery, and, in some cases, arson.

Anyone interested in conducting an inmate search to find out the offense for which a person has been incarcerated may check the MDOC's Offender Search online tool or each county's jail roaster. The state's Department of Correction (MDOC) generally promotes public safety by incarcerating violent offenders and providing programming and care in preparation for inmates' successful reentry into society. In addition, its focus is rehabilitating non-violent offenders and juvenile offenders through various programs aimed at behavioral change and addressing underlying psychological concerns.

Montana's Incarceration Rate and Statistics

Montana's incarceration has fluctuated in the last eight years, exceeding the prisons' operational capacity in 2019 and 2020. Despite the spike in inmate population, Montana went on to record its lowest inmate population within the past eight years in 2021. As of December 2022, the rate of incarceration in the state was 237 persons per 100,000 total population, with about 2,638 inmates in the custody of the Department of Correction (MDOC). This was an increase from the 2021 year-end when the incarceration rate was 222 persons per 100,000 total population, with about 2,457 inmates.

The table below shows Montana's year-end incarceration rate in state prisons over a 7-year period.

Life After Incarceration in Montana

Following their release from incarceration, newly released inmates in Montana typically head home to their friends, family, or any member of their support system. The state also contracts with nonprofit organizations to offer prerelease programs and centers to certain offenders. Prerelease programs are typically for about six months and offenders have the opportunity to live in a designated prerelease center while working within the community. After completing the program, the offender is then released into society.

Some prerelease centers offer behavioral treatment to further facilitate an offender's adjustment into society or address court-ordered requirements. This treatment includes drug, alcohol, or mental health-related treatment. In addition to reentry programs and centers, the state also has a healthy parole and probation program. This contributed to a balanced recidivism rate across the years and, eventually, a steady decline. As of the 2019 year-end, the state's recidivism rate was 36.8%, a 1.4% decline from the previous two years.

How Does Parole Work in Montana?

The Montana parole board reviews each inmate's progress, and when they feel a prisoner is rehabilitated and not a danger to society, they may release them early before finishing their sentence. When this happens, the inmate is given a list of stipulations they must comply with. If the inmate does not check in regularly with their parole officer or violates any of the other rules, they will return to prison to finish out their sentences. As of December 2022, Montana's parole population stood at 1,220.

Montana Parole Population in 2022

How Does Someone Get Probation in Montana?

Probation is a supervisory program where a Montana judge can order probation instead of prison. This privilege is most often given to first-time or low-risk offenders. Again, these individuals do have to comply with a list of court-ordered rules. If they fail to meet with the probation officer or complete any of the other terms of their probation, it will be revoked, and they will immediately go to prison. About 9,330 individuals were on probation in Montana as of year-end 2022.

Montana Probation Population in 2022