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.