What are Missoula Public Records?
According to Montana’s Public Records Act, Missoula public records include any information generated, prepared, used, or retained by government bodies. Missoula public records may consist of letters, forms, reports, maps, books, papers, tapes, photographs, symbols, microfilms, data processing software, or other forms of information concerning the official duties of government bodies. However, some parts of a public record may be redacted or restricted from public view due to the information it contains. This may occur if the record contains:
- Confidential information involving juveniles
- Protected medical or financial records
- Information breaching an individual's privacy
- Information from attorney-client privilege
- Information on preliminary drafts or note
- Information on pending prosecution
- Information on a case pending investigation
- Information on an ongoing investigation
- Information revealing trade and security secrets
- Information that may threaten the safety of parties involved
Missoula Crime Statistics
The Missoula Police Department (MPD) provides citywide statistics on crime trends, traffic statistics, and arrests. However, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through its Uniform Crime Report (UCR) maintains and publishes a comprehensive report on crimes across the United State. According to the 2019 UCR crime statistics, the city of Missoula reported a total number of 3398. The crimes include 3 murders and manslaughter, 75 forcible rape, 27 robberies, 205 aggravated assaults, 342 burglaries, 2565 larceny thefts, 175 motor vehicle thefts, and 6 arson cases. In 2018, the UCR recorded a total number of 3867. A breakdown of Missoula's 2018 crime statistics showed 2 murders and manslaughter, 65 forcible rape, 42 robberies, 224 aggravated assaults, 379 burglaries, 2944 larceny thefts, 198 motor vehicle thefts, and 13 arsons.
Are Missoula Criminal Records Public?
Not all Missoula criminal records are considered public records. For instance, access to criminal history information gathered by the Missoula Police Department (MPD) is only available to criminal justice agencies. However, the MPD charges $15 for record checks performed by non-criminal justice agencies. Interested persons looking to perform a personal record check are required to present a valid photo ID and a completed record request form. Also, the police department grants anyone access to conviction information within its jurisdiction upon request. There is a $10 charge payable for this service.
Missoula Police Department
Attn: Records
435 Ryman Street
Missoula, MT 59802
How to Obtain Missoula Police Reports and Arrest Records
The Missoula Police Department provides information on police reports and arrest records in the city. The police attend to requests for personal records and non-personal records from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding legal holidays). Individuals involved in a report or incident may request the records by submitting a completed records request form and presenting a valid photo ID. The police charge a $7 fee to individuals involved in a report or incident.
Also, interested persons may obtain copies of Missoula police reports and arrest records in which they are not involved. To obtain such records, interested persons may submit a completed records request form and present a valid photo ID. The police charge a $26 fee to individuals not involved in a report or incident.
Missoula Police Department
Attn: Records
435 Ryman Street
Missoula, MT 59802
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Missoula
The Montana Department of Justice maintains a searchable statewide database for sex or violent offenders in Missoula and other cities in the state. The Montana Sex or Violent Offender Registry SVOR provides information on offenders such as names, known aliases, physical descriptions, and more. To find sex offender information in Missoula, there are two categories available to search: offender basic search and neighborhood search. For the offender basic search, interested persons may search using the following options:
- Offender Type
- Offender Last Name
- City
- County
- Postal Code
- Sex Offender Tier Level
- Non-compliant
Interested persons may also choose to search for sex offenders using the Neighborhood search category, required information includes offender type, search distance, Street Address, and city.
How to Find Missoula Inmate Records
The Missoula County Detention Facility maintains a countywide record of inmates in Missoula and cities within the county. Interested persons may search for inmate records through the Detention Facility inmate information portal. The portal provides three major types of information, current inmate roster, inmate court schedule, and released inmate roster. Depending on the search, the inmate portal provides the following information on inmates:
- Name
- Age
- Booking ID
- Global/Jacket No
- Booking Date
- Charge Details
How Do I Visit an inmate in Missoula Jail?
The Missoula County Detention Facility serves the city of Missoula and other cities in the county. Interested persons may visit an inmate in the Detention Facility as long as the visitation is scheduled in advance (at least 24 hours). An inmate is only allowed two 30 minutes visits in a week. Visitors are required to present a valid photo ID upon visitation. Visitors are advised to contact the Detention facility to know the available time and date.
Missoula County Detention Facility
2340 Mullan Road
Missoula, MT 59808
Phone: (406) 258-4000
Court Records
The Montana trial court system consists of six different courts. This includes the District Courts, Justice Courts, City Courts, Municipal Courts, Water Courts, and Workers' Compensation Court. Depending on the type of case, Missoula court cases are heard at:
Missoula County District Court
200 West Broadway
Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: (406) 258-4780
Missoula County Justice Court
200 West Broadway
Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: (406) 258-3470
Missoula Municipal Court
435 Ryman Street,
Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: (406) 552-6180
Are Missoula Court Records Public?
Most Missoula court records are available for public view, except for cases exempt by statute. Court records exempt by statute are considered confidential, therefore restricted, and only accessible by authorized persons. Some confidential court records in Missoula may include:
- Certain divorce cases
- Criminal cases involving minors
- Civil harassment cases
- Cases involving juvenile proceedings: delinquency cases and dependency cases
- Information breaching an individual's privacy
- Paternity and child adoption proceedings
How to Obtain Missoula Civil Court Records
The Clerk of District Court maintains and issues copies of Missoula civil court records to the public upon request. Requestors may obtain these court records by sending a written request to the Clerk of District Court office. Interested persons are required to provide as much information as possible to facilitate the record search. Also, interested persons may obtain civil court records by sending a fax request at (406) 258-4899 or an email.
Clerk of District Court
200 West Broadway
Missoula, MT 59802
Each case search costs $2 per name per year for the first 7 years and $1 per name per year for each additional year. Hard copies cost $1 per page for the first 10 pages and $0.50 for each additional page. On the other hand, emailed copies are charged at $0.25 per page.
How to Obtain Missoula Criminal Court Records
The Clerk of District Court maintains and issues copies of Missoula criminal court records to the public upon request. To obtain these criminal court records, interested persons may submit a written request at the Clerk of District Court office. Requestors can also send a fax request at (406) 258-4899 or an email.
Clerk of District Court
200 West Broadway
Missoula, MT 59802
The Clerk of the District Court office charges a $2 fee per name per year for the first 7 pages and a $1 fee per name per year for each additional year. For hard copies, a $1 fee (per page) for the first 10 pages and a $0.5 fee for each additional page is applicable. Emailed copies are charged at $0.25 per page.
What are Missoula Vital Records?
Missoula vital records are records of life events, such as birth records, death records, divorce records, and marriage records, that are generated and maintained by government authorities. Interested persons may obtain most Missoula vital records by submitting a request to the local custodian agency or department.
Where and How to Obtain Missoula Divorce Records
The Clerk of District Court issues copies of Missoula divorce records to authorized persons. To obtain Missoula divorce records, interested persons may send a written request, fax request, or email. Requesters can send a fax request to (406) 258-4899 or a written request to the location:
Clerk of District Court
200 West Broadway
Missoula, MT 59802
Interested persons upon application are required to present a valid photo ID and also provide as much information as possible on the desired record. The Clerk of District Court office charges a $10 fee for a copy of divorce records.
Where and How to Get Missoula Marriage Records
The Clerk of District Court maintains and issues copies of Missoula marriage records to the public upon request. Marriage records in Missoula are considered confidential records. Typically, Missoula marriage records are sealed for 30 years from the date of marriage and its copies are only available to the involved parties. The Clerk of District Court office charges $5 for marriage records.
Requestors may obtain the records by submitting a written request, by fax, or by email. Interested persons may send a fax message to (406) 258-4899, while the written request should be addressed to:
Clerk of District Court
200 West Broadway
Missoula, MT 59802
Where and How to Find Missoula Birth Records
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services through its vital records office maintains and issues copies of Missoula birth records and other cities in the state to the public upon request. Interested persons may obtain a certified or informational copy depending on the eligibility status. Anyone can request an informational copy of Missoula birth records as long as it occurred 30 years to the date of requests. However, the certified copy is available only to authorized persons. An authorized person may include any of the following:
- The registrant (must be 14 years old or older)
- The registrant’s spouse
- The registrant's children
- Parents and grandparents
- A legal guardian
- An authorized representative
- A member of a law enforcement agency with authorized access
The above persons are required to present proof of relationship or a legal document backing their claims.
Requests for Missoula birth records may be done by mail, phone request, or online. Interested persons may obtain Missoula birth records by making a phone request to (888) 877-1946 using their credit card. Additional charges will apply as orders are placed through VitalChek. For mail-in requests, interested persons are required to submit a completed birth record request form and present a valid photo ID upon application. Applications should be addressed to:
Office of Vital Records
Department of Public Health and Human Services
111 N Sanders Rm 6
P.O. Box 4210
Helena, MT 59604
The Office of Vital Records charges a non-refundable $12 fee for each certified copy of birth records and $10 for each informational copy.
Where and How to Find Missoula Death Records
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services through its vital records office issues copies of death records for events that occurred in the city of Missoula and other parts of the state. Interested persons may obtain a certified copy of death records by submitting a completed death records request form, proof of identity, and purpose for requesting the record. For death records where the cause of death is listed as "pending autopsy" or "pending investigation", a certified copy without the cause of death will be issued.
Requests for Missoula death records may be done by mail, phone request, or online. Interested persons may obtain Missoula death records by making a phone request to (888) 877-1946 using their credit card. Additional charges will apply as orders are placed through VitalChek. For mail-in requests, interested persons are required to submit a completed death record request form and present a valid photo ID upon application. Applications should be addressed to:
Office of Vital Records
Department of Public Health and Human Services
111 N Sanders Rm 6
P.O. Box 4210
Helena, MT 59604
The Office of Vital Records charges a non-refundable $15 fee for each certified copy of birth records and $13 for each informational copy.
