Montana criminal Records

What is a Montana Criminal Record?

Criminal records provide an overview of a person’s journey through the Montana criminal justice system. The information is assembled and updated from local, county and state jurisdictions, trial courts, courts of appeals as well as county and state correctional facilities. While the standard for criminal record collection and storage varies from county to county, a large percentage of Colorado criminal records are organized in online record depositories that are available to the public in the form of a Criminal Background Report.

What is contained in a Criminal Records?

Criminal records are public records and may contain identifying data such as name, fingerprints, height, eye color and other information such as:

• Charges and names of offenses committed
• Sentences
• Correctional facility located or correctional status
• Date of earliest possible release or date of release

• Photographs if available

What are Montana Arrest Records?

Arrest records are documents that provide information officially recorded on persons who have been taken into custody by law enforcement agents in the process of performing their duties of maintaining public safety, investigating crimes and bringing criminals to justice. A person may be arrested on the basis that there is evidence or reasonable grounds to believe that they have committed a misdemeanor or felony, are involved or connected to a crime under investigation or the arrestee poses an immediate danger to themselves and others.

What are Montana Arrest Warrants?

Arrest warrants are the authority issued by the court for the arrest of the person named in them. An arrest warrant provides law enforcement agencies with the legal authority to take a person into custody, at any time or place unless specific conditions of arrest are stated on the warrant. Before it is issued, the judge or magistrate must be convinced that there are reasonable grounds or probable cause to believe the arrestee has committed a crime or is involved in criminal activity.

What are Misdemeanors in Montana?

A misdemeanor under Montana Law is considered a lesser offense compared to felonies. A conviction may be punishable by a fine and in some cases probation. It is possible to be sanctioned to a term, not more than 365 days of incarceration in jail for a. Misdemeanor convictions. Criminal records are public records in Montana and information on persons convicted of misdemeanors may be obtained online. Montana laws define each misdemeanor offense and provide applicable punishment for a conviction.

What is a Felony in Montana?

A felony is an offense classified as a felony under Montana Laws. The gravity of an offense also determines whether it will be classified as a felony or a misdemeanor. There are no subcategories of offenses under Montana laws. Rather than separating felonies into tiers of seriousness, Montana statutes create offenses and provide the possible penalties for a person convicted of each offense. Penalties for felonies are often severe and may include serving a prison term. For crimes such as deliberately causing the death of another person, capital punishment may be imposed.

• Aggravated assault
• Strangling a partner or family member
• Negligent homicide
• Identity theft (depending on the circumstances)

What is Sex Offender Listing in Montana?

The sex and violent offender registry contains publicly accessible records of persons who have been convicted of sexual or violent crimes in Montana. Sex and violent offenders are required under the law to register their information once they are released into the community and submit most current information such as an address, employment location, vehicles and so on with the registering agency, within a specified period.

Information about sex offenders is collected, maintained and updated by the Montana Sexual and Violent Offender Registration Unit. the Unit collects offender information f from offenders, correctional facility, the court, probation or parole agency. Although the registry does not provide a complete criminal history on the offender, it does provide identifying information such as the name of the offender, physical descriptions including heights, race, hair color, body marking, scars, and tattoos. The photograph of the offender is likely to appear and the offense for which they are registered.

What are Serious Traffic Violations in Montana?

A serious traffic violation involves the violation of traffic offense laws and acting contrary to public safety in a manner that could result or results in serious bodily injury, damage to property or loss of life. Montana Department of Motor Vehicles assigns points for driving offenses. Persons convicted of serious traffic offenses may face more severe penalties than the points assigned or those applicable for minor or general traffic violators unless they are persons with unresolved multiple traffic violations or habitual offenders. Penalty for traffic offenses could be as serious as a jail term, suspension of driver’s license or driving privilege. Offenses that may be classified as serious traffic violations include

• Driving under the influence (DUI)
• Negligent homicide
• Failure to remain at an accident scene when a person is injured or killed
• Engaging in speeding contest or race on the public high way without written authorization.
• Reckless driving
• Driving while suspended

What are Conviction Records in Montana?

Conviction records contain information that shows that a person has been held liable or accountable for a crime. A conviction is usually one of the results of a criminal trial or prosecution, proof that a person has been declared guilty by a court or jury has entered a guilty plea or a nolo contendere plea to a criminal charge. Conviction records form a significant part of a person’s criminal records and are accessible to the public.

What are Montana Jail Records?

Jail and inmate records contain information and documents on offenders in Montana state who have been placed under the custody and supervision of law enforcement agencies or the Montana Department of Corrections. Persons in jail may be held in custody for a relatively short period of time compared to those in state prisons. Inmates under the administrative custody of the DOC, by order of the court, no longer have their full constitutional right to liberty, as a consequence of their criminal conviction.

How do I find Inmate Records?

The DOC maintains an online database with information on offenders who have been convicted and sentenced to a term of incarceration, for a felony, These records often include the inmate’s name, incarceration date, expected or release date, offense convicted for, physical description and sometimes photos.

What are Parole Records in Montana?

Parole records contain information on persons who have been granted conditional release by the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole. Offenders released on parole are permitted to return to the community under the supervision of the Department of Corrections. Most offenders, except those who have been restricted from possible parole, are eligible for parole in Montana, once they have completed a quarter of their sentence. Parolees are required to strictly adhere to the conditions under which their parole was granted or risk losing the privileges of probation, which may include revocation of parole. Conditions of parole may include

• Obtaining and maintaining a gainful employment
• Remain with the designated district unless permission to relocated is officially granted
• Submit reports in the required format
• Avoid criminal activities
• Pay all fines, fees, and restitution ordered by the court

What are Probation Records in Montana?

Probation records contain information on persons who have been granted the opportunity to avoid incarceration. Rather, the court orders the offender to remain within the community under the supervision and certain restrictions such as permissible residence, association, employment, weapon ownership or possession and most often travel. Probation is usually ordered for persons who have been convicted for a minor offense.

Montana Juvenile Criminal Records

Juvenile records reveal information and details of persons below the legal age of 18, who have been determined by a judge through a legal proceeding to have committed an offense or violated a Montana statute.

Most Juvenile court records such as petitions, motions, filed pleadings, verdicts, court findings, decrees, other documents on file with the court clerk are accessible to the public until the juvenile is 18th birthday. Juvenile records are automatically sealed and removed from official records maintained by all agencies including law enforcement agencies, except the Department of Corrections. Juvenile records may be reopened for good cause such as when the person commits a new offense, on the order of the youth court.