Montana Inmate Search

People get arrested on criminal charges every day. Sometimes they spend a night or a few days in jail. But sometimes, the charges are serious, and their stay could last for months or years. Family and friends might get concerned when a loved one disappears for a long time and wonder about their whereabouts. An inmate search might reveal their whereabouts if they seem to have disappeared within the system. The search shows the inmate's records, including arrest, court, and jail records.

In Montana, inmate records are considered public information thanks to the Freedom of Information Act. Accessing them depends on the type of facility housing the inmate. The Montana correctional system is split into state prisons and county jails. Typically, where an inmate is incarcerated depends on the crime committed and the duration of the sentence. Those convicted of misdemeanors and sentenced to less than one year are normally housed in city or county jails, while those convicted of felonies and sentenced to more than one year are housed in state prisons.

Here is how you can search for an inmate in a state or county facility.

State Prisons

The Montana Department of Corrections should be your first search if an inmate is in a state facility. The Montana DOC provides information on its website. The department's website has an offender search tool that uses the DOC id number and the inmate's first and last name for the search. Each inmate has a distinct DOC number, which makes the ID search much simpler and quicker. You can also search using the full name or a partial name. When using a partial name, one must sort through a list of inmates with the same name. The results from the search include the inmate's name, date of birth, race, gender, physical descriptions, location, court files, release dates, booking dates, sentencing, and offense committed. Inmate records are only made available for informational purposes. The Montana Department of Correction does not guarantee the information's accuracy. Any harm or damage brought on by the improper use of the information is solely the user's responsibility.

County Jails

If an inmate is in county jail, there are two sources of information, the sheriff's office, and the court clerk. The county sheriff's office is in charge of operations in county jails. They also provide the public with inmate information through different mediums. Some offices keep an online database of inmates incarcerated in their facilities. The online database contains information about inmates, including the inmate's name, race, gender, booking date, charges, and possible release date. If the office does not have an online database, the next option is to visit the office and request access to the inmate data. You can also contact them via phone and make a verbal records request.

The county court clerk, on the other hand, has all the criminal records in the county. One can access the information by contacting the clerk's office. Ensure you have the inmate's name and date of birth before making the call.

How Will I Know if the Inmate's Status Has Changed?

Sometimes the inmate data changes, and what you had previously gathered becomes irrelevant. So, how can you keep track of these information changes? VINE is the solution. VINE is a widely used notification service that regularly updates victims on the inmate's status. Vine tracks the inmate's movement and keeps its members informed of transfers, releases, escapes, and deaths. To get the service, visit their website and register as a victim of a family member, and provide the inmate's details. VINE will use text, email, or phone calls to notify you of any change in the inmate's status