Montana Background Checks

It's not uncommon to want to perform Montana background check on the people you know living in the state of Montana. It's not about what you expect to find - most people don't have much interesting data on them, especially if they've generally led boring lives - it's about what you don't expect to find. What if your parents had a criminal history in their past? What if your current romantic partner was actually married?

Montana background checks provide you with that information. All of the data is taken from public records - records that are made public by the government and available for everyday use without requiring the individual have a reason. That allows you to search these records anonymously, any time you want, and you can search about anyone that interests you:

  • Friends
  • Family
  • Acquaintances
  • Strangers
  • Celebrities

    • There is a lot of information available on all types of different people, and because there is no limit to the number of searches one person can complete, there is no limit to what may be found. You may find nothing, since most people have led boring lives. But you may also find something interesting and unique - something that surprises you - and if you are able to find that one interesting piece of information from Montana background checks, then these background checks will have been completely worth your time. There are so many reasons that one could benefit from these public records searches that it is almost surprising how few people are willing to utilize this interesting technology.

    Montana Criminal Records

    Montana criminal records are maintained by the Montana Department of Justice and are available to the general public, as well as criminal justice agencies and other government agencies. The Department of Justice collects criminal record information from local law enforcement and criminal justice agencies and submits it to the state central criminal history repository, ensuring all the information is located in one place.

    The Department of Justice records all felony offenses and misdemeanors, provided a fingerprint card is submitted. However, public Montana criminal records withhold information that is protected by privacy laws, such as physical identifiers and dismissals resulting from a deferred imposition of sentence. Confidential Montana criminal records are only available to authorized agencies and include all the information excluded from public records.

    The public may request a name-based or fingerprint search for Montana criminal records. The more detailed information you provide, including full name, date of birth, social security number and up to four aliases, the higher your chances will be of receiving the correct Montana criminal record.

    Fingerprint searches will give you a more complete criminal history because it searches for results in Alaska, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming. Fingerprint searches are always advised because name-based searches are inherently unreliable. You can get a false negative even when the individual has a criminal record under an alias. You might also get a false positive, wherein the criminal record received is not the individual in question.

    Fingerprint search requests must be submitted by mail and include a completed fingerprint card, a SASE and payment of $10. A name-based search also costs $10, and if submitting the request by mail, will need to include the individual’s full name and date of birth, although a social security number along with any aliases or maiden name is also preferred. Name-based searches can also be performed online as a public user or registered user. A registered user pays an annual fee for access and is usually a business or agency who performs routine Montana criminal record checks.

    To conduct a search online do the following:

    For additional information on obtaining Montana criminal records, please contact the office at the address or phone number below:

    Montana Criminal Records
    303 North Roberts
    P.O. Box 201403.
    Helena, MT 59620
    (406) 444-3625

    Resource Links
    Montana Background Checks
    Record Search Service

    Montana Court Records

    Montana court records are mostly available online. Montana Supreme Court opinions and briefs are continuously published online as they become available, and you can search back as far as the 1980s. These opinions and briefs can be searched by docket number, party names or topic. If you require specific Montana court records, these are filed at the district court where the case was heard or filed. The Montana Water Court holds Montana court records pertaining to water cases, and the Montana Workers’ Compensation Court holds those relevant records. The best way to find your local district courthouse is to use the online court locator map.

    To search for court records do the following:

    For additional information on obtaining Montana court records, please contact the following relevant offices at the address or phone number below:

    Montana Water Court
    601 Haggerty Lane
    P.O. Box 1389
    Bozeman, MT 59771
    (406) 586-4364

    Montana Workman’s Compensation Court 1625 11th Ave.
    P.O. Box 537
    Helena, MT 59624
    (406) 444-7794

    Clerk of the Montana Supreme Court
    Room 323, Justice Building
    215 N. Sanders
    P.O. Box 203003
    Helena, Montana 59620
    (406) 444-3858

    Resource Links
    Montana Court Case Information

    Montana Jail Records

    Montana jail records are maintained by the Montana Department of Corrections, and they offer an online inmate locator feature. You can search using the inmate’s first and last name, gender, date of birth, race and active offender type (by filling in all the known information), or enter the inmate’s ID number for the most accurate results.

    It is important for victims of crimes to register with the Montana Department of Corrections to ensure you receive timely updates via phone, email or letter regarding the current status of the offender. This includes his or her current location and any transfers, any custody changes, upcoming parole hearings and results, furloughs, estimated release date, if he or she is released to community corrections, escapes or dies. VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) is also available, but registering with VINE does not register you with the Department of Corrections. Therefore, to receive these updates, you must register with both.

    To search for jail records online do the following:

    For additional information on locating Montana jail records, please contact the Montana Department of Corrections at the address or phone number below:

    Montana Department of Corrections
    1539 11th Ave.
    P.O. Box 201301
    Helena, MT 59620
    (406) 444-3930

    Victim Information Hotline
    (888) 223-6332

    VINE Hotline
    (800) 456-3076

    Resource Links
    Montana Offender Network Search

    Montana Driving Records

    Montana driving records include personal driving information, any speeding tickets or moving violations, convictions, accident history and any sanctions. You may request a Montana driving record for yourself or another individual in person by mail or online. Simply fill out the release of driving records form and pay the $4 fee (it costs $7.25 online). You will need to include the person’s full name, driver’s license number and date of birth with your request, along with a copy of a government-issued picture ID, or have the form notarized.

    For additional information on obtaining Montana driving records, please contact the office at the address or phone number below:

    Motor Vehicle Division
    Department of Justice
    Scott Hart Building, 2nd Floor
    303 North Roberts
    P.O. Box 201430 Helena, MT 59620
    (406) 444-3933

    Resource Links
    Montana Driving Record Information

    Additional Resources

    Montana Sexual Offender Registry
    Montana Attorney General