Montana Public Records

To search arrest warrants in Laurel, MT (Yellowstone County), contact the Laurel Police Department at 215 W. Main Street, Laurel, MT 59044 (406-628-8737), or the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office at 3165 King Avenue East, Billings, MT 59101 (406-256-2929). Some active warrants are posted at https://yellowstonecountysheriff.com/. The MT DOJ statewide CJIN warrant database is restricted to law enforcement; individuals must check by phone. Court bench warrants appear in the Montana Courts records search at https://courts.mt.gov/. Montana Constitution Art. II §9 establishes a strong right to know; M.C.A. §2-6-1003 governs public records. Sources: Yellowstone County (https://yellowstonecountysheriff.com/), MT Courts (https://courts.mt.gov/).

To find out if someone is divorced in Glendive, MT (Dawson County), search the Montana Courts case lookup at https://courts.mt.gov/. Divorce cases are filed in Dawson County District Court (7th Judicial District) at 207 W. Bell Street, Glendive, MT 59330 (406-377-3022). Cases are public unless sealed; the search shows case number, parties, filing date, and final decree date. Certified copies cost $1 per page plus $2 certification at the Clerk of Court. Montana Constitution Art. II §9 establishes a strong right to know; M.C.A. §2-6-1003 governs public records. Sources: MT Courts (https://courts.mt.gov/), Dawson County (https://www.dawsoncountymontana.com/).

To look up warrants in Montana, contact the local sheriff or police where the warrant was issued. The Montana Department of Justice publishes a most-wanted list at https://dojmt.gov/. The statewide warrant database (CJIN) is restricted to law enforcement; individuals must check by phone with the issuing agency. Many counties post most-wanted lists (Yellowstone Sheriff at https://yellowstonecountysheriff.com/, Missoula at https://www.missoulasheriff.com/). Court bench warrants appear in the Montana Courts records search at https://courts.mt.gov/. Montana Constitution Art. II §9 establishes a strong right to know; M.C.A. §2-6-1003 governs public records. Sources: MT DOJ (https://dojmt.gov/), MT Courts (https://courts.mt.gov/).

To find the location of criminal felony cases in Montana, use the Montana Courts case lookup at https://courts.mt.gov/. Felony cases (Class C, B, A, and Death-eligible) are heard in the District Courts of each county; misdemeanors in Justice or Municipal Courts. The Montana Judicial Branch's Public View case search (Odyssey-based, county-specific) lets you filter by court level and case type. The Montana Department of Justice publishes annual crime reports at https://dojmt.gov/. Montana Code §46-3-110 governs venue. Montana Constitution Art. II §9 establishes a strong right to know; M.C.A. §2-6-1003 governs public records. Sources: MT Courts (https://courts.mt.gov/), MT DOJ (https://dojmt.gov/).

To get a criminal background check in Montana, use the Montana Department of Justice Criminal Records and Identification Services at https://dojmt.gov/dci-home/background-checks/. Name-based statewide checks cost $20 (Form CRA, mail-in). Fingerprint-based checks for licensure cost $30 plus $13.25 FBI. The MT DOJ Criminal Records Bureau is at 2225 11th Avenue, Helena, MT 59601 (406-444-3625). Court records are at https://courts.mt.gov/. Montana Constitution Art. II §9 establishes a strong right to know; Montana Code Annotated §2-6-1003 governs public records. Employment use must comply with the FCRA. Sources: MT DOJ (https://dojmt.gov/), MT Courts (https://courts.mt.gov/).

To check for an outstanding warrant in Montana, the Montana Department of Justice publishes a most-wanted list at https://dojmt.gov/. The statewide warrant database (CJIN) is restricted to law enforcement; individuals must check by phone with the issuing sheriff or court. Court bench warrants appear in the Montana Courts records search at https://courts.mt.gov/. Major counties post their own most-wanted (Yellowstone Sheriff at https://yellowstonecountysheriff.com/, Missoula at https://www.missoulasheriff.com/). Montana Constitution Art. II §9 establishes a strong right to know; Montana Code Annotated §2-6-1003 governs public records. Sources: MT DOJ (https://dojmt.gov/), MT Courts (https://courts.mt.gov/).