Choose between CHOPRS, court records and local agency records
Montana criminal information is spread across several government systems. The Montana Department of Justice maintains statewide criminal-history records and the CHOPRS public background-check service, while the Montana Judicial Branch provides free public case indexes for District Courts and Courts of Limited Jurisdiction. Police reports, warrants, court transcripts and probation or parole information may still require the local agency or court that created the record.
First identify which Montana criminal record you actually need
“Criminal record” is a broad term. Montana DOJ itself warns that its background check does not include every type of law-enforcement or court information.
State criminal history
Criminal-history information collected and maintained by the Criminal Records and Identification Services Section, including qualifying arrest and prosecutor/court information.
Criminal court case
Filing information, parties, charges, case status, hearings and other index information made available through Montana’s trial-court portals.
Police report or arrest details
Incident reports, supplemental reports and locally maintained investigative or arrest information are generally requested from the agency that created the record.
Warrant information
Montana DOJ tells users to direct warrant requests to the appropriate local law-enforcement agency or court.
Offender record
DOC Offender Search provides selected location, status and conviction information about people within Montana’s correctional system.
Sexual or violent offender
Montana maintains a specialized public registry for qualifying sexual and violent offenders. It is not a complete criminal-history database.
CHOPRS is Montana’s official online public criminal-history search
The Montana Department of Justice operates the Criminal History Online Public Record Search (CHOPRS). It is the primary official online service for members of the general public who want a Montana criminal-history background check.
Open Montana CHOPRSMontana DOJ currently lists the online public search at $20 per record search, payable by credit card or eCheck.
How to run a Montana criminal-history search online
Open CHOPRS and choose Public Users
Use the Montana.gov CHOPRS service and select the public-user starting option unless you already have an approved registered-user account.
Enter the person’s complete name
Montana DOJ requires the complete name of the individual being searched.
Enter the complete date of birth
A full date of birth is required for the public online search and is important for reducing false matches involving common names.
Add aliases when known
Montana DOJ currently allows up to four alias names in the same search without an additional search fee.
Add the Social Security number when lawfully available
DOJ describes SSN as optional, but says including it can produce a more thorough search. Only provide it when you have a legitimate basis to use it.
Identify yourself as the requester
Montana DOJ requires the requester to enter their own name as part of the search process under Montana criminal-history access law.
Pay and review the result carefully
Compare name, DOB, aliases and other available identifying information before assuming the record belongs to the person you intended to search.
Use the court when you need the actual case file
CHOPRS is a criminal-history search. The court clerk remains the source for official filed pleadings, transcripts, judgments and certified court documents.
What Montana criminal-history information can the general public receive?
Montana DOJ states that general-public background checks can include qualifying arrest and prosecutor/court information involving felony and misdemeanor charges, subject to Montana privacy law.
Criminal-justice agencies can receive broader information when they are requesting it for a legitimate criminal-justice purpose.
| Information | CHOPRS / public background check? | Better source when needed |
|---|---|---|
| Felony arrest/prosecution information | May be available subject to Montana disclosure rules | DOJ plus the court of jurisdiction |
| Misdemeanor criminal-history information | May be available subject to state privacy law | DOJ and local court |
| Deferred case later dismissed | Not publicly released | Certain criminal-justice agencies may retain authorized access |
| Police incident report | Not normally supplied as a CHOPRS background check | Local police department or sheriff |
| Warrant information | Not the main CHOPRS function | Appropriate court or law-enforcement agency |
| Court transcript | No | Clerk of Court / court reporter as applicable |
| Probation/parole information | Not the main CHOPRS service | Department of Corrections / supervising agency |
Current Montana criminal-record search fees
Montana DOJ says Criminal Records and Identification Services charges between $10 and $30 depending on the type and scope of background check. The most common public options are more specific:
| Search method | Current DOJ guidance | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| CHOPRS online name search | $20 per record search | Fast statewide public name-based background check |
| Mail-in name-based check | $15 per individual | Offline name-based request |
| Montana fingerprint-based check | $10 processing fee listed by DOJ for qualifying mailed fingerprint request | Fingerprint-supported state/WIN check where applicable |
| Other criminal-record services | May fall within DOJ’s stated $10–$30 range | Depends on service requested |
Fees can change. Verify the current amount on the Montana DOJ Background Checks page before mailing payment or purchasing an online search.
How to request a Montana name-based criminal-history check by mail
A requester who does not want to use CHOPRS can submit a name-based background-check request by mail.
Montana DOJ asks the requester to include:
- the person’s full name
- aliases, nicknames or maiden names when known
- date of birth
- Social Security number when available
- a self-addressed stamped envelope
- payment for each person searched
Mail the request to
Montana Criminal RecordsP.O. Box 201403
Helena, MT 59620-1403
Current mail-in name-search fee: $15 per individual.
Fingerprint-based Montana background checks
Name-based searches can produce false matches because two people can share similar names and dates of birth. Fingerprint-based checks provide stronger identity confirmation.
Montana DOJ’s Criminal Records and Identification Services Section provides fingerprinting and fingerprint-based background-check services. Fingerprinting at the Helena office is currently offered by appointment.
Montana DOJ Background ChecksMontana DOJ also describes a state/WIN fingerprint check involving Montana and participating Western Identification Network states for applicable requests. Follow the current DOJ instructions for the exact service required for your purpose.
How to inspect or challenge your own Montana criminal-history record
Montana law allows an individual to inspect criminal-history information about themselves and challenge information believed to be inaccurate or incomplete.
Montana’s criminal-history law provides a process for challenging the accuracy or completeness of information after inspection. If the maintaining agency does not correct the record to the individual’s satisfaction, additional review can be requested.
Montana court records are searched separately from CHOPRS
The Montana Judicial Branch provides two public trial-court portals:
District Court Public Access Portal
Use for criminal cases filed in Montana District Courts, including many felony-level matters.
Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Portal
Use for public case information from participating Justice Courts, Municipal Courts and City Courts.
Which Montana court portal should you search?
If you know what type of case or court handled the matter, you can avoid searching the wrong system.
| Possible matter | Likely starting court | Public-search route |
|---|---|---|
| Felony criminal prosecution | District Court | District Court Public Access Portal |
| Many misdemeanor matters | Justice, Municipal, City or District Court depending on jurisdiction | Limited Jurisdiction portal or District Court portal |
| Municipal ordinance case | Municipal / City Court | Courts of Limited Jurisdiction portal |
| Appeal to Montana Supreme Court | Montana Supreme Court | Separate Supreme Court public docket |
The Montana Judicial Branch also provides a Court Locator for finding local court contact information and operating hours.
The Montana public portal is not the official court file
Montana’s trial-court public-access rules distinguish between the online portal and the official court record.
Depending on what the clerk entered and what is publicly available, the portal may display information such as:
- case filing date
- judge name
- party names
- attorney names
- hearing information
- case status
- case minutes
- bonds
- criminal charges
- register of actions
- judgments or orders
- warrant-related entries when available
Use the Montana Court Locator to identify the correct clerk.
Warrants, police reports and transcripts require a different request path
Montana DOJ explicitly tells background-check users that several types of information can exist outside Montana Criminal Records.
Contact the local agency or court
Warrant information should be directed to the appropriate local law-enforcement agency or court rather than relying only on CHOPRS.
Contact the originating agency
Ask the police department or sheriff that created the report about public-access procedures and any applicable restrictions.
Contact the court
Court transcripts are not included in the ordinary Montana DOJ criminal-history background check.
Use Montana DOC Offender Search for correctional status
The Montana Department of Corrections maintains an official Offender Search service.
DOC describes the search as a way to view selected information including:
- offender location
- current offender status
- conviction information
Montana Sexual or Violent Offender Registry
Montana is unusual in that its public registry covers qualifying sexual and violent offenders, not only sex offenders.
The Montana Sexual or Violent Offender Registry provides name searching and an interactive geographic search.
Search the Montana SVORThe registry also allows users to sign up for alerts involving offenders moving into selected ZIP codes.
DOJ also warns that positive identity cannot be conclusively established by name, DOB or appearance alone. Information should not be used to harass or injure a registrant.
Montana Supreme Court criminal appeals use a separate docket search
If a criminal matter was appealed, search the Montana Supreme Court separately from the trial-court portals.
The Judicial Branch’s Supreme Court public docket currently allows searches for:
- active cases
- closed cases since 2006
- closed cases from 1979–2005
- case number
- case party
- case attorney
Montana DOJ public-record requests use a separate online system
A general Montana DOJ public-record request is different from ordering a CHOPRS background check.
Montana DOJ currently requires public-record requests to be submitted through its dedicated online Public Records Request Submissions application using a Montana.gov account.
Montana DOJ Public Records RequestsDOJ says the records custodian will provide an initial response within 5 business days after a properly submitted request.
If the request involves a single readily identifiable public record, DOJ says no processing cost is passed to the requester. More extensive requests can generate a cost estimate.
Montana non-conviction arrest records may be removed from CRISS
Montana DOJ distinguishes between removing a non-conviction record and sealing a criminal-history record.
When a qualifying non-conviction record is removed, CRISS says the record is deleted from its database and hard-copy information is destroyed.
Montana DOJ also states that since July 1, 2017, CRISS automatically removes qualifying non-conviction arrest data under Montana law.
Examples of records that can require non-conviction review include charges that were:
- dismissed
- acquitted
- not filed
- dropped
- resolved through qualifying deferred-prosecution dismissal
Deferred cases that are dismissed can become confidential
Montana DOJ explains that a deferred sentence that is later dismissed is treated differently from an ordinary publicly available conviction history.
When CRISS receives the appropriate dismissal order for a qualifying deferred sentence, DOJ states that the information becomes confidential criminal-justice information under Montana law.
This is why an old deferred case can disappear from a public CHOPRS result even though authorized agencies may still lawfully retain access.
Qualifying Montana misdemeanor convictions may be expunged
Montana law allows eligible people to petition a District Court for expungement of certain misdemeanor convictions.
Montana DOJ’s current guidance says eligibility includes several conditions, including that the person generally has not been convicted of another offense in Montana, another state or federal court for 5 years after completing the original sentence and related obligations.
The person must also satisfy other statutory requirements, including restrictions involving new pending charges or detention for a new offense.
Montana Conviction Expungement ProcessFederal criminal cases in Montana are separate from state records
A prosecution in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana is a federal case. It is not a Montana District Court case and is not replaced by CHOPRS.
Use PACER to search federal court cases.
Search PACERIf the person may be in federal custody, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.
Montana Criminal Records and Identification Services contact information
Criminal Records & Identification Services
2225 11th AvenueHelena, MT 59601
Public counter hours currently listed:
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Montana Criminal Records
P.O. Box 201403Helena, MT 59620-1403
Phone:
(406) 444-3625
Fax: (406) 444-0689
Services listed for walk-in customers include name-based checks, fingerprint-based checks, fingerprinting, criminal-record review/challenges and certain record-removal or expungement requests.
Montana Criminal Records office map
This is the Helena office used by Montana DOJ Criminal Records and Identification Services. Confirm current appointment and service requirements before making a special trip.
Montana criminal-record search tips that prevent common mistakes
Use DOB with every name search
Montana CHOPRS requires a complete DOB. It also helps distinguish people who share a common name.
Add aliases in the first search
CHOPRS currently permits up to four alias names without an additional search charge.
Use the court portal after CHOPRS
Once you know the likely court or case, use Montana’s free trial-court index to verify the case.
Need documents? Stop searching online
The public portal is not the official case file. Contact the clerk for filed documents and certified copies.
Warrant question?
Use the relevant local court or law-enforcement agency rather than assuming CHOPRS is a warrant database.
Check both court systems
A misdemeanor may be in a Court of Limited Jurisdiction while a felony is generally handled in District Court.
Deferred-dismissed record missing?
That may be expected. DOJ says qualifying deferred-and-dismissed records are not released to the public.
Correction requires the court outcome
If CRISS cannot find the final disposition, obtain documentation from the court that resolved the case.
Correctional question?
Switch from DOJ to DOC Offender Search when the intent is location, supervision or offender status.
Questions people commonly ask about Montana criminal records
1. Is there an official online Montana criminal-record search?
Yes. Montana DOJ operates CHOPRS, the Criminal History Online Public Record Search. The current public-user price is $20 per record search.
2. Is Montana court case searching free?
Montana’s trial-court public access portals are intended to provide members of the public no-cost access to searchable case-index information. The portals are not the official case files, and document copies may require contact with the court clerk and applicable fees.
3. What information do I need for CHOPRS?
Montana DOJ requires the person’s complete name and complete date of birth. A Social Security number is optional but can support a more thorough search. Up to four aliases may currently be included without another search charge.
4. Does CHOPRS show dismissed deferred cases?
Montana DOJ states that a criminal record involving a deferred matter that was later dismissed cannot be released to the general public. Authorized criminal-justice access can differ.
5. How do I get a Montana police report?
Contact the police department or sheriff that created the report. Montana DOJ explains that local records such as police reports may exist even though they are not included in the statewide criminal-history background check.
6. How do I search a Montana warrant?
Contact the appropriate local law-enforcement agency or court. Some warrant-related entries may appear in court-index information, but CHOPRS is not a universal active-warrant database.
7. How do I find someone in the Montana correctional system?
Use the Montana Department of Corrections Offender Search. It provides selected location, offender-status and conviction information.
8. Can I challenge incorrect information in my Montana criminal history?
Yes. Montana law provides a process for an individual to challenge the accuracy or completeness of criminal-history information. Court documentation may be needed when the dispute concerns an incorrect or missing case disposition.
9. Can a Montana misdemeanor conviction be expunged?
Certain misdemeanor convictions may qualify for expungement through a District Court if the person meets Montana’s statutory eligibility requirements. Not every misdemeanor qualifies.
10. Does Montana CHOPRS include federal criminal cases?
CHOPRS is a Montana criminal-history service. Federal court cases should be searched separately through PACER, and federal custody information is available through the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Official sources for verifying Montana criminal-record information
- Montana Department of Justice — Background Checks
- Montana CHOPRS — Criminal History Online Public Record Search
- Montana DOJ — Crime Information Bureau
- Montana Judicial Branch — Trial Court Public Access Portals
- Montana Judicial Branch — Court Locator
- Montana Supreme Court — Case and Court Links
- Montana Department of Corrections — Offender Search
- Montana DOJ — Sexual or Violent Offender Registry
- Montana DOJ — Public Records Requests
- Montana DOJ — Non-Conviction Removal and Sealing
- Montana DOJ — Conviction Expungement Process
- PACER — Federal Court Records
- Federal Bureau of Prisons — Inmate Locator