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  1. Cascade County Court
  2. Cascade County Arrest Records

Cascade County, Montana Arrest Records

Cascade County arrest records are official documents created when law enforcement apprehends, takes into custody, and books an individual into the county jail. Public access to these records supports government honesty and people's safety. They also let residents monitor how law-enforcement agencies exercise their arrest powers and find out whether someone is in custody.

In Montana, anyone may access government records, including arrest information, unless otherwise stated by Article II, Section 9 of the Montana Constitution or the state's public-records law (Montana Code Annotated § 2-6-1003).

In addition to the Constitution and the state's public records law, Montana has a separate statutory scheme governing criminal history information. This law distinguishes between public criminal justice information and confidential criminal justice information.

In Cascade County, city or town police departments may maintain arrest records. Prominent city police departments and local law enforcement agencies include the Great Falls Police Department and the Cascade County Sheriff's Office.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Cascade, Montana?

Arrest records are generally available to the public in Cascade County, although access may be limited when a record contains confidential investigative information, protected personal details, or information that could affect safety or an ongoing criminal proceeding.

Montana law expressly classifies initial arrest records as "public criminal justice information." Under Montana Code Annotated § 44-5-301, there are no general restrictions on disseminating public criminal justice information. It must be made available during the normal business hours of the Montana Department of Justice or the law-enforcement agency that created and is authorized to maintain the original record.

Other provisions governing law enforcement disclosures includeMCA § 44-5-103, which defines the components of public criminal justice information,and MCA § 2-6-1003, which grants every person the right to examine and obtain copies of Montana public information. MCA § 2-6-1006 establishes procedures and permissible fees for public information requests, while MCA § 44-5-303 restricts confidential criminal justice information.

In Cascade County, requesters seeking disclosable arrest records must provide sufficient information to identify the requested records. The general conditions for a public records request do not include identification or residency requirements.

What Do Public Cascade County Arrest Records Contain?

The public-facing elements of Cascade County arrest records may include:

  • Inmate's full name
  • Age or date of birth
  • Inmate's physical attributes (e.g., gender, height, weight, race, hair color, and eye color)
  • Inmate's booking photograph
  • Arrest date, time, and location
  • Arresting agency
  • Arresting or booking officer information
  • Arrest, booking, or incident number

Other disclosable details may include the alleged criminal charges and statutory citations, brief description of the alleged offense, offense classification (e.g., felony or misdemeanor), booking date and detention facility, bail or bond amount and conditions, custody or release status, scheduled court date and assigned court, and case disposition, when one has been entered.

Although initial arrest information is generally public, custodian law enforcement agencies may limit access to the complete police or investigative file under MCA § 44-5-303 (restriction on the dissemination of confidential criminal justice information). Information may be withheld to protect personal privacy, maintain the fairness of an investigation, safeguard victims and witnesses, prevent disclosure of confidential sources, or comply with another statute or court order.

Some categories of information that may be restricted from public disclosure include:

  • Juvenile records
  • Active law enforcement investigation materials
  • Victims' and witnesses' identifying information.
  • Records protected by privacy laws
  • Records sealed or expunged by court order
  • Social Security numbers and other sensitive identifying information
  • Information restricted by federal or state privacy laws

Cascade County, Montana Arrest Search

Montana Criminal History Online Public Record Search: Individuals or authorized parties may search arrest records throughout the state through the Montana Department of Justice's central criminal history repository. This database contains demographic data, arrest and charge records, and final disposition reports. Public users may access limited arrest and prosecutor/court information on felony and misdemeanor charges. Law enforcement organizations may access unlimited criminal history information for criminal justice purposes.

Montana Department of Corrections Offender Search: This tool lets users access information about current or former inmates incarcerated in Ohio state prison facilities. Using an offender's name or DOC identification number, requesters may obtain an offender's information, physical and demographic characteristics (e.g., weight, height, hair color, eye color, and ethnicity), aliases, scars, marks, tattoos, and other physical conditions, and legal record.

FBI Identity History Summary: A person may request a copy of their own federal Identity History Summary from theFederal Bureau of Investigation. This fingerprint-based record may include arrest and disposition information submitted to the FBI by federal, state, and local criminal-justice agencies.

Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator: Users may use this online search tool to search for individuals currently or previously held in federal custody. This tool helps identify arrests that led to federal incarceration.

PACER (Federal Court Records): Requesters may use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) for federal court cases and docket information. This account and fee-based system is useful for searching arrests that result in federal charges (e.g., investigated by federal agencies and prosecuted in federal court). For federal cases in Cascade County, users may search for federal arrests and prosecutions in the United States District Court for the District of Montana.

Cascade County Inmate Locator

The Cascade Sheriff's Office provides an official online inmate roster for checking whether someone is currently detained in the Cascade County Adult Detention Center.

To search, open the county's Inmate Roster page, click the link to the current roster, and then search the roster for the person's name. The roster typically provides an inmate's name, age, jacket number, booking date and time, filed or alleged charges, and unresolved bond information.

For further inquiries, requesters may contact the Sheriff's Office or the County Jail at:

Cascade County Sheriff's Office/Detention Center

3800 Ulm North Frontage Road

Great Falls, MT 59404

Main telephone: 406-454-6820

Non-emergency dispatch: 406-454-6979

Fax: 406-454-6948

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Cascade County

Cascade County Inmate Roster

Requesters may access free arrest-related details through the county's inmate roster, which provides incarceration information on current inmates. They do not need to sign up for an account, provide identification, or be a resident to use the online search tool.

Montana Court Public Access Portal(s)

Requesters may use the Montana Judicial Branch's Public Access Portals to search for arrests that result in criminal cases. This service comprises the District Courts Public Access Portal and the Limited Jurisdiction Courts Public Access Portal. The latter category includes justice, city, and municipal courts.

Searches typically return a defendant's name, case number, filed charges, court dates, docket entries, and disposition. Information seekers should have the person's correct name and, where possible, a birth date or case number. A court search does not necessarily reveal an arrest that did not result in filed charges.

Great Falls Municipal Court Records

Requesters may submit record requests to the court for cases prosecuted in Great Falls Municipal Court. These documents may help confirm charges, court appearances, warrants, and case outcomes associated with arrests made within the city.

Sheriff's Office and Great Falls Police Records

Requesters may access historical arrest information from the Sheriff's Office by submitting record requests through the Cascade County Sheriff's Office Records Division. Those seeking information on Great Falls arrests may also send in a record request through the Great Falls Police Department or via the city's public records process.

Custodian law enforcement agencies typically do not ask for photo identification for general public record requests. They may, however, require identification or written authorization when someone requests a restricted personal criminal-history record or another record whose release depends on the requester's identity. Requesters do not have to reside in Cascade County.

Cascade County Arrest Report

Arrest Record

An arrest record is typically a brief entry created when someone is booked at a police department and processed through the jail system. It records the arrest and commonly appears in jail, criminal history, or court information systems. An arrest record may contain the person's name, arrest date, alleged charges, arresting agency, booking number, detention location, bond amount, and custody status.

Arrest Report

An arrest report is the narrative the arresting officer or agency prepares after the arrest. This report provides a detailed account of the events leading to an arrest, including what happened, observations, statements, reasons for arrest, and other investigative details. In Cascade County, inquirers may request incident reports from some city police departments under Montana's public records laws.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Cascade County

Cascade County does not operate a separate expungement program. Interested parties must explore the expungement or restriction of eligible arrest and criminal records under Montana law.

The available record-relief pathways are discussed as follows:

Misdemeanor Convictions

An individual convicted of one or more Montana misdemeanors may petition a district court to expunge records connected to the eligible offenses under Montana Code Annotated § 46-18-1104. The petition may cover records of arrest, investigation, and detention (if any), and court proceedings.

A person may use this statutory misdemeanor-expungement procedure only once during their lifetime. Multiple eligible misdemeanor convictions can be included in the same proceeding, including convictions entered in different cases or courts.

When Expungement Is Presumed

Under MCA § 46-18-1107, the court generally presumes that expungement should be granted when the person is not currently detained for another offense, has no new criminal charges, and has completed the sentence and all court-imposed conditions. Also, they must not have been convicted of another state, federal, or out-of-state offense for at least five years after completing the sentence.

Misdemeanors Requiring Additional Review

In Montana, expungement is not presumed for certain convictions listed in MCA § 46-18-1108. These include assault, partner or family member assault, stalking, sexual assault, violation of a protective order, driving under the influence, and offenses carrying an enhanced penalty because the offender was driving under the influence.

The court typically considers the petitioner's age, when the offense occurred, time lapsed, rehabilitation, likelihood of reoffending, and any other relevant factors to determine whether to exclude these offenses.

Dismissal and Sealing After a Deferred Sentence

Individuals who successfully complete a deferred felony may have the court strike the pleas or guilty verdict and dismiss the charges, under MCA § 46-18-204, provided no revocation petition is filed.

After dismissal, records connected to the charge become inaccessible to the public unless a district court subsequently orders disclosure upon good cause.

Arrests That Did Not Result in Conviction

Under MCA § 44-5-202(8), the state repository must return the photographs and fingerprints of a person to the originating agency, and the agency must expunge them if the person:

  • Is released without charges being filed
  • Is charged but not convicted
  • Has a conviction subsequently invalidated

Marijuana-Related Convictions

Under MCA § 16-12-113, a person may seek:

  • Expungement of a conviction for conduct that is now legal
  • Resentencing for conduct now subject to a lesser penalty
  • Redesignation of a felony as a misdemeanor
  • Redesignation of a criminal offense as a civil infraction

Someone who has completed the sentence files in the sentencing court, while an individual still serving the sentence may seek expungement or resentencing through the procedure established by the Montana Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act.

Felony Convictions

An individual may receive relief for a felony arrest or conviction in instances where:

  • A deferred felony sentence is successfully completed and dismissed
  • The conviction concerns conduct eligible for marijuana expungement or redesignation
  • The conviction is overturned or declared invalid
  • Another offense-specific statute authorizes relief

How Do You Remove Cascade County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Removing Cascade County arrest records from government sites, such as the Cascade County Sheriff's Office or court portals, typically depends on whether the underlying record qualifies for expungement or sealing under Montana law. You cannot remove these records by asking a website to take them down.

Instead, individuals seeking to remove an arrest record from online visibility should pursue the appropriate record-relief pathway under Montana law.

If a court approves and grants an order to expunge or seal the record, it is removed from public view, or the appropriate government agency may update its websites. Authorized government agencies may, however, maintain access under limited circumstances.