Mont. Code Ann. » TITLE 46. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE · CHAPTER 23. PROBATION, PAROLE, AND CLEMENCY · Part 5. Registration of Sexual and Violent Offenders
Montana Code Annotated

Mont. Code Ann. § 46-23-504 (2026)

Persons Required To Register -- Procedure

✓ current as of May 2026
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  1. MCA Contents
  2. TITLE 46
  3. CHAPTER 23
  4. Part 5
  5. 46-23-504 Persons required to register -- procedure

TITLE 46. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 23. PROBATION, PAROLE, AND CLEMENCY

Part 5. Registration of Sexual and Violent Offenders

Persons Required To Register -- Procedure

46-23-504. Persons required to register -- procedure. (1) Except as provided in 41-5-1513 and 45-5-503(5), a sexual or violent offender:

(a) shall register immediately upon conclusion of the sentencing hearing if the offender is not sentenced to confinement or is not sentenced to the department and placed in confinement by the department;

(b) must be registered as provided in 46-23-503 at least 10 days prior to release from confinement if sentenced to confinement or sentenced to the department and placed in confinement by the department;

(c) shall register within 3 business days of entering a county of this state for the purpose of residing or setting up a temporary residence for 10 days or more or for an aggregate period exceeding 30 days in a calendar year; and

(d) who is a transient shall register within 3 business days of entering a county of this state.

(2) Registration under subsection (1) must be with the appropriate registration agency. If an offender registers with a police department, the department shall notify the sheriff's office of the county in which the municipality is located of the registration. The probation officer having supervision over an offender required to register under subsection (1)(a) shall verify the offender's registration status with the appropriate registration agency.

(3) At the time of registering, the offender shall sign a statement in writing giving the information required by subsections (3)(a) through (3)(k) and any other information required by the department of justice. The registration agency shall fingerprint the offender, unless the offender's fingerprints are on file with the department of justice, photograph the offender, and obtain a DNA sample from the offender. Within 3 days, the registration agency shall send copies of the statement, fingerprints, and photographs to the department of justice. The registration agency shall send the DNA sample to the department of justice for analysis and entry of the DNA record into the DNA identification index. The registration agency shall require an offender given a level 2 or level 3 designation to appear before the registration agency for a new photograph every year. The information collected from the offender at the time of registration must include:

(a) the name of the offender and any aliases used by the offender;

(b) the offender's social security number;

(c) the residence information required by subsection (4);

(d) the name and address of any business or other place where the offender is or will be an employee;

(e) the name and address of any school where the offender will be a student;

(f) the offender's driver's license number;

(g) the description, registration number or identifier, and license number of all motor vehicles owned or operated by the offender;

(h) the following information related to the offender's internet activity:

(i) all e-mail addresses used by the offender;

(ii) all instant message addresses and identifiers;

(iii) all other designations or monikers used for self-identification in internet communications or postings; and

(iv) all designations used by the offender for the purpose of routing or self-identification in internet communications, postings, or social media accounts;

(i) any passports held or used by the offender. The department or its designee shall make a photocopy of the passports.

(j) all telephone numbers and any other designations used by the offender for the purposes of routing or self-identification in telephonic communications, including but not limited to:

(i) all cellular telephone numbers;

(ii) all landline telephone numbers; and

(iii) all voice over internet protocol telephone numbers; and

(k) all professional licenses, including the licensing number, licensing agency, and any other identifying information about a professional license issued to the offender that authorizes the offender to engage in an occupation or carry out a trade or business.

(4) (a) If, at the time of registration, the offender regularly resides in more than one county or municipality, the offender shall register with the registration agency of each county or municipality in which the offender resides. If an offender resides in more than one location within the same county or municipality, the registration agency shall require the offender to provide all of the locations where the offender regularly resides and to designate one of them as the offender's primary residence.

(b) Registration of more than one residence pursuant to this section is an exception from the single residence rule provided in 1-1-215.

(5) A transient shall report monthly, in person, to the registration agency with which the transient registered pursuant to subsection (1)(d). The transient shall report on a day specified by the registration agency and during the normal business hours of that agency. On that day, the transient shall provide the registration agency with the information listed in subsections (3)(a) through (3)(k). The registration agency to which the transient reports may also require the transient to provide the locations where the transient stayed during the previous 30 days and may stay during the next 30 days.

(6) (a) The department of justice shall mail a registration verification form:

(i) each 90 days to an offender designated as a level 3 offender under 46-23-509;

(ii) each 180 days to an offender designated as a level 2 offender under 46-23-509; and

(iii) each year to a violent offender or an offender designated as a level 1 offender under 46-23-509.

(b) If the offender is a transient, the department of justice shall mail the offender's registration verification form to the registration agency with which the offender last registered.

(c) The form must require the offender's notarized signature. Within 10 days after receipt of the form, the offender shall complete the form and return it to the registration agency where the offender last registered or, if the offender was initially registered pursuant to subsection (1)(b), to the registration agency in the county or municipality in which the offender is located. A sexual offender shall return the form to the appropriate registration agency in person, and at the time that the sexual offender returns the registration verification form, the registration agency shall take a photograph of the offender and collect a DNA sample if one has not already been collected. The registration agency shall send the DNA sample to the department of justice for analysis and entry into the DNA identification index.

(7) Within 3 days after receipt of a registration verification form, the registration agency shall provide a copy of the form and most recent photograph to the department of justice.

(8) The offender is responsible, if able to pay, for costs associated with registration. The fees charged for registration may not exceed the actual costs of registration. The department of justice may adopt a rule establishing fees to cover registration costs incurred by the department of justice in maintaining registration and address verification records. The fees must be deposited in the general fund.

(9) The clerk of the district court in the county in which a person is convicted of a sexual or violent offense shall notify the sheriff in that county of the conviction within 10 days after entry of the judgment.

History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 293, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 407, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 375, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 22, Sp. L. August 2002; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 313, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 254, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 20, Ch. 483, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 101, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 110, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 643, L. 2023.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 84 cases (8 in the last 5 years), 1994–2026 · leading case: State v. Mount, 2003 MT 275 (Mont. 2003).
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State v. Mount, 2003 MT 275 (Mont. 2003). · cites it 34× “Sections 46-23-504(1) and (2), MCA (2001).”
State v. R. Hinman, 2023 MT 116 (Mont. 2023). · cites it 35× “Sections 46-23-504, -506, -508, MCA (2017).”
State v. Azure, 2008 MT 211 (Mont. 2008). · cites it 30× “Subsections (1)(c) and (2) of § 46-23-504, MCA, instruct the offender to register with the county sheriff or the chief of police within 10 days of entering a county or municipality, respectively, for the purpose of residing or setting up a temporary domicile.”
State v. Samples, 2008 MT 416 (Mont. 2008). · cites it 6× “Section 46-23-504(4), MCA (1999). Offenders are also required to update their registration with the appropriate authorities any time they change residence.”
State v. Villanueva, 2005 MT 192 (Mont. 2005). · cites it 7× “” Section 46-23-504(1)(c), MCA. Therefore, we conclude that the District Court did not err in denying Villanueva’s Motion to Dismiss on this ground.”
United States v. Juv. Male, 2011 MT 104 (Mont. 2011). · cites it 6× “" Section 46-23-504, MCA (2005). "Sexual or violent offender" was then defined as "a person who has been convicted of a sexual or violent offense.”
State v. Knudson, 2007 MT 324 (Mont. 2007). · cites it 4× “"); § 46-23-504(c), MCA (2005) (imposing a duty to promptly register upon entering a county "for the purpose of residing or setting up a temporary domicile .”
State v. Holt, 2011 MT 42 (Mont. 2011). · cites it 4× “He never registered as a sex offender after moving to Montana as required by § 46-23-504(1)(c), MCA. The State charged him with failure to register, and he was found guilty after a bench trial.”
State v. DaSilva, 2011 MT 183 (Mont. 2011). · cites it 10× “” The District Court granted a continuance of trial in conjunction with an amendment to the Information sought by the State to add a reference to § 46-23-504(5), MCA, to the notice charge.”
State v. Hamilton, 2007 MT 167 (Mont. 2007). · cites it 5× “Section 46-23-504, MCA. The sexual offender must register for the commission of a sexual offense, which is defined in § 46-23-502(6), MCA, as: (a) any violation of or attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to commit a violation of 45-5-301 (if the victim is less than 18 years of…”
State v. Miller, 966 P.2d 721 (Mont. 1998). · cites it 4× “Section 46-23-504, MCA, provides: (1) A sexual or violent offender: (a) shall register immediately after conclusion of the sentencing hearing if the offender is not sentenced to confinement or is not sentenced to the department and placed in confinement by the department.”
State v. Brooks, 2012 MT 263 (Mont. 2012). · cites it 6× “Section 46-23-504(3), MCA. The offender is also fingerprinted and photographed, and all of the information is sent to the department of justice.”
Show all 84 citing cases →
— Mont. Code Ann. § 46-23-504(1) — 9 cases
State v. Azure, 2008 MT 211 (Mont. 2008). “Subsections (1)(c) and (2) of § 46-23-504, MCA, instruct the offender to register with the county sheriff or the chief of police within 10 days of entering a county or municipality, respectively, for the purpose of residing or setting up a temporary domicile.”
State v. Mount, 2003 MT 275 (Mont. 2003). “Sections 46-23-504(1) and (2), MCA (2001).”
State v. R. Hinman, 2023 MT 116 (Mont. 2023). “Sections 46-23-504, -506, -508, MCA (2017).”
State v. R. Talksabout, 2017 MT 79 (Mont. 2017).
Matter of T.M.L. Youth Under 18., 2012 MT 9 (Mont. 2012).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 46-23-504(1)(b) — 1 case
State v. Azure, 2008 MT 211 (Mont. 2008). “Subsections (1)(c) and (2) of § 46-23-504, MCA, instruct the offender to register with the county sheriff or the chief of police within 10 days of entering a county or municipality, respectively, for the purpose of residing or setting up a temporary domicile.”
— Mont. Code Ann. § 46-23-504(1)(c) — 6 cases
State v. Azure, 2008 MT 211 (Mont. 2008). “Subsections (1)(c) and (2) of § 46-23-504, MCA, instruct the offender to register with the county sheriff or the chief of police within 10 days of entering a county or municipality, respectively, for the purpose of residing or setting up a temporary domicile.”
State v. Villanueva, 2005 MT 192 (Mont. 2005). “” Section 46-23-504(1)(c), MCA. Therefore, we conclude that the District Court did not err in denying Villanueva’s Motion to Dismiss on this ground.”
State v. Holt, 2011 MT 42 (Mont. 2011). “He never registered as a sex offender after moving to Montana as required by § 46-23-504(1)(c), MCA. The State charged him with failure to register, and he was found guilty after a bench trial.”
State v. T. Lafournaise, 2022 MT 36 (Mont. 2022).
State v. Hardground, 433 P.3d 711 (Mont. 2019).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 46-23-504(2) — 1 case
State v. Mount, 2003 MT 275 (Mont. 2003). “Sections 46-23-504(1) and (2), MCA (2001).”
— Mont. Code Ann. § 46-23-504(3) — 5 cases
State v. Mount, 2003 MT 275 (Mont. 2003). “Sections 46-23-504(1) and (2), MCA (2001).”
State v. R. Hinman, 2023 MT 116 (Mont. 2023). “Sections 46-23-504, -506, -508, MCA (2017).”
State v. Brooks, 2012 MT 263 (Mont. 2012). “Section 46-23-504(3), MCA. The offender is also fingerprinted and photographed, and all of the information is sent to the department of justice.”
State v. Wright, 2016 MT 278N (Mont. 2016).
Van Der Hule v. State, 2001 MT 315N (Mont. 2001).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 46-23-504(3)(b) — 1 case
Montana Shooting Sports Ass'n v. State, 2010 MT 8 (Mont. 2010).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 46-23-504(4) — 5 cases
State v. Mount, 2003 MT 275 (Mont. 2003). “Sections 46-23-504(1) and (2), MCA (2001).”
State v. Samples, 2008 MT 416 (Mont. 2008). “Section 46-23-504(4), MCA (1999). Offenders are also required to update their registration with the appropriate authorities any time they change residence.”
State v. Wright, 2016 MT 278N (Mont. 2016).
State v. Pratt, 2026 MT 58 (Mont. 2026).
Wagner v. State, 2004 MT 31 (Mont. 2004).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 46-23-504(4)(a) — 2 cases
State v. D. Nolan, 2017 MT 53N (Mont. 2017).
D. Nolan v. State, 2020 MT 290N (Mont. 2020).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 46-23-504(4)(a)(ii) — 1 case
State v. Pratt, 2026 MT 58 (Mont. 2026).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 46-23-504(5) — 2 cases
State v. R. Hinman, 2023 MT 116 (Mont. 2023). “Sections 46-23-504, -506, -508, MCA (2017).”
State v. DaSilva, 2011 MT 183 (Mont. 2011). “” The District Court granted a continuance of trial in conjunction with an amendment to the Information sought by the State to add a reference to § 46-23-504(5), MCA, to the notice charge.”
— Mont. Code Ann. § 46-23-504(6) — 1 case
State v. R. Hinman, 2023 MT 116 (Mont. 2023). “Sections 46-23-504, -506, -508, MCA (2017).”
— Mont. Code Ann. § 46-23-504(6)(a) — 1 case
State v. R. Hinman, 2023 MT 116 (Mont. 2023). “Sections 46-23-504, -506, -508, MCA (2017).”
— Mont. Code Ann. § 46-23-504(6)(c) — 1 case
State v. R. Hinman, 2023 MT 116 (Mont. 2023). “Sections 46-23-504, -506, -508, MCA (2017).”
— Mont. Code Ann. § 46-23-504(c) — 2 cases
State v. Knudson, 2007 MT 324 (Mont. 2007). “"); § 46-23-504(c), MCA (2005) (imposing a duty to promptly register upon entering a county "for the purpose of residing or setting up a temporary domicile .”
United States v. Waybright, 561 F. Supp. 2d 1154 (D. Mont. 2008).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 46-23-504(l)(b) — 1 case
State v. Azure, 2008 MT 211 (Mont. 2008). “Subsections (1)(c) and (2) of § 46-23-504, MCA, instruct the offender to register with the county sheriff or the chief of police within 10 days of entering a county or municipality, respectively, for the purpose of residing or setting up a temporary domicile.”
— Mont. Code Ann. § 46-23-504(l)(c) — 4 cases
State v. Villanueva, 2005 MT 192 (Mont. 2005). “” Section 46-23-504(1)(c), MCA. Therefore, we conclude that the District Court did not err in denying Villanueva’s Motion to Dismiss on this ground.”
State v. Azure, 2008 MT 211 (Mont. 2008). “Subsections (1)(c) and (2) of § 46-23-504, MCA, instruct the offender to register with the county sheriff or the chief of police within 10 days of entering a county or municipality, respectively, for the purpose of residing or setting up a temporary domicile.”
State v. Holt, 2011 MT 42 (Mont. 2011). “He never registered as a sex offender after moving to Montana as required by § 46-23-504(1)(c), MCA. The State charged him with failure to register, and he was found guilty after a bench trial.”
State v. Payne, 2011 MT 35 (Mont. 2011).
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