1. (1) Organization of the Department of Justice:

   1. (a) History: Under the Executive Reorganization Act of 1971, the Governor implemented the creation of a Department of Law Enforcement and Public Safety by Executive Reorganization Order 3-72 on September 1, 1972. The name of the department was changed to the Department of Justice on March 9, 1973, under Chapter 250, 1973 Montana Laws.
   2. (b) Department Head: The department head is the Attorney General.

   3. (c) Divisions: The department is divided into divisions, headed by administrators. Some divisions are divided into bureaus, headed by chiefs. The divisions are:

      1. (i) the Central Services Division;
      2. (ii) the Division of Criminal Investigation;
      3. (iii) the Forensic Science Division;
      4. (iv) the Gambling Control Division;
      5. (v) the Montana Law Enforcement Academy;
      6. (vi) the State Attorney’s Office;
      7. (vii) the Montana Highway Patrol; and
      8. (viii) the Motor Vehicle Division.

   4. (d) There are five boards and one program attached to the department for administrative purposes only:

      1. (i) the Gaming Advisory Council;
      2. (ii) the County Motor Vehicle Computer Committee;
      3. (iii) The Public Safety Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council;
      4. (iv) the Board of Crime Control;
      5. (v) the Montana End of Watch Trust; and
      6. (vi) the Natural Resource Damage Program (NRDP).

2. (2) Functions of the department:

   1. (a) The Central Services Division is composed of Human Resources, Fiscal, Budget, Justice Information Technology, and the 9-1-1 Program.
   2. (b) The Division of Criminal Investigation contains the Investigations Bureau, the Narcotics Bureau, the Crime Information Bureau, and the Special Services Bureau.
   3. (c) The Forensic Science Division provides examinations and expert testimony in the disciplines of serology/DNA, toxicology, firearms, toolmarks, serial number restoration, latent fingerprints, breath alcohol, controlled substances, gunshot residues, and the services of the State Medical Examiner.
   4. (d) The Gambling Control Division is composed of the Technical Services Section, the Compliance Section, the Audit Section, and the License and Tax Section.
   5. (e) The Montana Law Enforcement Academy contains operations and training.
   6. (f) The State Attorney's Office is composed of criminal bureaus that include the Appellate Services Bureau, the Prosecution Services Bureau, and the Child Protection Unit. The division also includes the Civil Bureau, the Solicitor General, the Office of Consumer Protection Bureau, and the Agency Legal Services Bureau.
   7. (g) The Montana Highway Patrol is composed of the Field Forces Bureau and the Operations Bureau.
   8. (h) The Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) is composed of the Driver Services Bureau, the Operation Services Bureau, and the Vehicle Services Bureau.

3. (3) Personnel Roster: Addresses of the Attorney General, division administrators, and bureau chiefs are as follows:

   Attorney General: 215 North Sanders, P.O. Box 201401, Helena, Montana 59620-1401.

   Central Services Division Administrator: 840 Helena Avenue, P.O. Box 201404, Helena, Montana 59620-1404.

   Consumer Protection and Victim Services: 302 North Roberts, P.O. Box 201405, Helena, Montana 59620-1405.

   Division of Criminal Investigation Administrator: P.O. Box 201417, Helena, Montana 59620-1417.

   Forensic Science Division Administrator: 2679 Palmer, Missoula, Montana 59808.

   Gambling Control Division Administrator: 615 South 27th Street, Suite A, Billings, Montana 59101.

   Law Enforcement Academy: 2260 Sierra Road East, Helena, Montana 59602.

   State Attorney’s Office Administrator: 215 North Sanders, P.O. Box 201401, Helena, Montana 59620-1401; Agency Legal Services Bureau Chief: 1712 Ninth Avenue, P.O. Box 201440, Helena, Montana 59620-1440.

   Montana Highway Patrol Administrator: 18 Trooper Drive, Boulder, MT 59632.

   Motor Vehicle Division Administrator: 302 North Roberts, P.O. Box 201430, Helena, Montana 59620-1430; (P.O. Box 21431, Helena, Montana 59620-1431 for VSB).

   Vehicle Services Bureau: P.O. Box 201431, Helena, Montana 59620-1431.

   Natural Resource Damage Program: 1720 Ninth Avenue, P.O. Box 201425, Helena, Montana 59620-1425.

4. (4) Chart of Agency Organization: The organizational and functional chart of the department follows.

   

Authorizing statute(s): 2-4-201, MCA

Implementing statute(s): 2-15-2001, 2-15-2002, 2-15-2003, 2-15-2004, 2-15-2005, 2-15-2006, 2-15-2007, 2-15-2008, 2-15-2009, 2-15-2010, 2-15-2011, MCA

History: Eff. 12/31/72; AMD, Eff. 9/4/75; AMD, Eff. 10/11/79; AMD, Eff. 12/31/81; AMD, Eff. 3/31/82; AMD, Eff. 3/31/91; AMD, Eff. 12/31/92; AMD, Eff. 3/31/94; AMD, Eff. 6/30/98; AMD, Eff. 12/31/08; AMD, Eff. 12/31/11; AMD, Eff. 12/31/12; AMD, Eff. 6/30/14; AMD, Eff. 6/30/18; AMD, Eff. 12/31/20; AMD, Eff. 10/17/24.