Restoring Civil Rights After a Felony in Montana

Montana restores rights largely by law. A conviction does not take away civil or constitutional rights except as the Montana Constitution provides or as the sentencing judge specifically orders as a condition of the sentence, and once the sentence has expired or the person is pardoned, the person 'is restored to all civil rights and full citizenship.' Voting returns on release from the penal institution. The jury statute says a person convicted of any felony is not competent to serve as a juror. Montana does not ban every felon from having guns: the state ban covers felonies that drew a weapon enhancement or that require sexual or violent offender registration, and those offenders may ask the district court for a permit to possess specific firearms on good cause.