Missouri Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Missouri?

Missouri arrest records are public, but access may be limited or restricted by law in some cases. Missouri statutes do not restrict access to arrest information where the arrest did not result in a conviction. However, certain jurisdictions may have adopted local rules restricting non-conviction information and expungement.

Arrest records constitute a part of an individual's Missouri criminal records and can be used by employers, landlords, and others to screen applicants or make decisions about housing or employment. Missouri law enforcement agencies may also use them when investigating crimes or making arrests.

Per the Missouri Sunshine Law, arrest records are open to the public, but there are restrictions on who can access them. For example, sealed and juvenile records are not available to the general public.

What is Contained in a Missouri Arrest Record?

The following information about arrests should be included in the Missouri Arrest Records:

• Name(s)
• Birth date
• Address history
• Social security number
• Aliases

Missouri Arrest Records may also include information about previous criminal charges, court appearances, and convictions.

Who Can Access Missouri Arrest Records?

The following individuals/organizations may access Missouri arrest records with minimal restrictions:

• Law enforcement officers
• Criminal justice agencies
• Attorneys representing the state or an accused individual
• Courts and related personnel
• Missouri Arrest and Court Records Commission
• Certain employers with a legitimate interest in the applicant's criminal history, as required by state law.

Missouri arrest records are generally open to the public. Notwithstanding, under Missouri's Sunshine Law, certain information about arrests must be made available to the public upon request, including:

• The names of people who have been arrested
• The charges against them
• The locations of their arrests
• The dates of their arrests

However, the Sunshine Law does not require the release of information about an arrestee's criminal history, such as prior convictions. To obtain that type of information, inquirers must request it from the Missouri State Highway Patrol or the county sheriff's office.

Missouri Arrest Statistics

According to FBI’s Uniform Crime Report for 2019, 156,375 arrests were carried out in Missouri in that year, and 10,435 of those apprehended were juveniles. Property crimes accounted for the most common offense with 18,331 arrests, followed by “other assaults” with 14,488 and larceny-theft with 13,947 arrests. Violent crime clinched the 4th most common crime position with 7,184 arrests, while aggravated assault arrests were 5,387. Murder and negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, and arson accounted for the least arrests with 286, 413, 1098, 2483, 1815, and 86 apprehensions, respectively.

Obtaining Missouri Public Arrest Records

A Missouri arrest search occurs when an inquirer utilizes the available means at their disposal to look up the reports or records of arrests that occurred within Missouri’s borders. Interested parties who wish to conduct a Missouri arrest search can do so by visiting the state’s one-stop automated criminal history website or making a request via mail to the state’s principal body in charge of maintaining arrest records. They may also make online/in-person requests to the local police department that carried out the arrest or the sheriff’s office in the county where the suspect was apprehended. Regardless of the route the inquirers wish to take, they must provide ample information about the arrestee or the arrest details to facilitate their search.

How Do I Lookup Someone's Arrest Records in Missouri?

Interested members of the public may look up Missouri arrest records in one of several ways:

The Missouri State Highway Patrol's website offers a searchable database of individuals currently in Missouri Department of Corrections custody and those who have been released within the past 60 days. This database includes information on inmates' current location, projected release date, and charges. Enquirers may look up arrest records on the MSH website by inmate name or number.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department also offers an online database of active warrants. This database is updated daily and includes the name, date of birth, race, sex, and last known address of individuals with active warrants in St. Louis city.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office offers an online database of current inmates in the Jackson County Detention Center. This database provides information on inmates' names, booking dates, release dates (if available), and charges.

Enquirers may look up Missouri arrest records by visiting the county courthouse where the arrest was made. Arrest records are typically public records, meaning that they are available to anyone who requests them. These records may be available online, in person, or by mail, depending on the county.

To request Missouri arrest records by mail, the requesting party should send a written request to the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Record Division at:

The Record Division
1510 E. Elm Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101

The request should include the name of the individual about whom the records are being requested and the individual's date of birth and Social Security number. There is a $15 fee for this service.

In-person requests may be made at the same address as above. The office is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm. There is a $10 fee for this service, payable by cash, check, or money order.

How to Subpoena Arrest Records in Missouri

It becomes essential to subpoena arrest records when one is seeking evidence in a criminal case or investigating someone's past. In Missouri, such records are considered public information and therefore can be accessed by anyone who requests them.

To begin, the person subpoenaing the records must contact the circuit clerk in the county where the arrest took place. The circuit clerk will then provide the necessary forms and instructions for submitting a request. Once the forms are completed and filed with the court, a judge will review the request and determine whether to grant it. If approved, the circuit clerk will issue a subpoena for the records, which must be served on the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is responsible for maintaining all arrest records in the state. Once served with a subpoena, the highway patrol will provide the requested records to the circuit clerk, who will then forward them to the person who submitted the request. It is important to note that there may be a fee associated with obtaining these records. This form can be downloaded from Missouri's court system website.

How to Search for an Inmate in the Missouri Prison System

Interested members of the public may use the Missouri Department of Corrections website to search for an inmate by name, DC number, or birthdate. The offender locator also provides information about an inmate's supervision Status (e.g., parole, probation), Parole Eligibility Date, and Discharge Date.

To conduct a search, go to the Missouri Department of Corrections website and click on the "Offender Locator" link in the top navigation bar. On the Offender Locator page, users will see three search options: Name Search, DC Number Search, and Birthdate Search.

If the user knows the offender's name they are looking for, they can select the "Name Search" option and enter the last name and first name (or partial last name and partial first name) in the corresponding fields. If the user does not know the offender's name but knows their DC number, they can select the "DC Number Search" option and enter the DC number in the corresponding field.

Where the user does not know either the name or DC number of the offender but knows their birthdate, they can select the "Birthdate Search" option and enter the offender's birthdate in the corresponding field.

After entering the necessary information in one of the search fields, users should click on the "Search" button to initiate a search of Missouri Department of Corrections records. If any offenders match the search criteria entered, their names will appear in a list below the search fields.

Users can click on an offender's name to view more detailed information about them, including their physical description, current location, sentence information, and release date (if applicable).

The Missouri Department of Corrections website also provides a "Map Offender Locations" link in the top navigation bar that can be used to view offenders' locations on a map. To use this feature, users first need to select a facility type from the drop-down menu (e.g., "Adult Institutions," "Probation & Parole Offices") and then click on the "View Locations" button. A map will then appear with markers indicating the locations of all facilities of the selected type.

Users can click on a marker to view more information about the corresponding facility, including its address and phone number.

How to Find Recent Arrests in Missouri

Individuals can find recent arrests in St. Louis County by visiting the St. Louis County’s inmate locator under the “County Services” page of Saint Louis County Missouri’s Official website. Here, inquirers will be able to search the database for persons in the county jail’s custody by inputting their first and last names into the search bar.

For Jackson County, individuals may request a record by sending a mail JCSORECORDS@Jacksongov.org or contacting the county’s record unit on (816) 541-8017.

How Long Do Missouri Arrest Records Stay on File?

According to Missouri law, arrest records are considered public information and are accessible to anyone who requests them. However, there is no set time frame for how long these records will be kept on file. In general, Missouri arrest records will remain on file indefinitely.

However, there are some circumstances in which an arrest record may be removed from the file. For example, if the charges against an individual are later dropped or dismissed, their arrest record may be expunged. Additionally, if an individual is found to be innocent of the crime they were arrested for, their record may also be eligible for expungement.

Are Arrest Reports Public in Missouri?

§610.100.1(2) of the Missouri Sunshine Law defines an arrest report as a law enforcement agent’s report of an arrest, detention or confinement. Missouri arrest reports are important resources for proving specific facts of a case in the event that it is charged to court. They explain the circumstances of the suspect’s arrest and provide some information to determine the legality of the arrest.

Arrest reports are open or public records in Missouri. This means that they are non-confidential documents that are available to the public to access without restrictions. However, §610.100.2 of the state’s sunshine law creates exceptions to this general rule by stipulating situations where a report may become a closed record. One such instance is where the arrestee was not charged with a crime within 30 days of their arrest. In such a situation, only the disposition portion of the record will remain open to the public.

Other exceptions to the public record rule include cases where:

• The suspect was not found guilty
• Sentence imposition has been suspended upon completed probation period

How to Search for a Missouri Arrest Record Online Using a Third-Party Search Service

Third-party search services typically offer a comprehensive database of arrest records from across the United States. This means that interested persons can use a single service to search for arrest records in multiple states at once.

To use a third-party search service, enter the name of the person being searched into the engine. The results will typically include:

• The person's full name.
• Date of birth.
• Last known address.
• Any aliases they may have used.

In some cases, users may also view the person's mugshot.

To narrow down the search to just Missouri arrest records, users can usually do so by clicking on the "Advanced Search" or "Filter Results" options. They can select "Missouri" from the list of states.

Third-party search services are a great way to access Missouri arrest records because they offer a wide range of information and are typically user-friendly. However, it is essential to remember that not all services are created equal. Some may charge a fee for accessing their database, while others may only provide limited information. Users should always research a service before using it to ensure that it is reputable and will meet their needs.

How to Obtain Arrest Records for Free in Missouri?

To obtain arrest records from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, requesters must complete a Request for Criminal History Record information form and submit it to the address listed on the form. There is no fee for this service. However, if the requesting party requests copies of these records, they will likely have to pay a nominal fee to cover the costs.

How to Correct an Arrest Record in Missouri

If a Missouri arrest record is found to have a mistake, the record owner may petition to have the inaccurate information reviewed or removed. They can do so in the following steps:

• Get in touch with the agency that controls the record in question. This will usually be either the Missouri State Highway Patrol or the county sheriff's office.
• Request a review of the arrest record in question. Explain what the mistake is and why it needs to be corrected.
• The agency will then look into the matter, and if they agree that there is a mistake, they will take steps to correct it. If the correction is not made, the requestor can then file a petition in circuit court.
• The court will then review the case, and if they find that the information on the record is inaccurate, they will order the agency to make the necessary changes.

How to Expunge Arrest Records in Missouri

To have an arrest record expunged in Missouri, the record holder would have to file a petition with the court that handled their case. The court will then review the petition and decide whether to grant the expungement. If the court grants the expungement, the arrest record will be sealed from public view and cannot be accessed without a court order.

To be eligible to have a record expunged, the requestor will have to meet specific criteria. They must:

• Not have been convicted of a crime
• Have completed all terms of their sentence, including any probation or parole
• Have no pending criminal cases
• Be at least 21 years old or 18 years old if the offense was classified as a juvenile offense

If the court grants the expungement, the arrest record will be sealed from public view and cannot be accessed without a court order. This means that the record will not appear on background checks and will not be accessible to the general public. The only people who will be able to see the record are those who have a court order authorizing them to do so.