What are St. Louis Public Records?
According to the Missouri Sunshine Act, a public record is any record created, written, digitally stored, or otherwise preserved by a government entity. Public records include all surveys, memorandums, reports, and any other document produced or prepared for a government body, paid for entirely or in part, using public funds. The Missouri Sunshine Law provides that every government body treats all records as public, except otherwise stated by law. However, the following records are exempt from public disclosure:
- Records related to litigation involving a public government entity
- Nonjudicial medical health records
- Welfare cases of identifiable persons
- Privileged or confidential communication between a government body and its auditor
- Law enforcement guidelines, response plans, and policies
St. Louis Crime Statistics
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) publishes monthly and annual reports on crime statistics in the city. Each report provides information on year-to-date and crime figures for each of the city's neighborhoods. According to the SLMPD's 2019 crime statistics report, St. Louis recorded a total of 5,792 person crimes, including 194 homicides, 265 rape cases, 1,475 robberies, and 3,858 cases of aggravated assault. Person crimes jumped 4.8% over 2018's total figure.
The SLMPD also recorded 18,752 property crimes, including 3,044 burglaries, 12,540 cases of larceny, 2,998 vehicle thefts, and 170 arson cases. The total number of property crimes increased by 2.3% over the previous year. Overall, vehicle thefts spiked the most, climbing 9%. Furthermore, St. Louis recorded a 14.2% drop in rape, the largest plunge per crime.
Are St. Louis Criminal Records Public?
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department grants public access to citywide criminal history information. City residents may request St. Louis criminal records for themselves or third parties. Each St. Louis criminal record costs $4.50, and $9 for a city and county check. Persons requesting personal records must provide a state-issued photo ID and a social security card. Third-party requestors should include the individual's date of birth and social security number.
To request, send a completed record check form to:
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
Attention: Records Center
1st Floor
1915 Olive Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
Phone: (314) 444-5541
After submitting a request, an SLMPD records clerk will advise on the payable cost. Note that a third-party record check will not produce information on "closed" arrests unless the requestor submits written and notarized authorization from the person named on the record.
How to Obtain St. Louis Police Reports and Arrest Records?
St. Louis police reports and arrest records are obtainable from the SLMPD. However, these records are not public and are only accessible by the following:
- Persons involved in the incident, including a property owner, suspect, or victim
- Immediate family members of a person involved if the person is deceased or otherwise incompetent (requires death certificate or letterheaded proof of incompetence from a doctor)
- Witness to the incident
- Attorneys or insurers for a person involved in the incident
Eligible persons must contact the Record Division by mail, five business days after the incident date. The request should include the names of involved persons, date and place of the incident, and a complaint number. Each record costs 10 cents per page, plus a prorated processing fee of $15 per hour. A records clerk will contact requestors to inform them of the amount payable. Statewide criminal records are also accessible from the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Criminal Justice Information Services.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in St. Louis
The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) provides access to statewide sex offender information. Using the offender search, find sex offenders by name, date of birth, tier level, address type, street name, and zip code. The database also provides interactive map and electronic address searches. The search result produces each offender's full name, photo, birth date, offense date and details, physical description, home address, vehicles owned, and release information. The result also displays information on the offender's victim.
How to Find St. Louis Inmate Records
The St. Louis Division of Corrections provides records of inmates in the city, through a searchable online database. Finding St. Louis inmate records on the database requires the inmate's first and last names. Note that the system only returns matches that exactly fit the inputted queries and not similar names.
In some cases, an arrested person may be in police custody but not on the online database. Generally, arrested persons still in the Police Department or temporarily held at a substation will not be found on the locator until the Division of Corrections has processed such persons. Requestors may contact the Division of Corrections for more information on such persons:
St. Louis Division of Corrections
200 South Tucker Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63102
Phone: (314) 621-5848
Office Hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday
How Do I Visit an inmate in St. Louis?
The St. Louis Division of Corrections houses inmates at the City Justice Center and the Medium Security Institution (MSI). Only pre-approved visitors may visit inmates in either facility. Each inmate receives five Visitor Request Forms during orientation and mails the forms to their chosen family or friends. The chosen visitors must then complete the form and send it by mail to the City Justice Center. Before receiving approval, the Division of Corrections will conduct a criminal history record check on each proposed visitor. Approval is only given if the person is without an active warrant, was not released from a penal institution in the last 180 days, and is not on parole or probation. However, a probationer or parolee may be allowed after presenting an approval letter from their parole officer.
At the MSI, visitation schedules change weekly and are based on the inmate's current dormitory. MSI visitors must arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled visiting time. Each MSI visit lasts for one hour and fifteen minutes.
Inmates at the CJC may receive one visit each every day, each week, except on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Visits are allowed for 40 minutes each day, starting at 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:30 pm, 7:40 pm, and 8:40 pm. Scheduling a CJC visit requires the inmate to request the visit from their Housing Unit Officer at least two days in advance. If approved, visitors must arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled visitation time. Contact the MSI and CJC to confirm inmate location or visitation schedules using the information below:
St. Louis Medium Security Institution
7600 North Hall Street
St. Louis, MO 63147
Phone: (314) 389-4790
St. Louis City Justice Center
200 South Tucker Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63102
Phone: (314) 621-5848
Fax: (314) 588-0273
Court Records
The city of St. Louis has a Circuit Court and a Municipal Court. Both courts grant city residents access to public court records upon request. The Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases and is further divided into other divisions. Available divisions include the Family, Juvenile, Probate, Small Claims, Municipal, and Traffic Courts. The Municipal Court is a division of the Circuit Court with limited jurisdiction over municipal ordinance violations.
Locations of Courts in St. Louis City
St. Louis Circuit Court
Civil Courts Building
10 North Tucker Boulevard
St Louis, MO 63101
Phone: (314) 622-4500
Phone: (314) 622-5685 (Juvenile Court)
St. Louis City Municipal Court
1520 Market Street
Suite 1120
St. Louis, MO 63103
Phone: (314) 622-3231
Are St. Louis City Court Records Public?
Most St. Louis court records are open to the public. However, Missouri law restricts public access to cases considered confidential. For instance, the general public may not access any court records related to adoption cases. In addition, juvenile records are closed records, only accessible to the juvenile, parents, and attorneys.
Can you look up a St. Louis Court Case Online?
The Missouri Judicial Branch provides online access to statewide court records through its court case search platform. Members of the public can search for St. Louis court records by litigant name, filing date, and case number. The platform also features a search function for scheduled hearings and trials as well as a judgment index. Using the litigant search, St. Louis residents may select the 22nd Judicial Circuit and search by last name or business name. Optional search queries include first and middle name, case type, case status, and case filing year. The search results display additional information such as each parties' attorney, charges, sentences, and judgments.
How to Obtain St. Louis Civil Court Case Records
The St. Louis Circuit Clerk's Office entertains requests for copies of civil court records. Public St. Louis civil court records are obtainable by visiting the Civil Court Building. Each public record costs 30 cents per page. Visit the office at:
Civil Courts Building
10 North Tucker Boulevard
St Louis, MO 63101
Phone: (314) 622-4500
Persons interested in civil court case records may also use the free online court case search provided by the Missouri Judicial Branch.
How to Obtain St. Louis Criminal Court Records
Residents may obtain St. Louis criminal court records from the Clerk's Office. Criminal court records cost 30 cents per page. Note that in specific cases, some criminal court records may be unavailable to the general public. To obtain a copy, visit the file room at:
Carnahan Courthouse
1114 Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63101
Phone: (314) 622-4500
Criminal records are also available online on the Missouri Judicial Branch's searchable court case database.
What are St. Louis Vital Records?
St. Louis vital records contain information on life events that occur within the city. Vital records include divorce, death, marriage, and birth records. Depending on the record type, St. Louis vital records are obtainable from the Register of Deeds, the Circuit Court Clerk, or the Bureau of Vital Records. Under Missouri law, vital records are not open to the public.
Where and How to Obtain St. Louis Divorce Records
Access to St. Louis divorce records is restricted. Only persons that can prove a relationship with the person named on the record may access divorce records. Divorce decrees are obtainable from the St. Louis Circuit Clerk's Office. Requestors must provide the names of the divorced parties, divorce date, and other available information. Visit the:
St. Louis Circuit Clerk's Office
Civil Courts Building
10 North Tucker Boulevard
St Louis, MO 63101
Phone: (314) 622-4500
Alternatively, request a Certified Statement Relating to Divorce from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services for all divorces since July 1, 1948. Download and complete an application form with information on the desired record. Each copy costs $15. Send the completed form, money order, or check payable to "Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services." Include a copy of a government-issued ID and a stamped and self-addressed legal-size envelope. Mail to:
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Records
930 Wildwood Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65109
Where and How to Get St. Louis Marriage Records
The St. Louis Register of Deeds issues copies of marriage records to eligible persons in the city. The Register of Deeds entertains requests from the married persons and others that can prove a relationship with either party. Eligible persons may obtain marriage records in person or by mail.
A mail order requires completing an application form with information on the married parties. The information should include their names, application or license number, and the date and year of application or ceremony. An uncertified copy costs $3, while certified copies cost $12 each. Mail payments require cash, business/cashier's check, or money order payable to "Register of Deeds". For in-person requests, visit the Register of Deeds with a completed form, ID, and payment. Send the documents to:
City of St. Louis Recorder of Deeds
City Hall
1200 Market Street
Room 124
St. Louis, MO 63103
Phone: (314) 622-4610
Where and How to Get St Louis Birth Records
St. Louis birth records are requestable from the Register of Deeds. Access is restricted to the person named on the record or other people who can provide proof of relationship with the person. Requestors may apply for birth certificates by mail or in person. Each record costs $15.
For a record of birth since 1920, requesters will need to complete a birth certificate request form. For an earlier record, complete the pre-1910 birth transcript request form. The form must be signed and dated before a Notary Public. Mail payments require a money order or check made out to "Vital Records." Send the completed form, payment, a copy of a government-issued ID, and a stamped and self-addressed envelope to:
St. Louis County Register of Deeds
Vital Records Department
City Hall
Room 127
1200 Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
The Vital Records Department also entertains in-person requests at the above address and completes the processing before the requestor leaves. Mail requests may take up to 14 business days.
Where and How to Find St. Louis Death Records
The Register of Deeds issues copies of St. Louis death records to the following persons:
- Immediate family members of the decedent, excluding cousins
- Guardians or official representatives of the decedent
- Genealogists
Eligible persons must complete the application form or send a written with the decedent's full name, race, sex, place, and date of birth, and parent's full names. Each record costs a $14 five-year search fee for the first copy and $11 for each additional copy. Fees are non-refundable. Enclose the completed form, payment, a government-issued ID, and a self-addressed and stamped envelope to:
St. Louis County Register of Deeds
Vital Records Department
City Hall
Room 127
1200 Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
Interested persons may also visit from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, every weekday excluding holidays.
