Search Missouri Arrest Records
Missouri arrest records are public documents kept by law enforcement agencies across all 114 counties and the City of St. Louis. The Missouri State Highway Patrol runs the central criminal records repository through its Criminal Justice Information Services Division, and local sheriff offices and police departments hold their own arrest reports too. You can look up arrest records through the statewide Case.net court portal, the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site, or by contacting the agency that made the arrest. This guide walks you through every method for finding Missouri arrest records, from free online searches to formal background check requests.
Missouri Arrest Records Quick Facts
Where to Find Missouri Arrest Records
Missouri keeps arrest records at both the state and local level. The Missouri Department of Public Safety oversees the State Highway Patrol, which serves as the central repository for criminal history data in the state. Every law enforcement agency in Missouri must report arrest data to this repository under Chapter 43 RSMo. That means a single arrest in any county gets logged at the state level too.
At the local level, each county sheriff and city police department maintains its own set of arrest records. The sheriff handles arrests in unincorporated areas and runs the county jail. City police departments keep records for arrests made within their city limits. Some offices post current jail rosters on their websites so you can check who is in custody right now. Others need you to call or visit in person to get arrest report copies.
The Missouri Case.net system is the statewide court records portal run by the Office of State Courts Administrator. It covers all circuit courts and many municipal courts. You can search by name or case number to find criminal charges that came from an arrest. Case.net is free and open around the clock.
Note: Case.net shows court filings and charges but does not display the original arrest report itself.
Missouri Arrest Records Through MACHS
The Missouri Automated Criminal History Site is the main tool for running official background checks that include arrest records. MACHS is run by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and offers two types of searches. Name-based searches cost $15 plus a small fee and give you results in about five to seven days. These show open records like convictions, charges still pending, and arrests less than 30 days old.
Fingerprint-based searches go deeper. They cost $20 for the state check plus $11.50 for the fingerprint vendor, totaling $31.50. You schedule a fingerprint appointment through IDEMIA, the state vendor, and get results in seven to ten days. Fingerprint checks pull up closed records too, which means dismissed charges, completed probation records, and even some expunged arrest data. The CJIS Division is at 1510 East Elm Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101. You can call them at (573) 526-6153.
For mail-in requests, send your form to Missouri State Highway Patrol, CJIS Division, Post Office Box 9500, Jefferson City, MO 65102-9500. Include payment and the full name of the person you are searching. A date of birth helps narrow results.
How to Search Arrest Records on Case.net
Case.net gives you free access to court records across all 114 Missouri counties. It does not show the arrest report itself, but it shows criminal charges filed after an arrest. This is often enough to find what you need. The system is managed by the Missouri Court Automation Program under Section 476.055 RSMo.
You can search Case.net four ways:
- Litigant name search using first and last name
- Case number search if you already have the number
- Filing date search to find cases filed on a specific date
- Scheduled hearings search to see upcoming court dates
Results show docket entries, charges, court dates, and case dispositions. You can also sign up for the "Track This Case" feature, which sends email or text alerts when something changes in a case. Case.net does not include juvenile records, sealed cases, or records that contain Social Security numbers and financial account information.
Missouri Arrest Records and the Sunshine Law
Arrest records in Missouri are public. The Missouri Sunshine Law under Chapter 610 RSMo says that government records must be open to the public unless the law says otherwise. Arrest reports and incident reports fall under this rule. You do not need to be the person who was arrested to ask for an arrest report. You do not need to give a reason.
There is one big catch. Section 610.100 RSMo says that if someone gets arrested and no charges are filed within 30 days, the arrest report becomes a closed record. The only part that stays open is the disposition. This means the window for viewing a full arrest report can close fast if the case does not move forward.
Each government body must have a custodian of records who handles public records requests. Under Section 610.024, they must respond within three business days. Fees for copies are limited to the actual cost of search and duplication. If your request is denied, the agency must give you a written explanation citing the specific law that allows them to close the record.
Note: Sunshine Law complaints can be filed with the Attorney General at sunshinerequest@ago.mo.gov if an agency refuses to release open arrest records.
Missouri Corrections and Arrest Record Searches
The Missouri Department of Corrections Offender Search lets you look up people who are in state prison or on probation and parole. This is a free tool. You search by first and last name or by DOC ID number. Results show the person's current facility, offense details, and projected release date. The data updates every day at 9:00 PM.
This tool does not show every arrest. It only covers people under active MODOC supervision. If someone served their sentence and was fully discharged, they will not appear. But for people currently in the system, it gives you a clear picture of their status. The Department of Corrections is at 2729 Plaza Drive, P.O. Box 236, Jefferson City, MO 65102, and their phone number is 573-751-2389.
Missouri Sex Offender Registry and Arrest Data
The Missouri State Highway Patrol also runs the Sex Offender Registry. You can search by name, date of birth, address, city, county, or tier level. The registry uses three tier levels. Tier III is the highest risk. Tier I is the lowest. Each entry shows whether the person is in compliance with their registration or has an outstanding warrant.
An interactive map lets you search for registered sex offenders near a specific address. You can also download the full list of registered offenders in the state. The registry includes both registered and absconded offenders who have stopped maintaining their registration. This tool ties directly to arrest data because every person on the registry was arrested and convicted of a qualifying offense in Missouri or elsewhere.
Arrest Records Expungement in Missouri
Missouri law allows certain arrest records to be expunged. Sections 610.122 through 610.126 RSMo set out the rules for who can petition to have their arrest record removed from public view. Not every arrest qualifies. The type of offense, the outcome of the case, and how much time has passed all factor into whether a court will grant expungement.
If a person's arrest record is expunged, it gets removed from the central repository at the Highway Patrol and from local law enforcement files. Name-based searches through MACHS will not show the expunged arrest. Fingerprint-based searches may still pull up some expunged data in limited circumstances. A person who knowingly violates the Sunshine Law by releasing expunged records can face a class A misdemeanor charge under Chapter 610.
Note: Expungement must be ordered by a court and does not happen automatically, even if charges were dropped.
How to Get Copies of Arrest Records in Missouri
Getting a copy of an arrest record in Missouri depends on which agency made the arrest. For arrests by a county sheriff, contact that county's sheriff office directly. Most offices accept requests in person, by phone, or by mail. Some have online request forms. You will need the name of the person arrested and an approximate date. A case number helps if you have one.
For arrests by city police, contact the police department's records division. The process is the same. Give them the name and date, and they will search their files. Fees vary by agency. Standard copies usually cost a few dollars per page. Certified copies cost more.
For a statewide search, use MACHS. The $15 name-based search pulls from the central repository that all Missouri agencies report to. This is the broadest search you can do without fingerprints. For the most complete results, schedule a fingerprint-based search through IDEMIA for $31.50 total. Results from MACHS can be notarized for an extra $5.
Legal Help With Missouri Arrest Records
Legal Services of Missouri offers free legal help to low-income residents. They can help with expungement petitions and understanding your rights around arrest records. The Missouri Bar runs a Lawyer Referral Service that connects people with attorneys by practice area and location.
Missouri Legal Help has self-help guides and step-by-step instructions for people who want to handle legal matters on their own. The Missouri Courts website has standardized court forms you can download, including forms for expungement petitions. These resources are free and available to anyone.
Browse Missouri Arrest Records by County
Each county in Missouri has a sheriff who maintains arrest records. Select a county below to find local contact information and resources for arrest records in that area.
Arrest Records in Major Missouri Cities
City police departments handle arrests within their limits and keep their own records. Select a city to learn about arrest records in that area.