Franklin County Arrest Records

Franklin County arrest records document every booking processed through local law enforcement in this east-central Missouri county. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records for unincorporated areas and smaller towns, while municipal police departments in cities like Union and Washington keep their own arrest reports. Residents and the public can search Franklin County arrest records through Missouri's statewide court system, direct requests to the sheriff, or background check services run by the state highway patrol. Franklin County sits along the Missouri River west of St. Louis County, and its court system falls under the 20th Judicial Circuit.

How to Find Arrest Records in Franklin County

Finding Franklin County arrest records starts with knowing which agency made the arrest. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement body for the county. They process arrests in unincorporated Franklin County and run the county jail. If someone was arrested by a city police department, that department holds the initial arrest report. Either way, once charges are filed, the case goes into the 20th Judicial Circuit Court system. Missouri law under Section 610.100 RSMo says arrest records are open to the public for 30 days after the arrest. After that window closes, access depends on whether charges were filed.

You can search Franklin County arrest records online through Case.net, which is Missouri's free public court records portal. Case.net shows charges, court dates, case status, and disposition for cases filed in Franklin County Circuit Court. It does not show the actual arrest report itself, but it confirms whether an arrest led to formal charges. For the full arrest report, you need to contact the arresting agency directly.

The Franklin County Sheriff can be reached at the county courthouse in Union. Walk-in requests are accepted during business hours. You can also submit a written request by mail. Include the full name of the person, date of birth if known, and an approximate date range for the arrest. There may be a small copy fee for paper records.

Missouri State Resources for Franklin County Arrest Records

Beyond local agencies, Missouri offers statewide tools for searching arrest records that cover Franklin County. The Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS) lets you run a name-based criminal background check through the Missouri State Highway Patrol. This search costs $15 for a name search or $25 with fingerprints. MACHS pulls from the central repository that collects arrest data from every law enforcement agency in Missouri, including those in Franklin County. The results show arrest records, charges, and dispositions from across the state.

The Missouri Department of Corrections offender search is another free tool. It shows current and past inmates in the state prison system. If someone arrested in Franklin County was sentenced to state prison, they will appear in this database. The search is free and open to everyone. It shows the offense, sentence length, and current status of the offender.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol also provides services through the Department of Public Safety. These state-level resources can fill gaps when local Franklin County records are hard to get. The highway patrol sometimes handles arrests on state highways in Franklin County too, so their records may contain arrests that local agencies don't have.

Franklin County Arrest Records and Missouri Law

Missouri's Sunshine Law governs public access to arrest records in Franklin County and every other county in the state. Under Chapter 610 RSMo, arrest records are considered open records for 30 days following the arrest date. During this period, anyone can request a copy. The law is clear on this point. After 30 days, if no charges have been filed, the arrest record closes to public access. If charges were filed, the court records remain open through Case.net and at the circuit clerk's office in Franklin County.

There are exceptions. Juvenile arrest records in Franklin County are sealed under Missouri law. Certain records involving ongoing investigations may also be withheld temporarily. The Missouri Attorney General's Sunshine Law page has guidance on what records you can and cannot get. If a Franklin County agency denies your records request and you believe it was wrong, you can file a complaint with the attorney general's office.

Expunged records present another issue. Missouri passed laws allowing expungement of certain offenses under Section 610.140 RSMo. Once an arrest record is expunged in Franklin County, it is removed from public databases. The person can legally say the arrest never happened. Courts, law enforcement, and background check companies must treat the record as if it does not exist.

The 20th Judicial Circuit Court

Franklin County falls under the 20th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Gasconade and Osage counties. The circuit court in Union handles all felony and misdemeanor cases that come from Franklin County arrests. When someone is arrested and charges are filed, the case enters this court system. You can look up these cases on Case.net using the person's name or case number. The circuit clerk's office in the Franklin County Courthouse also provides copies of court records for a fee.

The 20th Judicial Circuit Court processes a range of criminal cases from Franklin County. These include DWI arrests, drug charges, theft, assault, and other offenses. Each case gets a unique case number that you can use to track it through the system. Franklin County arrest records that result in charges will show the arresting agency, the charges filed, bond information, and all court dates. Dispositions like guilty pleas, trial verdicts, and dismissals also appear in the court records over time.

Requesting Franklin County Arrest Records by Mail

You can request Franklin County arrest records through the mail. Send your request to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office in Union, Missouri. Your letter should include the full legal name of the subject, any known aliases, date of birth, and the approximate date of the arrest you are looking for. Include a return envelope and any required fees. The sheriff's office may charge a per-page copy fee as allowed under Missouri's Sunshine Law. Response times vary, but most agencies try to respond within three business days as required by law.

For statewide criminal history checks that include Franklin County arrests, mail your request to the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Criminal Justice Information Services Division. The fee is $15 for a name search. You can also use the online MACHS system for faster results. The state search pulls arrest records from Franklin County and all other Missouri law enforcement agencies that report to the central repository under Chapter 43 RSMo.

Understanding Franklin County Booking Records

When someone is arrested in Franklin County, the booking process creates a detailed record. This record includes the person's name, date of birth, physical description, photograph, fingerprints, the charges, and the arresting officer's information. The booking record is kept at the Franklin County jail. Booking records are part of the arrest record and fall under the same Sunshine Law rules for public access. During the 30-day open window after arrest, you can request booking information from the jail or sheriff's office.

Franklin County jail records also show bond amounts and whether the person posted bail. If someone is held without bond, that appears in the record too. Jail records can be useful for finding out if someone is currently in custody. Some Missouri counties post their jail rosters online, though Franklin County's availability may vary. Checking Case.net is often the fastest way to see if someone has an active case after a Franklin County arrest.

The lead-in below shows the Missouri State Highway Patrol portal, which processes criminal background checks covering Franklin County arrest records.

This state portal connects to the MACHS system. It is the main tool for running paid background checks that include Franklin County arrest data from the central repository.

Legal Help for Franklin County Arrest Records

If you need legal help related to an arrest in Franklin County, several resources exist. Legal Services of Missouri provides free legal aid to qualifying residents. They can help with record expungement, understanding charges, and navigating the court system. The Missouri Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service if you need to hire an attorney. Missouri Legal Help also offers self-help guides and information about criminal records in Missouri.

For people dealing with Franklin County arrest records on their own record, expungement may be an option. Missouri law now allows expungement of many offenses after waiting periods have passed. An attorney familiar with Franklin County courts can evaluate whether your arrest record qualifies. The 20th Judicial Circuit Court handles expungement petitions for Franklin County cases.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County borders several other Missouri counties. If you need arrest records from neighboring areas, these counties are nearby and may have relevant records for your search.

• Gasconade County (shares the 20th Judicial Circuit)
• Jefferson County (to the east)
• Crawford County (to the southwest)
• Warren County (to the north)