Adair County Arrest Records

An Adair County arrest record is a document created by law enforcement after an individual is arrested. It may contain the individual's identification, the time and location of the arrest, and the reason for the arrest. It is basically a record of an individual's arrest, not a criminal conviction. Arrests are necessary when law enforcement has reason to believe that a crime has been committed, a suspect is likely implicated, and there is probable cause to believe they are accountable.

The primary responsibility for creating and keeping arrest records rests with the Adair County Sheriff's Office and other local law enforcement organizations, including police units that operate inside the county. Arrest records, however, could also be kept by other government organizations. For example, Adair County court records may provide information about an arrest and its outcome if the person was arraigned.

Are Arrest Records Public in Adair County?

Yes. Under Chapter 610 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, the public may view and copy all public records of public governmental agencies. All records held by any office or department within the Missouri Department of Public Safety and the Missouri judiciary are subject to this statute. However, some kinds of arrest information or records are exempt from public disclosure. Per RSMo § 610.021, they include:

• Any party's social security number found to be listed in a public record
• Records that are protected from disclosure by law
• Individually identifiable personnel records
• Confidential correspondence between an attorney and a public entity or its representatives
• Information that could compromise a criminal investigation, such as documents that reveal the name of a suspect who is not in custody or a source who wishes to stay anonymous
• Documents that, if revealed, could jeopardize people's health and safety
• Any personal data about a juvenile
• Diagnoses in medicine, psychology, mental health, or addiction.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following information may be found in the Adair County arrest records:

• Name of offender
• Offender's address
• Offender's date of birth
• Physical description of the offender, such as height, sex, hair and eye color, and race
• Charge stating the offense committed
• Arrest information, such as arrest time, arrest date, booking time, arresting agency, place of incarceration, and bail amount
• Active arrest warrants
• Booking photo (Mugshot).

Adair County Arrest Statistics

According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting arrest statistics for the state of Missouri, a total of 197,865 arrests were carried out in the year 2018. 69,611 arrests were made for all other offenses (except traffic), with 32,982 arrests carried out for drug abuse violations. 27,019 arrests were made for property crimes, with 21,098 and 19,443 arrests made for larceny-theft offenses and other assaults, respectively.

Find Adair County Arrest Records

The Adair County Sheriff's Office offers the public jail operations, documents, and law enforcement services. Interested persons seeking an Adair County arrest record may obtain one by submitting a request for a public record. A request may be made in written form, or a PDF copy of the Request for Copy of Public Records may be printed and filled out. Requests may be made via mail, fax, or in person at the Sheriff's Office, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, at:

Adair County Sheriff's Office
215 North Franklin Street
Kirksville, MO 63501
Phone: (660) 665-4644
Fax: (660) 785-3224

The public can also access the booking lists of the county's law enforcement agencies by visiting them. Online jail rosters, such as the Missouri Department of Corrections Offender Search site, may also provide record seekers with arrest information. Furthermore, interested persons may obtain information regarding individuals who have been incarcerated by the FBI by utilizing the Federal Inmate Locator maintained by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. One may complete a search by entering the name or BOP registration number of the offender.

Free Arrest Record Search in Adair County

To conduct a free arrest record search in Adair County, use the jail roster information provided online by the Missouri DOC. Input the first and last name of the offender or the offender's DOC ID to complete a search. An alternative is to use third-party websites to obtain free access to an Adair County arrest record. The complete name of the subject and other pertinent information are typically needed for a successful search. More thorough searches may require registration, a subscription, or money, although basic searches are free.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests in Adair County remain on a person's record indefinitely until legal action to remove them is taken. In other words, the subject or their legal representative must file a petition to expunge or seal the record. The average wait time for expunging arrest records is three years. However, this could change based on the crime committed. For felonies, a person may request an order of expungement after three years, and for misdemeanors, after one year.

Expunge Adair County Arrest Records

Per Mo. Rev. Stat. § 610.122, the following eligibility requirements must be met to apply for an expungement:

• If the court establishes that the suspect was arrested based on false information, including:
  • The absence of a probable cause to believe the suspect committed the offense
  • When no charges are pursued due to the arrest
  • When the suspect did not receive a suspended imposition of sentence for the offense that caused the arrest, or for any offense related to the arrest.
• If the court establishes that the suspect was arrested for a misdemeanor offense of chapter 303:
  • The driver wasn't inebriated
  • The charge was nolle prosequi, or dismissed
  • The defendant was found not guilty of the offense or violations
  • At the time of arrest, the accused was not operating a business vehicle and did not possess a commercial driver's license.

An arrest record may only be expunged under the above clause if there is no civil lawsuit against the arrest or the records that are being sought to be expunged.

Per RSMo Section 610.140, arrest records in Adair County may be expunged through a court order. After meeting the qualifications and waiting three years, during which no misdemeanor or infraction has been lodged against or proven to have been committed by the petitioner, the petitioner must submit a petition to the Adair County Circuit Court. The petition shall name organizations that have custody of the record.

The prosecutor's or circuit attorney's office that prosecuted the petitioner must be notified of the petition by the court clerk. Afterwards, the court will schedule a hearing and provide those parties named as defendants with adequate notice. Once an expungement is approved, the expungement directs organizations to seal or destroy the records so that the public cannot access them.

Adair County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are judicial orders, and police personnel are required to take anyone with an arrest warrant into custody. Missouri Supreme Court Rule 22.05 states that a judge or magistrate must issue an arrest warrant and that a signed and sworn affidavit proving probable cause that a specific crime has been committed and that the person or people listed in the warrant committed the offense must be included with the warrant. Per Court Rules 22.06, all peace officers have the authority to execute a warrant anywhere in the state. An Adair County arrest warrant must:

• Include the name of the suspect, or any name or description that may reasonably identify the suspect if the suspect's name is unknown
• Describe the offense committed
• Provide the date of issuance and the county where the arrest warrant was issued
• Order that the suspect identified in the warrant be apprehended and presented forthwith before the designated court
• List the set of conditions for release, where applicable
• Include the signature of the court or the clerk acting on the court's instructions.

Do Adair County Arrest Warrants Expire?

The majority of arrest warrants in Adair County do not expire. They stay in effect until the judge recalls the warrant or the individual listed in it is taken into custody. There are, however, a few instances in which a judge may recall a warrant for a variety of reasons, such as when the statute of limitations for the offense has passed.