Missouri Arrest Records

In Missouri, arrest records contain information about a person's arrest. Such records typically reveal the following information:

• The arrestee's personal information.
• The date and time of the arrest.
• Arrest location.
• Reason for the arrest.

Law enforcement agencies create arrest records after an arrest event and may store them as police or incident reports. As such, interested parties may find arrest records by contacting local agencies such as the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office, the Kansas City Police Department, or the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. Missouri arrest records are also accessible through state-level agencies like the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP). The MSHP maintains access to criminal history records, including arrest information.

Note: An arrest record is not evidence of guilt. It simply shows that an individual was apprehended and taken into police custody. Only a court of competent jurisdiction may decide whether a person is guilty or innocent.

Are Arrest Records Public in Missouri?

Under Missouri Sunshine laws, most government-generated files, including arrest reports, are accessible to the public. Public members may inspect and obtain copies of these documents from public government bodies. The law also enables inquirers to get documents created by private entities on behalf of a public agency. (RSMo § 610.011).

The Missouri Sunshine law applies to all records in the custody of the Missouri Department of Public Safety and the Missouri judiciary. Nevertheless, the state law exempts specific documents from public view. The RSMo § 610.021 empowers government agencies to restrict public access to arrest records if:

• They contain data that might reveal the identities of anonymous witnesses.
• They contain data that is expunged or sealed by court order.
• They reveal criminal investigation techniques, guidelines, or procedures.
• They contain information that may pose a danger to the safety of concerned parties in a criminal investigation.
• They contain information about juvenile offenders.

Public agencies also refuse access to records that are sealed or expunged by the court or statutes. In the event of such denial, public agencies are generally required to provide a written statement that contains the reasons for refusing the request.

Missouri Arrest Statistics

The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Crime Data for 2023 maintains a yearly report on all arrest-related activities in the state. Per the agency's report, Missouri's law enforcement agencies made 136,059 arrests in 2024. The total figure includes 126,870 and 9,189 arrests for adult and juvenile offenders, respectively. Driving under the influence and drug-related offenses were the most reported crimes in the state. The table below outlines the total number of arrests per offense type.

Find Public Arrest Records in Missouri

Interested persons or entities may find arrest records in the custody of designated public agencies. Local- and state-level agencies may act as official record keepers for arrest records. For instance, you may obtain the records from county sheriffs, the state police department, courts, and incarceration facilities.

To find arrest records in Missouri, interested parties may follow these general steps:

1. Identify the record custodian: find the arresting agency or the municipality/area where the subject of the search was arrested. Local police departments and county sheriffs only retain records of arrests executed by their officers or in their jurisdiction.
2. Determine the request protocols and fees: Check the records custodian's websites to determine available request options. The websites generally feature online and offline request options. The former could be in the form of a searchable database or online request forms. Meanwhile, offline request options may include in-person or mail-in requests. If there are no clear guidelines, you should contact the agency via call or mail to confirm all necessary information.
3. Submit the record request via the preferred option: Follow the specific guidelines for using the request option. For instance, you need to provide relevant search data to view records online, while mail-in requests must contain a completed request form and required fees. In-person requesters, however, must visit the agency's physical location during their business hours. The agency might require in-person inquirers to book an appointment or provide identification cards. You might find the address information in the "Contact Us" page on most agency websites.
4. Pay the required fees in the appropriate payment format: Missouri government entities charge fees for searching and producing copies of public records. Generally, a copy costs $0.10 per page for a paper copy not larger than 9 x 14 inches. Government agencies might also charge a fee for the time expended on a record's search, research, and duplication in fulfillment of a request. (RSMo § 610.026). That being said, the agency might accept one or more payment options for a request option. Mail-in requests generally require payments in the form of checks or money orders. Inquirers should call the agency beforehand to get an estimate of the required fees.

Obtaining Sealed Arrest Records in Missouri

Sealed or restricted arrest records may be obtained by a writ of subpoena. According to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 37.55(b), the court issues a subpoena for the attendance of witnesses or the production of documentary evidence. The document requires defendants to appear and testify in court or provide tangible things like books and documents. Record custodians may receive a subpoena that commands them to produce or allow access to sealed records. Such subpoenas are issued by the court clerk and may include the names of all parties involved in the case. (Mo. R. Civ. P. 58.02).

How to Look Up Arrest Records Online in Missouri

Missouri's local police and sheriff departments maintain online arrest logs and jail rosters that contain arrest information. Case in point: the Boone County Sheriff's website features an online arrest report log. State-level departments, like the Missouri Department of Corrections, also provide searchable databases for finding online arrest information. The Missouri State Highway Patrol offers online arrest reports for arrests conducted by its officials. Public members seeking to access such records are typically required to provide search information like the arrestee's name and report number.

The public might obtain online arrest records via criminal history files. The Missouri Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division is the designated custodian for criminal history documents. The agency allows public access to the documents via online searchable portals. Inquirers must pay a $15 fee and input relevant information to view records on the platform.

Third-party search websites offer an alternative means of looking up online arrest records in Missouri. These sites are generally easy to navigate and may allow name- or location-based searches for arrest records. Users might access records for free or pay a specific amount to obtain a more complete report. With that being said, third-party search sites are usually not affiliated with the government. Thus, they are not verifiable sources for obtaining Missouri arrest records.

What is Included in Missouri Arrest Records?

Missouri arrest records typically reveal the following information:

• Arrestee's personal information, including the birth name and birth date.
• Arrestee's physical description, such as the mugshot and body markings.
• Arrest information, like the booking date and arrest location.
• Active arrest warrants
• Arrest charges and crime classification.
• Arrest report number.
• Bond amount
• Incarceration details.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Missouri

In Missouri, arrests stay on public records indefinitely until the record subject files a petition to expunge or seal them. There are specific guidelines for expunging records in the state. For instance, the arrestee may fulfill all legal requirements before they are eligible to expunge records.

The requirements may include waiting for a specific timeframe before filing for expungement. Arrest records generally have a three-year wait period before they may be erased. However, this duration may vary depending on the offense committed. Persons convicted of a felony or misdemeanor must wait for three years and one year, respectively. A record becomes exempt from public disclosure once it is sealed or expunged. However, the courts and specific entities still retain the right to access sealed records.

Expunge an Arrest Record in Missouri

An arrestee may file a petition to the court in the municipality where they were arrested to seal or expunge the record. The requirements for expunging an arrest record are outlined in Mo. Rev. Stat. § 610.122.

You are generally eligible to expunge arrest records under these conditions:

• You were arrested based on false information
• There is no probable cause to believe that you were guilty of the offense.
• The arrest has not and will not result in any formal charges
• The arrestee did not receive a suspended sentence (probation) for the offense for which he was arrested or any other related offense.

An arrest record with charges for a misdemeanor in a moving vehicle may be expunged where:

• The driver was not intoxicated
• The charge was dismissed or nolle prosequi
• The accused was found not guilty of the offense or violation(s)
• The accused neither holds a commercial driver's license nor was he driving a commercial vehicle at the time of the arrest.

Note: Under this section, an arrest record will only be eligible for expungement if there is no pending civil action in relation to the arrest or other documents to be expunged.

Offenses not eligible for expungement are outlined under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 610.140. According to this section, a person may apply to seal multiple records for arrests for offenses, violations, and infractions in their lifetime. However, you can't expunge more than two misdemeanor or ordinance violations or more than one felony offense.

Note: The rule that a person may apply to expunge their records after one year for a misdemeanor and three years for a felony will not apply where the arrest is in respect of:

Any class A felony offense (first- and second-degree murder, rape);

• Any dangerous felony as defined in section 556.061 (arson, attempted rape, forcible sodomy)
• Any offense that requires the person to register as a sex offender
• Any felony where death is an element of the offense
• Assault, kidnapping, and domestic assault
• Any offense committed while operating a vehicle, aircraft, or boat while intoxicated.
• Any offense committed where the accused holds or is required to possess a commercial driver's license.

To seal arrest records in Missouri, inquirers must file a petition with a court of competent jurisdiction in the county where the arrest occurred. The petition must contain the following information:

• The petitioner's full name, race, sex, driver's license number (for moving vehicle misdemeanors or infractions), and address
• All offenses, violations, or infractions to be expunged
• The date the petitioner was charged for the offense(s)
• The case number and name of the court for each case.
• The names of all entities have access to the record.

The court clerk shall give notice of the petition filed to the office of the prosecuting attorney or circuit attorney that prosecuted the petitioner. If the attorney objects to the petition, he must communicate it in writing within 30 days after receipt of the notice. The court will set a date for a hearing on the matter and shall give sufficient notice to all parties listed as defendants. The court will consider the following criteria to decide whether or not the arrest record should be expunged:

• When the petition was filed, sufficient time had lapsed (one year for misdemeanor and three weeks for felony).
• The person has not been found guilty of any other misdemeanor, felony, or traffic infraction.
• The person has fulfilled all prior requirements by the judge, including court fines.
• There are current arrest charges or convictions.
• The person's temperament and conduct show that they are not a threat to society.
• The expungement is consistent with public welfare and the furtherance of justice.

The court may grant the petition if the petitioner fulfills the above-listed requirements. Next, the court will send a copy of the order to the petitioner and all public governmental bodies in possession of the record. The public agencies, upon receiving the petition, will seal all information regarding the arrest records.

How Do I Find Recent Arrests in Missouri?

Missouri residents may find information on recent arrests in their area by contacting or visiting the local arresting agency. Interested persons may also check the Missouri State Trooper's online arrest report and jail rosters. Alternatively, researchers may also check third-party aggregate sites.
These agencies may maintain online or offline databases of recent arrest events. The database is often updated daily or weekly.

Are Missouri Arrest Records Free?

Yes, online arrest records are mostly free and accessible through online repositories maintained by government agencies. Some county sheriff's websites maintain free, online arrest logs. Inquirers only need to provide search data to view records on these platforms. However, you might pay specific fees to access arrest records via mail-in or in-person requests.