Benton County Arrest Records

Benton County arrest records refer to documentation of individuals detained by peace officers for the commission of a crime. These records contain details about an arrestee, including their occupation, age, name, and address. They also contain details of the arrest, including the time, place, and date of the arrest, the arresting agency or officer, and the alleged crime and laws violated.

Arrest records do not provide a comprehensive criminal history profile of an offender, as they are limited to information about the arrest. They do not contain any court or conviction details that prove guilt. Benton County arrest records are created after arrested individuals are booked and detained at the Benton County Sheriff’s Office or by an officer from a local police department. During the booking stage, a photograph of the offender is taken, their fingerprints are taken, and other details are recorded.

Arrested offenders are detained at the Benton County jail, which is managed by the sheriff’s office. Individuals in custody are arrested when there is probable cause, which means there is sufficient evidence to believe the alleged offender is guilty. Arrests are also executed in Benton County when a peace officer witnesses the act of the crime, or an indictable public offense is involved. It can also be used as a preventive measure to stop the alleged offender from fleeing or committing a crime. These records are created and promptly updated primarily by the sheriff’s office. They are also maintained among Benton County court records through the arraignment files. These files pertain to the initial court appearance, where arrest details, including the timeline of the arrest, the alleged offense, and the arresting officer or investigating agency, can be found.

Are Arrest Records Public in Benton County?

Yes, Benton County arrest records are publicly accessible through the relevant law enforcement agencies. According to the Missouri Sunshine Law (Chapter 610 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri), anyone can access public information from the archives of government agencies, such as the sheriff’s office or police department.

The public can access arrest records that ensure data protection is respected and do not violate the privacy of the record owner. These records include basic details such as the name, age, and occupation of the offender, as well as the alleged offense and the location of the arrest. This means there are sensitive details that are restricted from public access. These restrictions remain in place to protect data integrity and ensure that private information is not publicly accessible.

Records that are restricted from public access include juvenile records, details of ongoing investigations, and personally identifiable information. In Benton County, arrest records will be automatically sealed in situations where the offense was not formally charged within 30 days of the arrest, or the case was dismissed in court, a not guilty verdict was given, or a nolle prosequi was entered. The public can approach the sheriff’s office to request arrest records at:

Benton County Sheriff’s Office
1620 E. Main Street
Warsaw, Missouri 65355
(660) 438-5252 - Non-Emergency Line
(660) 438-3053 - Fax
(660) 438-6135 - Main Office/Jail

Benton County Arrest Statistics

Benton County arrest statistics can be viewed using the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website. This webpage enables the public to search for arrest records in any county within the United States. According to 2024 data, there were 86 arrests recorded by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. This includes 21 arrests for all other offenses, 10 arrests for simple assaults, and two arrests for burglary. The county recorded five arrests for aggravated assault and larceny, respectively, as well as one sex offense arrest. There were no recorded arrests for arson, robbery, motor vehicle theft, or homicide offenses.

Find Benton County Arrest Records

Benton County arrest records can be found using records requests. These requests can be submitted in person, via mail, via phone, or online. Requesters who want to find arrest records online can use the sheriff’s offices' Inmate Roster website to access an updated county jail catalog. This website provides access to arrest records, including mugshots, the names of offenders, booking dates, and the alleged offenses.

The state also provides online access to a statewide archive through the Missouri State Highway Patrol - Arrest Reports website. Arrest records contained in Benton County court records can also be obtained through the Circuit Court clerk’s office. They can be searched online through the state judiciary’s Case.net website. Through this platform, requesters can access statewide criminal cases to get arrest reports using search parameters such as the litigant name, filing date, case number, scheduled hearing, and judgment index.

Benton County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Benton County arrest records generally contain details about a person’s arrest situation. They contain details like the offender’s name, age, alleged offense, arresting or investigating agency, location of arrest, and date of the arrest. These records are the sources of criminal proceedings, which comprise the basis of criminal records. Benton County criminal records refer to documents and files that contain an individual’s complete criminal history details. They contain information like the crimes committed, convictions, court documents, and judgment records.

Criminal records begin with arrest details and end with jail records. These records can be used as proof of the record registrant’s liability for a crime in cases where there was a conviction, unlike arrest records, which only contain details of alleged offenses. Arrest records do not indicate whether the arrest resulted in a formal court charge. Arrest records may also be found in court records, through arraignment documents, but they will still not contain enough details to prove liability or guilt.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests in Benton County will remain on the offender's public profile indefinitely unless legal action is taken to seal or remove them. According to Missouri Revised Statutes 610.100, records of arrests that do not lead to a formal charge within 30 days from the arrest date will be closed, except for the disposition. Expungement is also available in Benton County.

Arrests without a conviction due to dismissal or acquittal are immediately eligible for expungement, while arrests that lead to a conviction have requirements. Such requirements include:

• Satisfying the waiting period of 3 years for misdemeanors, infractions, and ordinance violations, or 7 years for felony convictions, after completion of their sentence
• The offender maintained a clean record during the waiting period
• There are no pending charges against the offender

Benton County Arrest Warrants

Benton County arrest warrants are documents used to execute lawful arrests. They are documents issued to law enforcement agencies directing them to detain an individual for the commission of a crime. Arrest warrants become necessary when the named individual in the document is reasonably believed to have committed an offense. They are issued by a judge to law enforcement agencies, and these documents become active after they are signed by a magistrate or judge. They can be issued as ordinary warrants for arrests before arraignment or bench warrants issued after arraignment, and will remain active until the arrest is executed or the warrant is withdrawn by a judge.

Arrest warrants are public documents maintained by the courts and law enforcement agencies, such as the sheriff’s office or a local police department. The courts provide access to bench warrants through criminal cases, while law enforcement agencies maintain records of active warrants and jail inmates. Benton County arrest warrants will contain details such as the alleged offenses, relevant laws, the details of the arrest, including the time, date, and location, as well as the details of the arresting officer or investigating agency.

Do Benton County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Benton County arrest warrants do not expire because there is no law to that effect. There is also no county or state regulation for the expiration of arrest warrants after a period of time. This means they will remain active perpetually until they are recalled by a judge or the offender has been lawfully arrested. Arrest warrants are also subject to the statute of limitations. When the time required to file some specific charges expires, the case becomes statute-barred, and the prosecution cannot file the charge. Thus, the warrant will become inactive as an arrest for such charges will be unnecessary.

Expunge Benton County Arrest Records

Benton County arrest records are public records; however, offenders can request that they be removed from their public profile. The expungement process in Benton County is governed by Missouri Revised Statutes 610.140, which aims to seal records from public access. This judicial process is available to persons who were arrested but not formally charged in court within 30 days of the arrest. The arrest report will be closed but will remain available to law enforcement and criminal justice agencies for various reasons. For cases that were dismissed, the arrest record will immediately become eligible for expungement. If there is an indictment in the case, a certain period of time must pass after the completion of the sentence before the offender can file for expungement. For felonies, 3 3-year waiting period is required, while a 1-year waiting period is required for misdemeanors, ordinance violations, and infractions.

Individuals who meet the requirements can file the petition in the Circuit Court. After filing, the petition and accompanying documents are served on the defendant agencies, and they have 30 days to file an objection. Without an objection, the order is granted. If an objection is filed, a hearing will be scheduled. After the court hearing, the court order of expungement will be recorded in the court archives and forwarded to the relevant agencies for implementation.