Cass County Arrest Records

In Cass County, arrest records refer to documents created in relation to arrest events. Law enforcement officers mostly conduct arrests if there's sufficient evidence of an individual’s crimes. However, there are instances where officers conduct arrests to prevent potential harm to life or property.

Cass County arrest records are mostly under the jurisdiction of local law enforcement agencies. These agencies create and allow access to arrest records. For instance, the Cass County Sheriff's allows in-person requests for arrest records.

Crime-related documents may also feature arrest records. For example, Cass County Court records may contain arrest information like warrants, charges, bonds, and the arrestee's personal details. Criminal history records and inmate files also include some arrest details.

Are Arrest Records Public in Cass County?

Under Missouri's Sunshine Laws, most arrest records are classified as public documents. This means the general public is legally eligible to inspect and obtain copies of such records. The state laws empower specific government entities to create and maintain access to arrest records. Such agencies must release arrest records upon requests from the public.

Nevertheless, certain arrest records are not accessible under state laws. Exempt records may contain information that is judged to not be in the public interest. For instance, crime victims’ personal information is not publicly accessible. The state law also restricts public access to the following arrest information:

• Documents that, if disclosed, will pose a threat to the safety of concerned persons in a criminal investigation.
• Arrest information that was sealed or expunged under court orders.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Cass County may provide information on the following:

• Arrestee's personal information, including the names, aliases, birth dates, and physical-identifying features like height and tattoos.
• Date, location, and time of the arrest
• Arrest charges
• County where the offender is currently held

Cass County Crime Rate

Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) maintains an annual statistics report for all documented crimes in the state. According to the report, Cass County recorded a total of 2,508 crimes in 2023. Assaults and larceny-thefts were the most reported crimes at 1,121 and 1,079, respectively.

Cass County Arrest Statistics

According to the MSHP’s crime statistics report, the Cass County sheriff’s office conducted 857 arrests in 2023. The arrest report covers arrests for crimes against persons, society, and properties. In contrast, Cass County’s correctional facility housed 211 inmates in 2019.

Find Cass County Arrest Records

To find arrest records in Cass County, inquirers must direct their search toward specific record custodians. For instance, the county sheriff's office allows mail or email requests for arrest reports. To obtain the report, interested persons must follow these instructions:

1. Fill out and download the request form for arrest reports. You may print out the form for mail-in requests.
2. Enclose a $5 search fee as a money order or check.
3. Send the document and fee to:

Cass County Sheriff’s Office
Attention: Custodian of Records
C/O: Major K. Tieman
2501 West Mechanic
Suite 100
Harrisonville, MO 64701
diane.smock@cassmosheriff.org

Inquirers may also find arrest information in inmate records. Such records may feature arrest details like the arrest charges, booking date, and bond conditions. That being said, different agencies maintain access to inmate records-related. For instance, the county sheriff's office hosts an online search portal for detained persons. Inquirers must input the required search details to view inmate records on the portal.

Missouri's Department of Corrections also offers an online repository for inmate records. To find inmate records on the portal, inquirers must input either the inmate's name or DOC ID number.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator is also an online search portal for finding inmate information. Users may search for information on an inmate by providing the inmate's name or prison number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Cass County

In Cass County, record seekers can conduct free searches for arrest records by using government-owned search sites. The search sites may include the following:

• Cass County Sheriff's Inmate Search portal
• Missouri Department of Corrections offender search
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator.

Record seekers may view arrest records for free at the county sheriff's office. However, the agency may request fees to print out copies of the record.

Third-party search sites may offer free access to arrest records in Cass County. Such sites are typically easy-to-navigate and do not require users to sign up before they can access records. Some sites may allow users to download reports directly to their devices. Despite the perks of using third-party sites, users should note that they are mostly unregulated and may not feature complete arrest information.

Get Cass County Criminal Records

In Cass County, criminal records are official files that contain information on criminal convictions. Such records may include arrest details, indictments, dispositions, and inmate information.

Cass County criminal records are under the purview of the MSHP's Criminal Justice Information Center. The agency allows name- or fingerprint-based checks for criminal records. To search criminal records by name, interested parties must use the MSHP's online search portal. Users must create an account on the portal and pay the required $15 search fee to access information on the portal.

For fingerprint-based searches, in-state inquirers must get fingerprinted via the MSP's licensed fingerprint vendor. Inquirers must visit the nearest fingerprint vendor location and pay the required $31 fee for conducive fingerprint-based checks. The vendor will send your fingerprints to the agency for processing. Upon receiving the fingerprint, the MSP will process the request and send the criminal record to the inquirer's mailing address.

In contrast, out-of-state inquirers may follow these instructions to conduct fingerprint-based checks:

1. Visit a local law enforcement agency to get fingerprinted. Request for your prints to be taken on a FD-258 card.
2. Complete the other sections on the card.
3. Enclose a $20 check or money order made payable to the "State of Missouri—Criminal Record System Fund".
4. Mail the fingerprint card and fees to:

Missouri State Highway Patrol
CJIS Division,
Post Office Box 9500
Jefferson City, MO 65102-9500

Cass County Arrest Records vs. Criminal Records

In Cass County, criminal records are not the same as arrest records. Although both records feature information on criminal activities, they differ in content, record creation, and implication. For example, arrest records contain data on only arrest-related events and may include the arrestee's personal information, charges, arrest date, and location, and the arresting agency's name. In contrast, criminal records feature all crime-related data, including arrest events, court indictments and dispositions, and inmate information.

The records’ creation process is also a differentiating factor. Law enforcement agencies create arrest records after an arrest event. However, criminal records are mostly created after an arrest charge leads to a court conviction.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest information will remain publicly accessible unless the record subject expunges or seals it. There are guidelines for expunging arrest records in Cass County. However, not all arrest records can be expunged or sealed according to state laws.

Expunge Cass County Arrest Records

Expungement is a legal process for erasing or removing files from public domains and making them inaccessible to the general public. In Cass County, you can expunge arrest records by petitioning the county court that has jurisdiction over such offenses.

Who is eligible to expunge arrest records in Cass County?

You can expunge non-conviction arrest records if you fulfill the following criteria:

• Three years have passed since the petitioner was arrested.
• The petitioner was acquitted of a felony or misdemeanor charge.
• The petitioner was not charged in court.

To expunge arrest records that led to a criminal conviction, you must fulfill these requirements:

• It is more than three years since the petitioner completed the court sentence for a misdemeanor offense.
• The petitioner’s conduct proves they are not a threat to public safety.
• The petitioner has satisfied all the court dispositions, including the payment of fines.
• It is more than seven years since the petitioner completed the court sentence for a felony conviction.
• There are no pending charges.
• The expungement does not affect the public welfare.

How to expunge arrest records in Cass County

Use the following instructions to expunge arrest records in Cass County:

1. Create a petition that includes the following details:
   1. The petitioner's name, aliases, and physical features like sex, age, and race.
   2. Petitioner’s current address
   3. A list of offenses to be expunged
   4. Arrest or conviction date
   5. Case number
   6. The county name
   7. The name of the county court that handled the case
   8. List of custodian agencies
2. Submit the petition to the county court that has jurisdiction over such cases.

The court clerk will send a copy of the petition to the prosecuting attorney's office. The attorney's office has up to thirty days to raise an objection in writing against the petition.

Within sixty days of receiving the petition, the county court will hold a hearing to consider it and any objections raised by the attorney's office. Next, if the petition is granted, the court typically issues an order to expunge.

Cass County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are court orders that enforce the arrests of persons suspected of breaking the law or violating court orders. Cass County judges issue arrest warrants upon receiving a complaint or affidavit from law enforcement agencies. Judges may sometimes issue arrests if a defendant fails to honor the court summons.

In Cass County, arrest warrants typically contain this information:

• The defendant's personal information, including name, aliases, sex, age, and current address.
• Criminal charges
• Warrant number
• Arresting agency's name
• Court official's signature.

Cass County Arrest Warrant Search

The Cass County Sheriff's Office maintains a searchable database for all active arrest warrants issued in the county. Inquirers may search warrants by inputting the defendant's name into the allocated searches box.

Do Cass County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants do not expire in Cass County unless the record subject is arrested or the court withdraws them. Note that active arrest warrants remain valid even after the statute of limitation has elapsed.