Laclede County Arrest Records

Laclede County arrest records are official documents that contain information about apprehended offenders or suspects. The Laclede County Sheriff's Office is the custodian of these records. Generally, arrest records provide vital details on incarcerated individuals and the nature of the offenses they committed. Arrest records are public records in Laclede County and can be obtained online or at the record custodian's office. These records serve several purposes: background checks, legal proceedings (especially when included in Laclede County court records), and personal awareness. While arrest records play significant roles in the judicial process, they do not equate to a conviction. An arrestee is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a Laclede County court.

Are Arrest Records Public in Laclede County?

Yes. The Missouri Sunshine Law gives the public access to the arrest records of local or state law enforcement agencies. These agencies disseminate their records to anyone during business hours and restrict access to some records to persons named on them, legal representatives, criminal justice agencies, and individuals with court orders. Typically, the following arrest records are deemed confidential in Laclede County:

• Arrest records of minors
• The medical records of offenders
• A mobile video recording of an arrest that is done in a confidential location
• Any arrest record whose disclosure poses a clear danger to the safety of anyone
• Mobile video recordings and investigative reports of law enforcement agencies
• Any report of an arrest where there are no charges against the arrestee within thirty (30) days of the arrest.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Typically, a Laclede County arrest record contains the following information:

• Arrest date and time
• The offender's full name, age, and gender
• Charges and the inmate's release information

Laclede County Arrest Statistics

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Statistical Analysis Center, Laclede County recorded approximately 986 arrests in 2018. Of these, 198 were classified as index arrests, while 788 were categorized as non-index arrests.

Find Laclede County Arrest Records

The Missouri Department of Corrections (MODOC) has approximately 23,000 offenders in 19 institutions and about 52,000 on probation and parole. The arrest records of these offenders, including those from Laclede County, are available online and in person at the institutions. Individuals can submit online requests using the Offender Search tool. The search criteria are DOC ID and name.

Laclede County arrest records can also be found online, by mail, or in person at federal law enforcement agencies. Most agencies make their records available to members of the public. For example, the United States Capitol Police (USCP) permits anyone to view or obtain copies of arrest summary reports online and by mail.

Free Arrest Record Search in Laclede County

The Missouri State Highway Patrol provides an Online Arrest Reports portal that allows users to access Laclede County arrest records at no cost. Individuals can locate the information they need by entering or selecting the relevant details in the search field or browsing through the available records on the site. Users can select "Laclede" as the arrest county to facilitate the search.

Numerous third-party websites offer free searches for arrest records, usually requiring a name to initiate the search. These platforms typically provide basic arrest information within minutes, which is sufficient to identify the record. However, users seeking detailed arrest reports must pay a fee.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

According to the Missouri Secretary of State's (SOS) Sheriff Records Retention Schedule, some arrest records such as logs, files, registers, register IDs, fingerprints, and booking sheets are retained for five (5) years. However, other arrests remain on record forever. For example, incident reports or files of Class A felonies are permanent.

Expunge Laclede County Arrest Records

An expungement is the court process where an arrest record is sealed or destroyed. A Laclede County court will only expunge arrest records of individuals that meet the eligibility criteria outlined in RSMo § 610.122. An eligible applicant can commence the expungement of their arrest records by filing a CR 145 Petition for Expungement of Arrest Records Form with the Laclede County Circuit Clerk's Office. A filing fee of $250 surcharge is required, but the court can waive fees for indigent petitioners. The clerk will notify the prosecuting attorney of the petition. The attorney had thirty days to respond to the notice after service receipt. If the attorney does not object to the expungement, the court will hold a hearing within 60 days of the response. The judge will sign an expungement order if they determine that the petitioner meets all the expungement criteria. The clerk will send a copy of the order to the petitioner and relevant entities maintaining the petitioner's arrest records.

Laclede County Arrest Warrants

A court will issue an arrest warrant when a complaint shows probable cause that a misdemeanor or felony has been committed and the suspect poses a danger to others or will not appear in court (Mo. R. Crim. P. 22.04 and 21.3). According to Mo. R. Crim. P. 22.05 and 21.6, arrest warrants must be in writing and issued in the state's name. The issuing court will direct the warrant to any peace officer in Missouri. A typical arrest warrant must contain the following:

• The defendant's name or any name or description that will help identify the defendant with reasonable certainty
• A description of the crime charged in the complaint or indictment
• The issuing date and county
• A command that the defendant be arrested and brought before a designated court.
• The signature of the judge or clerk

A peace officer can execute an arrest warrant anywhere in the state. Although the officer does not need the warrant during the arrest, they may be required to provide proof of its issuance at some point during apprehension or before detention.

Do Laclede County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In general, arrest warrants do not expire. They remain active until the individual named in the warrant is arrested or confirmed deceased. Once issued, an arrest warrant becomes a court matter, and individuals are advised to address it promptly rather than wait for law enforcement to carry out the arrest.