Polk County Arrest Records

Polk County, Missouri, arrest records offer details on all arrest-related incidents. Information searchers often receive such records from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement agencies or other public documents, such as criminal records. For instance, Polk County court records may include arrest information.

Are Arrest Records Public in Polk County?

Yes. The Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo) Section 610.100 grants the general public the right to view and make copies of official documents, including arrest records. Consequently, anyone can request Polk County arrest records created and stored by law enforcement agencies carrying out their constitutional duties unless otherwise stated by the RSMo and other statutes.

Nevertheless, the RSMo exempts certain arrest records from public disclosure to protect privacy and security. These include records that may identify uncharged suspects and disclose confidential information, witnesses, or specific investigative techniques. Also exempted are details that might threaten the lives or safety of law enforcement officers, victims, witnesses, or confidential informants.

Specifically, mobile video recordings in nonpublic locations, Social Security, residence phones, bank accounts, debit/credit card, and emergency phone numbers are closed to the public. Others are juvenile records, arrest details with sensitive medical data, and records deemed confidential by law.

Interested parties seeking Polk County arrest records may contact the County Sheriff's Office at:

113 East Jefferson
Bolivar, Missouri 65613
Phone: (417) 777-9020
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Polk County Arrest Statistics

As shown by 5-year statistical data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), the Polk County Sheriff’s Office made 402 arrests between 2019 and 2023. The gender split of the arrest figures revealed that males accounted for 71.39% (287) of all arrests during the period, while females made up 28.61% (115).

The racial composition of all arrests during the review period suggested that Whites were the predominant racial group arrested for various offenses, with 94.53% (380), followed by individuals whose racial identities were unknown with 3.23% (13). Others include Blacks or African Americans, who accounted for 1.74% (7), and American Indians or Alaska Natives with 0.50% (2) of all arrests.

A breakdown of the type of offenses law enforcement officers detained offenders for between 2019 and 2023 showed that all other offenses aside from traffic were commonest, with 22.61% (104), followed by simple assault at 17.61% (81). Unspecified assault and possession of dangerous nonnarcotic drugs constituted 9.57% (44) each.

Find Polk County Arrest Records

At the state level, information seekers looking for inmates' arrest records may use the Missouri Department of Corrections' Offender Search Tool, accessible through the Department of Corrections' website.

Using the search engine, users may search for inmates currently incarcerated in the state's prison via their first and last name or Department of Corrections (DOC) ID.

Searches on the platform return information such as the inmates' physical descriptors, birth dates, booking photographs, DOC Numbers, assigned locations, addresses, aliases, and sentence summaries.

At the federal level, searchers looking for offenders detained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may use the Federal Inmate Locator or Online Detainee Locator System, respectively.

Polk County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In terms of purpose, scope, and content, arrest records are different from criminal records.

In Polk County, local law enforcement agencies, including the Sheriff's Office, create arrest records when someone is taken into custody on suspicion of a crime. These records document instances where an individual is believed to have committed an unlawful act. However, having an arrest record does not imply they were found guilty of the crime.

Even if someone is found not guilty of the charges leveled against them, their arrest record will remain on record indefinitely. Since arrest records reflect accusations rather than convictions, the public is typically not allowed access to the personal information of individuals with such records under the Freedom of Information Act and other applicable laws.

On the other hand, a person's interactions with the criminal justice and court systems are detailed in their criminal record. These records document arrests, trials, convictions, and sentences.

Typically, less serious offenses like traffic violations and minor theft are associated with arrest records. Crimes of a more serious nature, like robbery, rape, or murder, tend to dominate criminal records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Like in other parts of Missouri, a Polk County arrest record stays on a person's record unless they seek the expungement or sealing of such information through the courts.

Under Missouri law, most Polk County arrest records may be expunged, but these offenses have varying eligibility requirements:

• Individuals with felony convictions qualify for expungement 3 years after finishing their sentence or probationary terms.
• Those with misdemeanor convictions are eligible 1 year after the fulfillment of their sentence or probationary terms. However, they must not incur any fresh convictions during the waiting period.
• Individuals with first-time alcohol-related convictions (except for those involving commercial vehicles) must undergo a 10-year waiting period before filing for expungement.
• Specific offenses, such as all Class A felonies and dangerous felonies, do not qualify for expungement.

Polk County Arrest Warrants

Polk County arrest warrants are legal orders issued by a judge or magistrate authorizing law enforcement to arrest someone suspected of committing a crime.

Before an arrest warrant is issued, probable cause must be established through a complaint or affidavits. This probable cause may consist of credible hearsay evidence.

The process begins with the filing of a complaint. If the judge or magistrate believes the evidence is sufficient, they issue the warrant.

A typical Polk County arrest warrant comprises the defendant’s name or a description that adequately identifies them, a description of the offense, and the applicable law or ordinance. When a warrant is issued after a defendant fails to appear in court, it orders the defendant’s arrest and states bail conditions or detention until a court appearance.

Do Polk County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. It does not matter what type of warrant is involved; they remain active indefinitely. They will remain effective until the subject of the warrant appears in court, passes away, or a judge quashes them. Since Missouri has a statute of limitation for several crimes, a warrant may be nullified if the statute of limitation expires. In rare cases, a judge may revoke an arrest warrant, such as when new evidence reveals that the individual named in the warrant is no longer a suspect.