Are St. Louis County Records Public?

Yes. Many records created or maintained by St. Louis County agencies are public records under the provisions of the Missouri Sunshine Law (§ 610.010, et seq., RSMo) and Section 109.180 of the Public and Business Records Law (Chapter 109, RSMo).

Per § 610.010(6) RSMo, a public record includes any document, book, paper, photograph, map, sound recording, or other material—regardless of physical form or characteristics—that is retained by or of any public governmental body and made or received in connection with official business.

Unless exempt by specific provisions, public records of St. Louis County agencies are open to the public for inspection and copying as these agencies are subject to the Missouri Sunshine Law, except for judicial records like St. Louis county court records whose public access is directly governed by Court Operating Rule 2 (COR 2).

What is Exempted Under the Missouri Public Records Act?

While the Missouri Sunshine Law (codified in Chapter 610, RSMo) promotes transparency in government operations by mandating that government records be open to the public, it, however, includes certain exemptions to, where necessary, protect individual privacy, maintain confidentiality, safeguard public safety, and maintain the integrity of agency operations.

When a record contains both open and exempt information, the exempt portions are redacted, and the remaining information is disclosed. If an entire record qualifies for exemption, it is withheld entirely.

Under § 610.021 RSMo, exempt records include:

• Attorney-client privileged communications and litigation records
• Personnel medical and discipline records
• Security-related information
• Law enforcement investigative reports and intelligence records
• Records related to the purchase or sale of property by a public body until the transaction is finalized
• Trade secrets
• Attorney work product
• Law enforcement confidential informants information.

Certain individuals or entities may retain access even if a record is exempt from public disclosure. These typically include the record subject(s), their authorized representatives, and government agencies and officials needing the records for official purposes.

St. Louis County Public Record Search

Individuals can submit requests to St. Louis County agencies to search public records. However, the process begins with identifying the type of record being sought and the government agency that serves as its custodian.

Once this information is determined, requests can be submitted to the applicable agency. Depending on the agency’s accepted methods, individuals can submit their search queries in person, online, or by mail. Additionally, they can search online databases maintained by county agencies for public records.

Generally, individuals can find information and instructions for requesting or searching public records via the official websites of public agencies (e.g., via "Sunshine Requests" links). For example, individuals can use St. Louis County’s "Sunshine Requests" link to submit requests for St. Louis County public records. Alternatively, they can visit specific links on the county’s official website, such as "Birth and Death Records," "Personal Property Search," or "Real Estate Search".

Requesters should note that fees may apply, particularly for record duplication. Agencies will only provide records that exist at the time of the request, and retrieval depends on requests being specific and containing sufficient details to identify the record.

Under the Missouri Sunshine Law, public governmental bodies must respond to records requests no later than three business days after receiving the request. The custodian must explain the delay and provide an estimated date and time when the record will be available if a record cannot be provided within this timeframe.

Find Public Records For Free in St. Louis County

Individuals can submit "Sunshine Requests" to St. Louis County to find public records for free. However, they may be charged fees if duplication and certification of these records are required. Additionally, they can contact the offices of the custodian agencies, especially in person, to lookup a public record for free.

Otherwise, individuals can access these records for free through unofficial websites operated by independent vendors. These sites aggregate government records from multiple sources and make them publicly available. While they allow searches across several jurisdictions, not all are free. Some charge one-time or ongoing subscription fees to provide public records searches, especially for detailed records. Users should note that these sites may not always contain up-to-date or accurate information.

How to Remove Information From Public Records Free

Individuals should contact the applicable custodian agency for the requirements and steps to remove information from the public record. Generally, information related to a criminal record can only be removed from public record if it's eligible for expungement (sealing or destruction) under Missouri's expungement law (§§ 610.130 to 610.145 RSMo).

If incorrect or outdated information on a public record needs to be removed, the record subject should submit a correction request to the agency maintaining the record. This often requires submitting documentation to prove the error.

For other reasons, such as privacy, requests can be made to the agency to redact or remove the personal information, depending on the agency's policies.

Who Can Access St. Louis County Public Records in Missouri?

According to section §610.023 of the Missouri Revised Statutes (Sunshine Law), each public governmental body shall make available for inspection and copying by the public of that body's public records. This means anyone, regardless of residency or citizenship, can request access to public records in Missouri, provided the records are not exempt under specific provisions. Anyone in this sense includes individuals, businesses, organizations, and media representatives.

What Happens if I Am Refused a Public Records Request?

The Missouri Sunshine Law grants the public the right to request inspection or duplication of public records. However, requests for public records in St. Louis County can be denied or rejected in certain cases for some reasons, including:

• Exempt records: Public agencies will reject requests for records restricted under §610.021 RSMo.
• Incomplete or broad requests: If the request is vague or fails to specify the records needed, the agency may reject it.
• Wrong custodian: Requests submitted to the wrong governmental body or custodian are typically denied.
• Refusal to pay copy fees: A public records request can be denied if the requester refuses to pay the required duplication or copying fees. Per §610.026 RSMo, St. Louis County agencies are permitted to charge fees, which include the cost of duplication as well as the cost of research and labor involved in duplication. Failure to pay these fees may result in the agency denying or rejecting a request.

Under section §610.027 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, a requester who believes their request was wrongfully denied can file a lawsuit in the St. Louis Circuit Court for a writ of mandate or an injunction to compel the public agency to release the records. If the court determines that the denial was erroneous, it may impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 and award court costs and reasonable attorney's fees to the litigant.