Warren County Arrest Records

Warren County arrest records are detailed reports that provide information about the apprehension of individuals within the county. These records are generated and preserved by law enforcement agencies following arrests they make.

In Warren County, a law enforcement officer can make an arrest if they have an arrest warrant for a prospective arrestee. However, arrest warrants are not always required. Per RSMo § 544.216 and § 544.218, law enforcement officers can make an arrest without an arrest warrant when they have reasonable grounds to believe the prospective arrestee has violated a state law or ordinance.

Generally, Warren County arrest records are used to document arrests. Although an arrest record is not an admission of guilt, it is a detailed criminal justice record that interested persons can review to learn about an individual criminal history, specifically arrests. Furthermore, some government entities use arrest records to create or compile different official records. These include criminal history records maintained by the Missouri Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division and arrest statistics reports provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Arrest records may also be featured in some public records, such as Warren County Court Records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Warren County?

Yes. RSMo § 610.100 2(1) states that incident and arrest records maintained by all municipal, county, and state law enforcement agencies in Missouri, including Warren County, are open records. Hence, anybody can access Warren County arrest records through relevant custodians, such as local law enforcement agencies.

However, there are certain circumstances where law enforcement agencies are allowed to close an arrest record to the public. For instance, if an individual was arrested and not charged with a crime, their arrest report will be closed per RSMo § 610.100 2(3). Furthermore, juvenile and expunged arrest records are also exempt from being open under state or federal statutes.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Typically, information found in Warren County public arrest records includes the following:

• The arrestee's personal information - full name, address, and date of birth
• The arrestee's physical features - height, weight, gender, race, eye and hair color, and unique features (i.e., tattoos, scars, and piercings)
• Arrest details - the arrestee's mugshot, arresting agency's information, and arrest date, time, and location
• Description of the offense and charges - class of offense (i.e., misdemeanor or felony) and degree
• Booking information - booking date, time, and facility,
• Bond/bail details (if applicable)

Warren County Arrest Statistics

The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Standard Summary Reports (SRS) reveal that 756 arrests were recorded in Warren County in 2022. In contrast, the county saw a 32.6% drop in arrests in 2023, accounting for 544 arrests. The provided breakdown of the 2023 arrests shows that 510 arrestees were adults and 34 were juveniles. Furthermore, drug abuse violations (148), drug possession violations (131), and dangerous nonnarcotic violations (103) were the offenses with the highest number of arrests in 2023.

Find Warren County Arrest Records

Warren County arrest records are primarily generated and preserved by local law enforcement agencies, such as the Warren County Sheriff's Department and municipal police department. Therefore, interested persons can contact these agencies to find Warren County arrest records.

In Warren County, local law enforcement agencies typically only maintain records for arrests they were responsible for executing or facilitating. Hence, the record seeker must be able to ascertain the agency responsible for an arrest to direct their arrest record inquiries adequately. Generally, local police departments are responsible for most arrests within their respective municipalities. Notwithstanding, the Warren County Sheriff's Department, state agencies like the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), and federal agencies like the FBI and ICE can also make arrests within Warren County.

Each agency's way of operating may differ in accepting and processing arrest requests or making these records available to the general public. Nonetheless, record seekers usually must provide information about the arrest record to identify it appropriately. This information includes the case number, incident's date, and subject's name.

Most local police departments in Warren County accept in-person and mail-in record requests, and some agencies provide a dedicated request form for record seekers to facilitate their requests. For example, record seekers can request arrest records from the Warrenton Police Department by completing the agency's Request For Public Records Form and submitting it in person or by mail to:

Warrenton City Hall - Police Department
200 West Booneslick
Warrenton, MO 63383

It is worth noting that the Warren County Sheriff's Department publishes weekly arrest reports online on the agency's Jail Info page. These reports contain information about individuals arrested by the County Sheriff's Department or other law enforcement agencies and booked in the Warren County Jail. Meanwhile, interested persons can also query the Warren County Sheriff's Department to request complete public arrest records. The agency has four (4) Records Clerk who process record requests and can be reached at:

West Main St.,
Suite A,
Warrenton, Missouri 63383
Phone: (636) 456-4332

Free Arrest Record Search in Warren County

Interested persons can find arrest records for free in Warren County by reviewing weekly arrest reports the Warren County Sheriff's Department publishes online. These reports are accessible through the agency's Jail Info page. Some local law enforcement agencies may also allow interested persons to inspect arrest records onsite for free during regular office hours. However, record seekers are usually charged a fee for copies of any record they request.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Missouri Statutes do not set a time limit for an arrest to stay on an individual's records. Hence, unless an arrest is expunged, it can remain on an individual's record forever.

Expunge Warren County Arrest Records

In Warren County, interested persons can get their arrest record expunged by filing an expungement petition with the County Circuit Court. The arrest records being petitioned must meet the eligibility requirements outlined in RSMo § 610.122 to be considered for expungement. According to the statute, an arrest record recorded pursuant to Section 43.503 may qualify for expungement if:

• A court determines the arrest was based on false information, and the following is true;
  • There is no probable cause to suggest the arrestee committed the offense when filing the expungement petition.
  • The arrest did not result in any charges.
  • The arrestee did not receive a suspended imposition of sentence for the offense that warranted the arrest or other offense related to the arrest.
• A court determines that an individual was arrested for or was subsequently charged with a misdemeanor offense described under Chapter 303 or any moving violation under Section 302.010 and;
  • The offense(s) or violation(s) related to the arrest was nolle prossed or dismissed, or the arrestee was found not guilty of each offense or violation.
  • The arrestee is not a commercial driver's license holder and was not operating a commercial vehicle when the arrest occurred.

Note that arrest records with a pending civil action and for any intoxication-related traffic offense(s) under Section 577.023 are generally not eligible for expungement. Furthermore, arrests for offenses under RSMo § 610.140(3) are also not eligible for expungement. Some examples include any class A felony offense, an offense that requires registration as a sex offender, and felony offenses where death is an element of the offense.

Generally, individuals are allowed to expunge two misdemeanors and one felony in their entire lifetime per RSMo § 610.140(13), and there are certain waiting periods for filing an expungement. These waiting periods vary based on the specifics of the case, and they include:

• A misdemeanor offense - three (3) years after the arrest or conviction
• A felony offense - Seven (7) years after arrest or conviction
• A first-time DWI (driving or boating) offense - 10 years after arrest or conviction

Petitioners may be charged up to $250 to file an expungement petition. However, if they can not afford the requested filing fee, they can complete and file the Motion and Affidavit in Support of Request to Proceed as a Poor Person to apply for a fee waiver. Eligible persons can use the Petition for Expungement of Arrest Records form (CR 145) provided by the Missouri Judiciary to request the expungement of their qualified records. Petitioners can complete the CR 145 form and file it with other request documentation to the Warren County Circuit Clerk's office. Subsequently, the state has 30 days to object to the petition; if not, the court will set a hearing 30 days after receiving the petition. If the state objects, the court will schedule a hearing 60 days after receiving the objection. After the hearing, the court may grant or deny the expungement petition.

Warren County Arrest Warrants

A Warren County arrest warrant is a court-issued document that directs law enforcement officers to arrest a defendant. When a prosecutor files information charging a defendant with a misdemeanor, a court may issue an arrest warrant if the information contains probable cause that the defendant committed the offense per Rule 21.03.

An arrest warrant can also be issued when a complaint is filed that shows probable cause that a defendant has committed a felony under Rule 22.04. According to Rule 21.06 and Rule 22.05, an arrest warrant must be in writing, issued in the name of the State of Missouri, and contain the following information;

• The defendant's name or a description that can be issued to identify the defendant with reasonable certainty.
• A description of the offense.
• The warrant's Issuance date and county.
• The condition(s) for the defendant's release (if any).
• The issuing court's signature or the clerk's signature at the direction of the court.

Do Warren County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Warren County arrest warrants do not expire and can remain in effect until the defendant is arrested, dies, or the issuing court recalls the warrant.