Missouri Criminal Records
Missouri criminal records are maintained by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, county sheriff offices, and the statewide court system. The Missouri Automated Criminal History Site lets any member of the public run a name-based background check online, while the courts keep case files that are open to the public through Missouri Case.net. You can also request records in person at any county courthouse or sheriff office across all 114 Missouri counties. This page covers the main state systems and links to each county and city where criminal records are kept locally.
Missouri Criminal Records Quick Facts
How to Search Missouri Criminal Records
Missouri gives the public three main paths to access criminal records. The first is the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site, a state-run online portal that accepts name-based and fingerprint-based requests. The second is Missouri Case.net, which is free and covers all 114 circuit courts in the state without requiring an account. The third is going in person to a county sheriff office or courthouse, where staff can pull files and provide certified copies for a fee.
Which path works best depends on what you need. MACHS returns compiled criminal history from law enforcement agencies across Missouri. Case.net shows court filings, case dispositions, and charge information for every circuit court case in the state. In-person requests at a courthouse give you access to the full case file and let you get certified copies. Many people use more than one source because each system covers different types of data and different time periods.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol Criminal Justice Information Services Division is the central repository for criminal history in Missouri. The CJIS Division compiles arrest records, conviction data, and case dispositions from agencies across the state and makes that information available through MACHS and fingerprint-based checks. The division is located at the Annex Building, 1510 East Elm Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101. You can reach them by phone at (573) 526-6153.
Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS)
MACHS is Missouri's one-stop portal for criminal history checks. It has two portals: the Name Search Portal and the Fingerprint Search Portal. Name-based searches cost $15.00 per request plus a small convenience fee. These return a "possible match" to the name you enter and are limited to open records. Open records include convictions, arrests less than 30 days old, charges that are still pending, and records where a suspended imposition of sentence is active during probation. Any member of the public can run a name search without getting the subject's consent.
Fingerprint-based searches cost $20.00 for a state-only check, with an additional $13.25 for an FBI background check. These are considered a "positive match" because the prints tie directly to one person. Fingerprint results include closed records and non-conviction data that name searches do not return. To get fingerprints captured, you schedule an appointment with IDEMIA, which charges $8.50 per applicant. The state adds a $5.00 fee if you want the results notarized. MACHS accepts all major credit cards online.
Processing for name-based checks runs 5-7 business days. Fingerprint-based state checks take 7-10 business days. Adding an FBI check pushes out-of-state print processing to 4-6 weeks. Mail requests go to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, CJIS Division, Post Office Box 9500, Jefferson City, MO 65102-9500.
Note: Name searches on MACHS will not show records that have been closed under Missouri Sunshine Law provisions, such as arrests where no charges were filed within 30 days.
Missouri Case.net Court Records
Case.net is the official online case management system for Missouri's circuit courts. The Missouri Court Automation Program runs it under the Office of State Courts Administrator, and it was created under RSMo Section 476.055. It covers all 114 counties and does not require registration. Access is free. You can search by litigant name, case number, filing date, or scheduled hearing date.
Criminal records in Case.net show charges filed, party names, court dates, docket entries, case status, and judgments. Actual document images are generally not available online. To get copies of documents in a case file, you contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the case was filed. Most clerks charge a per-page fee for standard copies and a higher rate for certified copies. Some clerks accept mail requests, but many want you to call ahead or come in person.
The "Track This Case" feature lets you sign up for email alerts when new entries are added to a specific case. This is useful if you are watching a case over time and want updates without having to log in and check manually.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol CJIS Division and Case.net together give the public access to nearly all public criminal justice data in Missouri. Use Case.net for court records and MACHS for compiled law enforcement history.
Missouri Department of Corrections Offender Search
The Missouri Department of Corrections Offender Web Search shows information about people currently under state supervision, including active probationers and parolees. You can search by first and last name, including known aliases. The system does not show discharged offenders, and some individuals may be excluded for safety or confidentiality reasons. This tool is free and does not require an account.
The Missouri Department of Corrections manages more than 11,000 employees across 21 facilities statewide, including two local area discharge centers. For questions about parole and probation status, you can contact the Parole Board directly at (573) 751-8488. Email inquiries go to probation.parole@doc.mo.gov. The department's main office is at 2729 Plaza Drive, P.O. Box 236, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
Missouri Sex Offender Registry
The Missouri State Highway Patrol maintains the Missouri Sex Offender Registry, which is a public resource that can be searched by name, date of birth, or address. At least one criterion must be entered to run a search. The registry uses both true names and known aliases. Results include compliant offenders, non-compliant offenders, absconders, incarcerated individuals, pending registrations, and offenders who have moved out of state.
Each entry in the registry includes photos, the current registration address, and offense details. The system also lets you find electronic accounts such as email addresses or social media profiles connected to registered offenders. You can search for non-compliant offenders specifically if needed. The toll-free help line is 1-888-SOR-MSHP (1-888-767-6747). The registry is updated regularly as law enforcement agencies report changes.
Under Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 610, most government records including law enforcement data are open to the public. The Sunshine Law creates the legal foundation for public access to criminal justice information in Missouri, including the sex offender registry and most arrest records held by state and county agencies.
Public Access and the Missouri Sunshine Law
Missouri's Sunshine Law is found in Chapter 610 of the Revised Statutes. It sets the public policy that records, meetings, and actions of government bodies must be open unless a specific exemption applies. For criminal records, Section 610.100 addresses arrest and incident reports, stating that all arrests, incidents, and investigation reports are public records when they are closed. Section 610.023 requires a records custodian to respond to a request as soon as possible but no later than three business days after receiving it.
Not every arrest stays public forever. Under Section 610.105, if a person is arrested but not charged within 30 days, that arrest record becomes closed to the general public. If charges are filed but later dismissed, or the person is found not guilty, those records also close. This is why a name-based MACHS search will not always show every arrest. Authorized parties using fingerprint-based checks can sometimes access closed records that the public cannot see.
Some records are always exempt from disclosure under Missouri law. These include active investigative files, records that would endanger a victim or witness, juvenile records, adoption files, and records containing personal identifying data such as Social Security numbers or financial account numbers. Sealing a court record requires a court order and is not common in most criminal cases.
Expungement of Criminal Records in Missouri
Missouri law allows eligible individuals to petition a court to have their criminal records expunged under RSMo Section 610.140. If the court grants the petition, all state agencies, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, county sheriff offices, and courts, must destroy their records of that arrest or conviction. This can remove the record from MACHS results and from Case.net searches.
Eligibility generally requires that the person have no other convictions (aside from minor traffic violations), no pending charges, all fines and restitution paid, and no threat to public safety. The court also weighs whether the expungement serves the public interest. For misdemeanors, at least three years must pass from the final case disposition. For felonies, the waiting period is at least seven years. A person can only expunge one felony and two misdemeanors over their lifetime in Missouri. If a court denies the petition, the applicant must wait one year to try again.
Expungement petitions are filed directly with the circuit court in the county where the original case was heard. The Missouri Family Care Safety Registry, maintained by the Department of Health and Senior Services, conducts background checks for workers in care settings and combines data from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Department of Social Services. Expunged records may affect these checks differently depending on the type of position and background check required.
Browse Missouri Criminal Records by County
Each county in Missouri has its own sheriff office and circuit court where criminal records are held. Select a county below to find local contact information, online tools, and resources for criminal records in that area.
View All 114 Missouri Counties
Missouri Criminal Records in Major Cities
Residents of major Missouri cities can look up criminal records through their local police department, the county courthouse, or the statewide MACHS and Case.net systems. Select a city below to find specific resources for that location.