Find St. Joseph Criminal Records

St. Joseph criminal records are held by several agencies in Buchanan County, including the circuit court clerk, the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office, and the St. Joseph Police Department, each maintaining different parts of the overall criminal history picture. This page explains where to search for St. Joseph criminal records, how to request documents from the police department's Records Unit, and how state systems like Case.net and MACHS connect to local files in St. Joseph.

St. Joseph Court Records and the Buchanan County Circuit Court

Criminal cases arising in St. Joseph are filed in Buchanan County Circuit Court at 411 Jules Street, St. Joseph, MO 64501. This court handles everything from traffic infractions to felony charges for defendants arrested in the city. The circuit clerk's office maintains case files, hearing schedules, bond information, and sentencing records. Public access to those files is guaranteed under Missouri's Sunshine Law, Chapter 610 of the Revised Statutes. Most records can be viewed in person at the courthouse during regular business hours.

Missouri's Case.net portal at courts.mo.gov/casenet gives you free online access to Buchanan County court records, including St. Joseph criminal cases. You can search by name, case number, or filing date without creating an account. Case.net shows charges, court dates, judgments, and dispositions. If a case went to trial or ended in a plea, the outcome appears on Case.net. Certified copies of any court document must be requested through the circuit clerk directly, and fees apply. Case.net is read-only and does not accept requests for records through the site itself. For a broader overview of records available in the area, the Buchanan County criminal records resource explains the different offices that hold case files in St. Joseph.

Note: Case.net may not show cases that were expunged or records sealed by court order. A search returning no results does not always mean no record exists.

St. Joseph Police Department Records Unit

The St. Joseph Police Department at 501 Faraon Street handles arrests and public safety within the city. Their main non-emergency line is (816) 271-4777. The police department's Records Unit is the place to request copies of police reports, arrest records, and incident documentation tied to St. Joseph criminal cases. The Records Unit processes public records requests under Missouri's Sunshine Law, which requires a response within three business days of a written request. The agency must either provide the record, deny it with a legal justification, or notify you that more time is needed.

Arrest records held by the St. Joseph Police Department reflect the charges at the time of booking. They are separate from the court record, which follows the case through to disposition. Someone arrested by St. Joseph police may have a police booking record even if charges were later dropped by the prosecutor. Both types of records are generally public under Section 610.100, RSMo, which governs the release of arrest information. The St. Joseph Police Department website has information on how to submit a records request and what formats are accepted.

The SJPD also provides fingerprinting services at the department. If you need a fingerprint-based background check for an official purpose, call ahead to confirm hours and any appointment requirements before going in person.

The image below is linked from the Buchanan County criminal records resource, which covers the main agencies handling St. Joseph public records.

The resource covers record access through both the St. Joseph Police Department and the Buchanan County Circuit Court for criminal matters.

MACHS Statewide Background Checks Covering St. Joseph

Missouri's Automated Criminal History Site, known as MACHS, at machs.mo.gov provides the most thorough criminal history background check available for St. Joseph residents and others across the state. MACHS draws from all Missouri law enforcement agency submissions, so arrests made by the St. Joseph Police Department and processed through Buchanan County are included in the database. A name-based search costs $15. A fingerprint-based check costs $20 and is more precise, tying the result to a biometric identity rather than a name match.

MACHS results carry more legal weight than searches through Case.net or third-party sites, because the data flows directly from law enforcement submissions to the Missouri State Highway Patrol's central repository. The MACHS system is maintained by the Highway Patrol's Criminal Records and Identification Division. If you need an official criminal history record for a legal, regulatory, or licensing purpose tied to someone with a St. Joseph connection, MACHS is the appropriate tool. The site guides you through the payment and submission process. Name-based results are returned electronically; fingerprint-based requests may take longer to process.

Note: MACHS covers Missouri state records only. Federal criminal history checks require a separate FBI submission process.

St. Joseph Arrest Records and the Buchanan County Jail

When someone is arrested in St. Joseph, they are typically held at the Buchanan County Jail pending bond or arraignment. The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office maintains the jail roster, which shows current detainees. The sheriff's office is a key source for recent arrest information not yet reflected in court filings on Case.net. Booking records generated at the jail are public under Missouri law, and the sheriff's office can provide them in response to a Sunshine Law request. Contact the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office for information on how to submit a request.

Arrest records from St. Joseph show the name of the person arrested, the charges listed at booking, the arresting agency, and the date and time of arrest. These records do not include the final outcome of any case. For that, you need the court record from the Buchanan County Circuit Court. Using both the arrest record and the court record together gives you the most complete picture of a criminal case originating in St. Joseph. The St. Joseph public records guide outlines additional agencies and record types available in the city beyond the police and the court.

St. Joseph and Missouri's Sex Offender Registry

The Missouri State Highway Patrol operates the Sex Offender Registry at mshp.dps.missouri.gov. Anyone who lives, works, or attends school in St. Joseph and is required to register must keep their information current with the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office. The registry is free to search and allows lookups by name, address, or date of birth. Offender profiles include a photo, home address, employer if applicable, and the offense that triggered the registration requirement.

Missouri law requires registered offenders to update their information when they move, change jobs, or enroll in school. Failure to comply is a separate criminal offense. Searching the registry for a St. Joseph address can confirm whether any registered offenders live nearby. The Highway Patrol updates the registry regularly based on reports from local law enforcement and the courts.

Expungement of St. Joseph Criminal Records

Missouri's expungement law at RSMo 610.140 allows some people with St. Joseph criminal records to petition to have those records sealed. The waiting period is three years from the completion of sentence for most misdemeanors and seven years for most felonies. The petition is filed in the Buchanan County Circuit Court, where the original case was heard. Not all offenses qualify. Certain violent crimes, weapons offenses, and sex crimes are excluded by statute regardless of how much time has passed.

After a petition is filed in St. Joseph's circuit court, the prosecuting attorney receives notice and may appear to contest the petition. A hearing may be set. If the court grants expungement, the record is removed from Case.net and most public databases. Law enforcement agencies and certain state licensing boards may still access expunged records in specific situations defined by law. An attorney familiar with Missouri expungement procedures can help evaluate whether a St. Joseph criminal record qualifies and what the process involves.

• File in Buchanan County Circuit Court, 411 Jules Street, St. Joseph
• Three-year wait for most misdemeanor convictions
• Seven-year wait for most felony convictions
• Certain offenses are excluded from eligibility under RSMo 610.140
• Prosecutor must be notified and may contest the petition

Missouri DOC Offender Search for St. Joseph Cases

If someone arrested in St. Joseph received a state prison sentence, the Missouri Department of Corrections tracks them in its Offender Search database at web.mo.gov/doc/offSearchWeb/. The search is free and open to the public. You can look up a person by name to see whether they are currently incarcerated in a state facility, on parole, on probation, or have completed their sentence. This database is distinct from the court record and the police arrest record. It covers the corrections side of the criminal justice process for people whose St. Joseph cases resulted in a state prison term. Local jail time served at the Buchanan County Jail would not appear here.

The DOC search is most useful when a court case on Case.net shows a prison sentence was imposed and you want to know the current status. It supplements rather than replaces the other records available for St. Joseph criminal history research.

Buchanan County Criminal Records Page

For county-wide information covering all of St. Joseph's jurisdiction and surrounding areas, including courthouse details and other resources managed at the county level, visit the county page below.