St. Louis County Criminal Records
St. Louis County criminal records are maintained by the County Police Department, the Circuit Court in Clayton, and the Bureau of Central Police Records. Residents can search criminal records through Case.net, the MACHS statewide database, and the Department of Justice Services inmate locator, all of which cover St. Louis County arrests and court cases.
St. Louis County Quick Facts
St. Louis County Arrest Records and Police Reports
The St. Louis County Police Department handles law enforcement for the unincorporated portions of the county and also assists municipalities when needed. Police reports from St. Louis County are held by the Bureau of Central Police Records, located at 7900 Forsyth, Clayton, Missouri. Each police report copy costs $6.50. You can request reports in person or by mail. The Bureau of Central Police Records is the correct office for requesting incident and arrest reports tied to the St. Louis County Police Department.
The St. Louis County government also maintains a Department of Justice Services with an online inmate locator. If someone has been arrested and is being held in the St. Louis County Jail, the inmate locator can confirm their custody status. The Department of Justice Services manages jail operations and keeps current booking records accessible to the public.
In 2018, St. Louis County recorded 3,525 violent crimes and 22,422 property crimes. These figures come from reporting to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. The volume of arrests in St. Louis County is substantial, and the county's records systems reflect that scale. Multiple agencies contribute arrest data, so your search may need to cover more than one source.
The St. Louis County criminal records portal brings together public data on arrests and court cases tied to the county.
The St. Louis County Sheriff operates from the Civil Courts Building at 10 North Tucker Boulevard, 8th Floor, St. Louis, MO 63101, and can be reached at (314) 622-4851 for civil process and related records inquiries.
St. Louis County Court Records and Case.net
St. Louis County criminal cases are filed in the 21st Judicial Circuit, the busiest circuit court in Missouri. All circuit court records for St. Louis County are searchable through Case.net, the state's free court search tool. Case.net covers all 114 Missouri circuit courts and lets you search by name, case number, or filing date. Results show criminal charges, court dates, attorneys, and final dispositions at no cost.
The St. Louis County criminal records resource page provides additional guidance on navigating the county's court system and identifying the right office for specific record types. For certified copies of court documents, contact the Circuit Clerk directly at the Clayton courthouse.
Criminal history checks for St. Louis County records have set fees. A check covering county records only costs $4.50. A check covering both city and county records costs $9.00. These fees apply to certain formal background check requests processed through the county. For general public searches, Case.net remains free.
Note: St. Louis City and St. Louis County are separate jurisdictions. A search of St. Louis County records will not include cases from St. Louis City's courts, and vice versa.
MACHS Criminal History - St. Louis County
Missouri's Automated Criminal History Site, MACHS, is maintained by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and available at machs.mo.gov. It holds arrest and conviction data contributed by all Missouri law enforcement agencies, including the St. Louis County Police Department, the St. Louis County Sheriff, and all municipal police departments operating within St. Louis County. A name-based search costs $15. Fingerprint checks cost $20 and produce the most thorough results.
Because St. Louis County has dozens of municipalities with their own police departments, MACHS is especially useful here. A single MACHS search returns records from all participating agencies statewide, so you do not have to contact each city's police department separately. This makes MACHS the most efficient option when you need a broad view of someone's Missouri criminal history tied to St. Louis County.
MACHS does not show federal criminal history. Federal cases in the Eastern District of Missouri can be searched through PACER at pacer.gov. This matters for white-collar and federal drug cases that may involve St. Louis County defendants.
St. Louis County Arrest Records Online
The St. Louis County arrest records page provides a guide to accessing booking information and arrest history for the county. Arrests made by the St. Louis County Police Department are logged at booking and become part of the public record under Missouri's Sunshine Law. Section 610.100 RSMo makes most arrest records open to public inspection.
One important rule: if a person is arrested in St. Louis County but not charged within 30 days, that arrest record becomes a closed record. The agency is no longer required to release it publicly. If you request an arrest record and are told it is closed, that is likely the reason. This 30-day rule applies to all Missouri agencies, not just St. Louis County.
For active inmates, contact the St. Louis County Department of Justice Services directly. For older arrest records, the Bureau of Central Police Records at 7900 Forsyth in Clayton handles requests for the County Police Department.
Sex Offender Registry for St. Louis County
The Missouri Sex Offender Registry, run by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, covers all registered offenders statewide, including those living in St. Louis County. You can search by name, address, or date of birth. The county's size and population mean there are many registered offenders, and the registry is updated as people move in, move out, or change address within the county.
Registered offenders in St. Louis County must register with the Sheriff's Office and keep their information current. The Sheriff's Office is located at the Civil Courts Building, 10 North Tucker Boulevard, 8th Floor, St. Louis, MO 63101, phone (314) 622-4851. Failing to register or update a registration is a felony in Missouri. The registry is free and open to the public at all times.
Expungement of St. Louis County Criminal Records
Missouri's expungement law, RSMo 610.140, allows eligible people to petition the circuit court in the county where the original conviction occurred. For St. Louis County cases, petitions go to the 21st Judicial Circuit in Clayton. Waiting periods are three years for misdemeanors and seven years for felonies. Missouri allows one felony expungement or two misdemeanor expungements per lifetime. Not every offense qualifies, and Class A felonies and dangerous felonies are generally excluded.
The process requires filing a petition, notifying all relevant agencies, and attending a hearing before a circuit judge. If granted, the record is sealed from public view and most employer background checks. Legal aid organizations in St. Louis County can help income-eligible residents navigate the expungement process. Private attorneys who handle expungements can also be found through the Missouri Bar Lawyer Referral Service.
Note: Even after expungement, some licensing boards, law enforcement agencies, and courts may still access the sealed record. Check with an attorney about how expungement affects your specific situation.