St. Louis County Arrest Records

In St. Louis County, an arrest record is an official documentation created by law enforcement when an individual is detained and booked into the county jail. Under Missouri's Sunshine Law (RSMo. Chapter 610), public access to these records is grounded on transparency and accountability. This not only allows citizens to know how law enforcement agencies exercise their authority but also allows them to track arrest activity in the county. The law also requires governmental bodies to make certain arrest records available to the public. However, RSMo governs criminal offender record information. § 43.500-43.543, a different statutory law. Making these records accessible fosters trust between Missouri's public and law enforcement agencies.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Missouri?

Yes. Most arrest records in Missouri are public records under RSMo. § 610.100. This law allows all state and local law enforcement agencies to make arrest records available upon request. In other words, anyone can view or make copies of St. Louis County arrest records for examination or official purposes.

Although arrest records are generally open, specific categories of information are exempt from disclosure under the Missouri Sunshine Law and provisions. The following is some arrest information exempted to ensure safety and protect ongoing legal processes:

• Investigative reports of all law enforcement agencies are not open until the investigation becomes inactive.
• Arrest report on any person arrested and not charged with an offense against the law within thirty days of the person's arrest.
• Any information in any suspicious activity report that, if disclosed, has the potential to endanger the health or safety of an individual.
• Juvenile arrest records are automatically sealed (RSMo. § 211.321)

St. Louis County Arrest Search

The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) - Criminal Justice Information Service (CJIS) division maintains Missouri's central repository of criminal history record information (RSMo. § 43.500). These records include information from felony and serious misdemeanor arrests and alcohol and drug-related traffic offenses.

• A request for a personal identifier or Name-based search may be completed online through the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS). Interested persons can perform this search for a $15.00 payment fee per request.
• A fingerprint-based check is also available. It requires a completed applicant fingerprint card (FD-258) and a fee of $20.00 per request.

The Missouri judiciary provides Case.net, an online portal that gives the public access to the Missouri Statewide Court Automation Case Management System. Search results are from arrests that led to criminal charges in St. Louis County Circuit Court (21st Judicial Circuit). The portal is searchable by litigant name, filing date, case number, and scheduled hearings & trials.

For arrests that lead to imprisonment, the Missouri Department of Corrections (MODOC) provides an Offender Search tool to locate individuals in state custody. Users can search for arrest information on certain offenders using the DOC number or the first and last name.

For arrests that lead to federal charges in Missouri, interested persons can access St. Louis County criminal case information online through Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER). However, the user must register and pay a small fee to complete a search.

St. Louis County Inmate Locator

The St. Louis County Police DepartmentBureau of Central Police Records maintains arrest reports and booking information made by law enforcement in the county. Following the Missouri Sunshine Law, individuals can request arrest information at the headquarters and submit the request to the Records Division at 7900 Forsyth Blvd, Clayton, MO 63105, or through email. The St. Louis County Police Department also has an online Sunshine Law Request Portal where individuals can search or file requests.

Active Warrant Search in St. Louis County

An arrest warrant in St. Louis County is an order issued by a judge of the Circuit Court, enforced by police officers to make an arrest (RSMo. § 544.180). When an officer has reasonable evidence that a person is a suspect or responsible for a crime, an arrest can be made at any place and time using an official warrant. The judge will only authorize and sign the warrant if probable cause is established.

The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office is usually responsible for executing and serving court orders issued by the St. Louis County Circuit Court, including arrest warrants. Unlike some Missouri counties, St. Louis County does not provide a public online warrant search tool due to privacy concerns. Contact the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office directly to inquire about active warrants in the county.

A typical arrest warrant contains the defendant's name, offense, date of arrest, court appearance, and judge's name and signature.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in St. Louis County

To find St. Louis County arrest records of persons currently in custody for free, contact the St. Louis County Department of Justice Services. The department is in charge of the management and operations of the St. Louis County Jail to provide secure custody to incarcerated individuals. The inmate locator tool is available online for individuals to search for arrest information by first and last names.

Alternatively, police officers from the St Louis County Police Department and other municipal police departments usually make arrests and bookings in the county. Eligible requesters may consider visiting the closest police department to where an arrest occurred to access the arrest logs for free.

St. Louis County Arrest Report

An arrest report is a narrative document prepared by the arresting officer, describing the circumstances of the arrest in detail. RSMo § 610.100 defines it as a written police report of a law enforcement agency of an arrest and of any detention or confinement incident thereto, together with a charge therefor. It may include information on the probable cause for the arrest, names of parties involved, evidence collected, and Miranda Rights.

Arrest records, on the other hand, are the official entry that documents the fact that a person was taken into custody in the county. They are created when law enforcement books an individual into a case-management system. Examples of information in arrest records are the date and location of the arrest, booking number, arresting agency, charges, and more.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in St. Louis County

In St. Louis County, expungement of arrest records is governed by RSMo. § 610.140 to destroy or erase records for a specific incident involving the applicant. However, Missouri law enforcement agencies, judges, and authorized employers may be able to view a sealed record. However, interested persons should meet the following eligibility requirements (RSMo. § 610.122) to expunge arrest records in the county:

• If the person was arrested but not convicted, the case was dismissed, or the person was found not guilty.
• Certain convictions may also be expunged, provided the offense is not a violent felony, sex offense, domestic assault, or DUI.
• At least 3 years (for misdemeanors) or 7 years (for felonies) have passed since completion of sentence or probation.
• The person does not have pending charges or civil actions related to the arrest or records to be expunged.

The following are the procedures for filing for an arrest record expungement:

• File a petition with the 21st Judicial Circuit Court using the Petition for Expungement of Arrest Records (CR 145)
• Make copies of all documents for future reference.
• Fill and submit the form and other related documents to the County Court Clerk.
• Pay a fee of up to $100. However, in cases where the individual cannot pay the fee, a fee waiver request can be made at the Clerk of Court's Office.
• Attend the hearing on the expungement petition. Once the petition is filed, the state court has 30 days to accept or object to the petition.

Upon granting the expungement petition, the court will order all record custodians to close or destroy the records.

How Do You Remove Arrest Records From the Internet?

Without expungement, arrest records may remain on the internet and eventually be made public in St. Louis County. Individuals interested in removing arrest records from the internet should file a petition for expungement with the County's Circuit Court. The court will order the removal of the record, which may take time to update in public and private databases.

If the record expungement is granted, the Missouri Judiciary can remove it from Missouri case.net and local police search websites. Furthermore, record custodians or divisions will receive the court order as a record request removal.

An alternative is to contact mugshot websites and background check services to request record removal. Even if the government seals the arrest record, private sites may still display it. However, a copy of the expungement order or a formal takedown request may suffice. An approved court order is usually the most effective method of taking down arrest information on the internet.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

An arrest record available to the public in St. Louis County may contain the following information:

• Personal identification of the individual or parties involved in the arrest
• Personal details of the individual, including date of birth, address, and physical description
• Booking information, such as mugshots and fingerprints
• Date and place of the arrest
• Booking number and details of the law enforcement officer in charge
• Criminal statutes or charges filed.