St. Louis County Warrant Search

A St. Louis County warrant search involves checking warrant information related to active and outstanding warrants from official record custodians, such as court clerks' offices, the county sheriff's office, or local police departments. This inquiry is typically conducted by individuals, law enforcement agencies, prospective employers, or other entities seeking to verify a person's compliance with court orders or their interactions with law enforcement.

A warrant search in St. Louis County typically returns information such as the defendant's name, the warrant issue date, the issuing agency, the warrant/case number, the purpose of the warrant, and the available resolution requirements. In St. Louis County, a warrant search may be performed online, in person, or via electronic requests. Most record custodians will request a means of identification, nominal fees, and search parameters (e.g., date of birth or name) to conduct a warrant search.

Why Conduct a Warrant Search in St. Louis County?

A warrant search is essential in St. Louis County for various purposes—mostly personal, research, or legal. Most people conduct a warrant search to satisfy their curiosity or confirm that no active or outstanding warrant has been issued against them.

A warrant search may help one proactively resolve underlying legal issues, stay abreast of their legal status, and avoid unprecedented arrests and detention—typically resulting in severe consequences, including loss of employment, housing, or educational opportunities due to an incarceration record. An individual may be required to perform a warrant search as a criterion for employment, travel, or rental screenings.

The law enforcement and criminal justice agencies within the County usually conduct warrant searches to enforce court-ordered fines and obligations. Warrant information could also be used to make an arrest, seize a property, or search a person in relation to a criminal investigation. Information retrieved from a warrant search could also be utilized by researchers to learn and track the warrant issuance, response, and resolution procedures in St. Louis County.

How to Perform a St. Louis County Warrant Search Online

To perform a St. Louis County warrant search, interested persons may:

• Visit the Missouri Municipal Court Case Search tool. Case information, including active warrant information, may be retrieved from this search portal by entering a name. Interested persons may review case information filed before 31st December 2020 or after January 1st, 2021.
• Search the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS) Portal managed by the CJIS Division of the State Highway Patrol. This portal allows interested persons to conduct a name-based search for criminal history records, which may include warrant information. Users may be required to create an account and log in to access criminal history information. The basic search criteria are a name, date of birth, or social security number. A fee of $15 per search is typically required.

How to Check for Outstanding Warrants in St. Louis County by Phone or In Person

The criminal justice agencies, including the courts and the county police departments, are the primary custodians of St. Louis' outstanding warrant records. One may check for outstanding warrants by making walk-in visits to the appropriate record custodian’s office during regular hours or by calling the phone number provided by the record custodian to request warrant information.

Generally, a search for outstanding warrants in St. Louis County requires search parties to submit requests, along with valid identification, specific search parameters, and the necessary fees. These search parameters typically include a date of birth, the defendant's name, a case or warrant number, the name of the issuing court, or the date the warrant was issued. Once the necessary search information has been provided, the staff in the custodial office runs a check for the requested information. It furnishes the inquirer with the relevant records and information.

St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Search Process

The St. Louis Sheriff's Department, alongside the county Police Department, enforces issued warrants and retains information regarding them. Performing a warrant search with the Sheriff's department may furnish inquirers with warrant information like the filed charges, the issuing date and court, the bail conditions if available, and the defendant's name.

To search for warrants and request warrant information by phone from the Sheriff's Department, interested persons may call 314-615-8899. The subject's name or birth date is a basic search requirement for conducting a warrant search in the Sheriff's Department.

Alternatively, one may walk into the Sheriff's Department within business hours to review the records in their custody and request copies. Note that for in-person warrant searches, an arrest may be made on the spot if an active or outstanding warrant is found by the sheriff's office.

The Sheriff's Department contact information is provided below:

Accessing Public Records Related to Warrants in St. Louis County

St. Louis warrants are legal writs that are used to mandate an arrest, search, or seizure in criminal or civil proceedings. Other related public records that pop up during a warrant search may include arrest records, jail logs, police reports, court records, court dockets/calendars, case files, and law enforcement records.

The sheriff's department, circuit/municipal courts, county police department, and the correctional facilities in St. Louis County typically maintain these records and provide public access on request. The available means of accessing public records related to warrants from the relevant custodians in St. Louis usually comprise walk-in visits, phone requests, online search tools, public access terminals, mail requests, fax, and other electronic device requests. Search data, such as a name, birth date, case number, or filing date, is typically required to access these records.

It is important to note that most record custodians may charge fees for record duplication and certification. Furthermore, certain information contained in warrants may be redacted from public access under the Missouri Sunshine Law—personally identifiable data, sealed records, juvenile records, or files of ongoing investigations.

Types of Warrants Issued in St. Louis County

St. Louis warrants typically serve different purposes—compel one's appearance in court, enforce court-ordered sentences, mandate an arrest, or authorize the searching and/or seizure of affected property. Adequate knowledge and understanding of the various warrant types issued in St. Louis County and how they function may better prepare concerned persons for future legal resolution processes and court actions. The common warrant types in St. Louis County are the arrest warrants, bench/failure to appear warrants, search warrants, and the Capias or Capias pro warrants.

• Bench warrants: These warrants are typically issued against persons who miss their scheduled court dates
• Arrest warrants: Issued when probable cause has been established before a judge and direct enforcement officers to make an arrest
• Capias/Capias pro warrants: Typically issued after the convicted individual defaults in payment of fines or other court-ordered sentences and obligations
• Failure to Appear (FTA) warrants: These are similar to bench warrants but are usually issued for minor traffic or criminal charges

How Long Warrants Remain Active in St. Louis County

St. Louis County warrants do not become invalid with time or a change of jurisdiction; they usually remain active until they are executed. However, various factors, such as court action, law enforcement execution procedures, or the inability to identify the defendant, may influence the duration of time during which a warrant remains active. For instance, a warrant may become invalid if the court recalls it, the defendant dies or such an individual is arrested and brought before a judge to answer for a crime. Active warrants in St. Louis County will typically be stored in the database of law enforcement agencies indefinitely until they are resolved. These databases may normally be updated daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on the record custodian.

What To Do if You Find an Outstanding Warrant in St. Louis County

Individuals who discover warrants filed against them during a warrant search in St. Louis County may need to resolve these warrants immediately to avoid arrest or other consequences associated with outstanding warrants. The first step that affected persons may take in resolving a warrant involves verifying the information obtained during a search from official sources, such as the court clerk's office, the sheriff's department, or the county police department. Upon verifying the information, one may consider engaging a legal professional to help understand the context of the warrant and explore the best options for resolution.

The St. Louis County Municipal Court, via its “Fresh Start Fridays” program, typically allows persons with active or outstanding bench/Capias warrants to log into a virtual docket to request new dates for court appearance or extend their debt repayment dates without being arrested. Interested persons may reach the court by phoning (314) 615-8760 to obtain extra information. In addition, the Tap In Center managed by the County library and specific courthouses may assist individuals with recalling warrants issued for missing court dates.