Missouri has two practical tools that together cover most arrest record needs: MACHS, the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site, for statewide name-based criminal history checks; and Case.net, the Missouri Courts' free public case search system. Missouri also has one of the broader expungement frameworks in the region -- more than 1,900 offenses qualify for expungement under RSMo 610.140 -- and Missouri's 114 counties make it the state with the most counties in the country east of the Mississippi River. That decentralized structure means recent arrest information is held at the county level and may not appear immediately in the statewide system. This guide covers how everything works.
What Makes Missouri Arrest Records Public
The Missouri Sunshine Law, codified in Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 610, establishes the public's right to access government records. Criminal history records are covered by this framework, and most arrest records in Missouri are available to the public.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol Criminal Justice Information Services Division serves as the central repository for criminal history record information under RSMo 43.500 through 43.543. The MSHP CJIS Division maintains MACHS and processes both name-based and fingerprint-based criminal history requests.
Exemptions from public access include juvenile records, expunged records, and records tied to active investigations or records that could compromise public safety.
What a Missouri Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document. It reflects the facts of an arrest at the time of booking and carries no presumption of guilt.
A Missouri criminal history record includes personal identifying information -- full name, date of birth, known aliases, physical description, and mugshot. It includes arrest data: the arresting agency, date of arrest, charges filed. Dispositions from court proceedings, sentencing information, and correctional supervision data are also part of the criminal history record when reported.
How to Search Missouri Arrest Records
MACHS at machs.mo.gov is the primary public tool. It provides name-based online criminal history searches available to anyone. You need to register for an account. The fee for a name-based search is approximately $15 per search (confirm current fee at the time of request). Fingerprint-based searches are also available through MACHS for cases requiring that level of verification -- the state fingerprint fee is $20 plus a $12 service fee through IDEMIA, the fingerprinting vendor. The MSHP CJIS Division is at 1510 East Elm Street, Jefferson City, MO 65102, phone 573-526-6153, hours Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM.
Case.net is the Missouri Courts' free public case search system. It is accessible through the Missouri Courts website and allows searching criminal case records statewide by name, case number, or other criteria. This is the right tool for case-level charge information and court dispositions. Case.net and MACHS are complementary -- Case.net shows what happened in court; MACHS shows the statewide criminal history. After a successful expungement, the record should no longer appear in either system for public searches.
County sheriff offices and local police departments maintain booking records for recent arrests. Missouri has 114 counties and each maintains its own law enforcement infrastructure. Most county sheriffs publish online booking rosters or daily arrest logs. For anyone arrested recently, the relevant county sheriff's website is where to look.
For broader multi-source searches that aggregate public record data across Missouri's 114 counties and other jurisdictions, TruthFinder is a practical option.
VINELink at vinelink.com connects to the Missouri DOC system and many county facilities and provides free real-time custody status and notification registration.
County Jail Records in Missouri
Missouri's 114 counties each operate detention facilities. County jails hold people recently arrested, those awaiting trial, and individuals serving shorter sentences.
When someone is convicted and sentenced to state prison, they enter the Missouri Department of Corrections system. The MDOC provides a free online offender search accessible through the MDOC website at doc.mo.gov. You can search by name or offender ID. Results show the person's facility, offenses, and sentence information.
Federal Arrests in Missouri
Federal arrests in Missouri are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. After federal sentencing, individuals enter the Bureau of Prisons rather than the Missouri DOC.
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for locating anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. Federal court records are available through the PACER system at pacer.gov.
Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the MACHS criminal history system.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
An arrest record documents that law enforcement took someone into custody. A conviction record documents a court's finding of guilt. Missouri Sunshine Law makes most arrest records public, and the arrest entry does not automatically update when a case resolves.
Charges can be dropped, cases dismissed, and juries acquit. In all of those situations the arrest entry remains in MACHS and in Case.net unless expunged under RSMo 610.140. The record will continue to surface on background checks until legally addressed.
Missouri Expungement Under RSMo 610.140
Missouri's expungement law is codified in Missouri Revised Statutes Sections 610.130 through 610.150. Missouri expungement seals records from public view but does not destroy them -- records that cannot be destroyed by law are closed by the expungement order and are confidential to the general public.
More than 1,900 offenses qualify for expungement under RSMo 610.140, which makes Missouri's framework one of the broader ones in the country. Waiting periods apply: three years from the completion of sentence, probation, or parole for most eligible misdemeanor offenses; seven years for eligible felony offenses.
Limits apply to how many records can be expunged per person: up to two felony convictions may be expunged in a lifetime, and up to three misdemeanor convictions. All fines, restitution, and court obligations must be paid before filing. No new convictions may have occurred during the waiting period. No charges may be pending.
The petition is filed in the circuit court where the conviction occurred, or in the county where the person currently lives. The filing fee is approximately $100 to $250 depending on the circuit (confirm the current fee with the specific court). Petitions require a list of all agencies, courts, and repositories believed to hold the records to be expunged.
Offenses not eligible for expungement under RSMo 610.140 include Class A felonies, dangerous felonies as defined in RSMo 556.061, sex offenses requiring registration, felony offenses where death was part of the offense, certain assault felonies, intoxication-related traffic and boating offenses, and other specifically enumerated offenses.
After expungement, individuals do not have to disclose the expunged crime in most circumstances except in specific instances outlined in RSMo 610.140. This is meaningfully broader relief than Mississippi, where employers can ask about expungements regardless.
InmateAid's guides on expungement cover Missouri's framework in more detail. Mugshot removal from third-party sites after expungement is addressed in InmateAid's resources on that topic.
Frequently asked questions
Are Missouri arrest records public?
Yes, under the Missouri Sunshine Law at RSMo Chapter 610. Arrest records and most criminal history records are public. The MSHP CJIS Division maintains the central repository and provides access through MACHS. Exceptions apply to juvenile records, expunged records, and materials connected to active investigations.
How do I search Missouri arrest records?
MACHS at machs.mo.gov provides name-based online criminal history searches (approximately $15 per search, account required). Case.net through the Missouri Courts website provides free public court case records statewide. For recent arrests, check the relevant county sheriff's website. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data. For real-time custody status, VINELink at vinelink.com provides free notifications. For MDOC state prison inmates, use the offender search at doc.mo.gov.
What does a Missouri arrest record contain?
A Missouri criminal history record includes personal identifying information, arrest data (arresting agency, date, charges filed), court dispositions, sentencing information, and correctional supervision data when reported. It also includes known aliases, physical description, and mugshot.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in Missouri?
No. An arrest documents that someone was taken into custody. A conviction reflects a court's finding of guilt. Missouri Sunshine Law makes most arrest records public regardless of outcome. The arrest entry persists in MACHS and Case.net unless expunged under RSMo 610.140.
How do I find someone in a Missouri county jail?
Check the county sheriff's website where the arrest occurred. Missouri's 114 counties each maintain their own booking records and most publish online jail rosters. VINELink at vinelink.com connects to many county facilities statewide. For someone sentenced to state prison, use the MDOC offender search at doc.mo.gov.
Can I search federal arrest records in Missouri?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the MACHS system.
How long does an arrest stay on record in Missouri?
Missouri arrest records remain in MACHS and Case.net indefinitely unless expunged under RSMo 610.140. There is no automatic expiration for most records. Eligible misdemeanor convictions may be expunged after a three-year waiting period; eligible felony convictions after seven years.
Who qualifies for expungement in Missouri?
Under RSMo 610.140, more than 1,900 offenses qualify. Eligibility requires completing the applicable waiting period (3 years for most misdemeanors, 7 years for eligible felonies), no new convictions during the waiting period, no pending charges, and payment of all fines and obligations. The court must find expungement is in the interest of justice. Class A felonies, dangerous felonies, sex offenses requiring registration, intoxication-related traffic offenses, and other specifically enumerated offenses are not eligible.
How many records can be expunged in Missouri?
Missouri allows up to two felony convictions to be expunged in a person's lifetime, and up to three misdemeanor convictions. There is no specific limit on the number of eligible offenses that can be included in a single expungement petition, as long as the lifetime limits are not exceeded.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
An arrest entry is created at booking and remains in MACHS and Case.net regardless of the case outcome. If charges were dropped, the case dismissed, or you were acquitted, the arrest entry persists until expunged under RSMo 610.140. Filing an expungement petition in the circuit court where the case occurred is the legal path to removal for qualifying non-conviction arrest records. ---
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