> >St. Joseph Arrest Records

St. Joseph Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in St. Joseph, Missouri?

Arrest records in St. Joseph, Missouri are classified as public information pursuant to Missouri's Sunshine Law (Chapter 610 of the Missouri Revised Statutes). This legislation establishes that records maintained by public governmental bodies, including law enforcement agencies, shall be accessible to members of the public upon request. The St. Joseph Police Department maintains arrest records as part of its official documentation of law enforcement activities within municipal boundaries. Public access to these records serves multiple governmental purposes, including:

• Ensuring transparency in law enforcement operations • Facilitating public oversight of governmental functions • Promoting accountability within the criminal justice system • Supporting informed community awareness of public safety matters

Certain exceptions to public disclosure may apply in accordance with § 610.021 RSMo, particularly in cases involving ongoing investigations, juvenile offenders, or where disclosure might compromise public safety or individual privacy rights as determined by statute.

How to Look Up St. Joseph Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking arrest records in St. Joseph have multiple authorized channels through which such information may be obtained. The Records Unit of the St. Joseph Police Department serves as the primary custodian of arrest documentation within city limits. Requestors may utilize the following official methods to access arrest records:

In-Person Requests: The Records Unit of the St. Joseph Police Department processes in-person requests for arrest records during standard business hours. Requestors must complete the designated request form and provide proper identification.

St. Joseph Police Department Records Unit
501 Faraon Street
St. Joseph, MO 64501
816-271-4705
Request Police Records

Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Buchanan County Circuit Court: Court records related to arrests may be accessed through the Buchanan County Circuit Court for cases that have proceeded to formal charges.

Buchanan County Circuit Court
411 Jules Street
St. Joseph, MO 64501
816-271-1462

Online Access Options: The St. Joseph Police Department maintains an online portal for certain types of records requests. Electronic submissions must adhere to departmental verification protocols to ensure proper identification of requestors and appropriate handling of sensitive information.

Standard processing fees apply to all record requests in accordance with the department's established fee schedule. Payment must be remitted at the time of request submission.

Contents of a St. Joseph Arrest Record

Official arrest records maintained by the St. Joseph Police Department contain standardized documentation elements as prescribed by Missouri law enforcement protocols. These records serve as the official documentation of an individual's interaction with law enforcement resulting in custodial arrest. Standard arrest records include the following components:

• Subject identification information (full legal name, known aliases, date of birth, physical descriptors) • Arrest date, time, and specific location • Statutory violations alleged at time of arrest • Arresting officer identification and badge number • Booking information including fingerprint classification • Custody status determination • Mugshot photographs taken during booking process • Preliminary charge information • Case number and incident report reference • Property inventory documentation

The St. Joseph Police Department maintains these records in accordance with departmental policy directive 26.1.8 regarding records management and retention schedules. All arrest documentation is subject to chain of custody protocols to maintain evidentiary integrity and compliance with Missouri Criminal Records Repository requirements.

Legal Framework for Arrest Records in Missouri

The maintenance and dissemination of arrest records in St. Joseph operates within a comprehensive legal framework established by state statute and municipal ordinance. Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 610 (Sunshine Law) establishes the foundational requirements for public records access, while Chapter 43 governs law enforcement agencies' record-keeping obligations.

Key statutory provisions affecting arrest records include:

• § 610.100 RSMo - Defines "arrest reports" and establishes their status as open records • § 610.105 RSMo - Addresses closed records and expungement provisions • § 610.120 RSMo - Restricts access to closed records to specified agencies and individuals • § 43.506 RSMo - Mandates reporting of criminal history information to central repository

The St. Joseph Police Department's Records Unit operates under these statutory requirements while implementing departmental policies that ensure compliance with state and federal regulations regarding criminal justice information systems. All record dissemination activities adhere to Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) security protocols as mandated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Municipal ordinances further define local implementation of these state requirements, particularly regarding fee structures and administrative procedures for records requests.

Expungement of Arrest Records in St. Joseph

Missouri law provides a legal mechanism through which qualifying individuals may petition for the expungement of arrest records maintained by St. Joseph law enforcement agencies. Pursuant to § 610.122 RSMo, expungement may be granted when specific statutory criteria are met. The expungement process requires judicial review and determination.

Eligibility criteria for expungement include:

• No charges were filed related to the arrest • Charges were dismissed • The individual was found not guilty • The arrest was based on false information • Specified waiting periods have elapsed since disposition • No subsequent arrests for certain offenses have occurred

Individuals seeking expungement must file a petition with the Circuit Court of Buchanan County. The petition must contain all information required by § 610.123 RSMo, including arrest details, case disposition, and verification of eligibility. The St. Joseph Municipal Court processes expungement petitions for violations of municipal ordinances.

St. Joseph Municipal Court
1100 Frederick Avenue, Room 108
St. Joseph, MO 64501
816-271-4560

Upon court approval of an expungement petition, the St. Joseph Police Department Records Unit implements the court order by sealing the specified records in accordance with statutory requirements. Expunged records remain accessible only to law enforcement agencies under limited circumstances as prescribed by § 610.124 RSMo.

Accessing Juvenile Arrest Records

Juvenile arrest records in St. Joseph are subject to heightened confidentiality protections pursuant to Chapter 211 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. These records are not accessible through standard public records requests and maintain confidential status to protect the privacy and rehabilitation interests of minor subjects.

Limited access to juvenile records may be granted to:

• Courts with juvenile jurisdiction • Juvenile officers and designated court personnel • Attorneys representing the juvenile • Law enforcement agencies with legitimate investigative purpose • Schools under specific statutory circumstances • Parents or legal guardians of the juvenile

The Buchanan County Juvenile Office maintains primary custodial responsibility for juvenile records within the jurisdiction. All inquiries regarding juvenile matters must be directed to this office rather than the St. Joseph Police Department Records Unit.

Buchanan County Juvenile Office
411 Jules Street, 3rd Floor
St. Joseph, MO 64501
816-271-1443

Unauthorized disclosure of juvenile records constitutes a violation of state law and may result in criminal penalties under § 211.321 RSMo.