Yes, arrest records are public in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. This accessibility is governed by the Missouri Sunshine Law, which mandates that records maintained by public governmental bodies be accessible to the public. Arrest records, as part of these documents, are included under this provision unless specific exceptions apply, such as cases involving juvenile offenders or when disclosure might obstruct ongoing investigations.
To get Cape Girardeau arrest records, several methods are available, particularly beneficial for those conducting background checks or researching legal history. Here are the primary ways to search for these records:
A Cape Girardeau arrest record typically includes the following information:
In Cape Girardeau, individuals may have the opportunity to expunge, or remove, their arrest records under certain conditions. This process is typically available for those who were arrested but not convicted, or for certain convictions after a specified period of compliance and without subsequent offenses. The expungement process requires filing a petition with the court in Cape Girardeau, and it may involve a court hearing. Approval depends on meeting all legal criteria, including the nature of the offense and the individual's subsequent legal history.