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Carthage Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Carthage, Missouri?

Arrest records in Carthage, Missouri are classified as public documents pursuant to the Missouri Sunshine Law (Chapter 610 of the Missouri Revised Statutes). This legislation establishes that governmental bodies shall make available to the public all public records unless specifically exempted by law. The Missouri Sunshine Law operates under the principle that citizens have a fundamental right to access information concerning governmental operations, thereby promoting transparency and accountability in public administration.

The Carthage Police Department maintains arrest records as part of their official documentation of law enforcement activities. These records become public documents upon creation and are generally accessible to any member of the public who submits a proper request. However, certain information within arrest records may be redacted or restricted if disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, compromise an ongoing investigation, or endanger the safety of any individual as specified under § 610.021 RSMo.

How to Look Up Carthage Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking arrest records in Carthage have multiple avenues through which they may obtain this information. The Carthage Police Department serves as the primary custodian of local arrest records and provides access to these documents in accordance with state law. Individuals may utilize the following methods to access arrest records:

In-Person Requests: Citizens may submit requests for arrest records directly at the Carthage Police Department headquarters. Staff will assist requestors in completing the necessary forms and identifying specific records.

Carthage Police Department
310 W 4th Street
Carthage, MO 64836
417-237-7200
Police Reports Request Information

Jasper County Circuit Clerk's Office: For cases that have proceeded to court, records may be available through the circuit clerk's office, which maintains court documents including those related to arrests.

Jasper County Circuit Clerk's Office
302 S. Main Street
Carthage, MO 64836
417-625-4310

Online Resources: The Carthage Municipal Court provides limited online access to case information for arrests resulting in municipal charges.

Carthage Municipal Division
326 Grant Street
Carthage, MO 64836
417-237-7000
Municipal Court Information

Requestors should note that fees may apply for record retrieval and copying services. The standard fee schedule established by the Carthage Police Department includes a base processing fee plus per-page charges for document reproduction. Payment must be rendered at the time of request, and acceptable forms include cash, credit card, or money order.

Contents of a Carthage Arrest Record

Arrest records maintained by the Carthage Police Department typically contain comprehensive documentation of the circumstances surrounding an individual's arrest. These records are standardized in accordance with Missouri law enforcement protocols and generally include the following categories of information:

Biographical Data: Full legal name, aliases, date of birth, physical description, address, and identification numbers (such as driver's license or state ID)
Arrest Information: Date, time, and precise location of arrest; name and badge number of arresting officer(s); agency case number; and booking information
Criminal Charges: Specific statutory violations alleged, including Missouri Revised Statutes section numbers and charge classifications (felony, misdemeanor, or infraction)
Incident Details: Factual narrative describing the circumstances leading to arrest, witness statements, evidence collected, and other pertinent details
Procedural Documentation: Miranda rights acknowledgment, processing information, temporary detention details, and initial appearance scheduling
Photographic and Biometric Data: Booking photographs ("mugshots"), fingerprints, and other identifying information collected during processing
Disposition Information: Initial court appearances, bail determinations, and preliminary case outcomes

Pursuant to § 610.100 RSMo, certain sensitive information may be redacted from public arrest records, including details that might compromise ongoing investigations, juvenile information protected under state law, victim identifying information in specific cases, and information that might endanger public safety if disclosed.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Carthage

The State of Missouri provides statutory mechanisms through which eligible individuals may petition for the expungement of arrest records maintained by the Carthage Police Department and other law enforcement agencies. Expungement is the legal process by which arrest records are sealed from public view, effectively removing them from general access and restoring the individual to the status occupied prior to the arrest.

Pursuant to § 610.122 RSMo, individuals may qualify for expungement of arrest records if:

The arrest was based on false information
No charges were filed within the statute of limitations
The case was dismissed
The individual was found not guilty
The arrest was for a misdemeanor offense and at least three years have elapsed since disposition (or seven years for felony offenses)
The petitioner has satisfied all conditions of the sentence imposed

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Circuit Court of Jasper County. Petitioners must submit the following:

Completed petition form with all arrest details
Certified copies of disposition documents
Filing fee (approximately $250, though fee waivers may be available for indigent petitioners)
Fingerprint card for verification purposes

Upon receipt of a properly filed petition, the court will schedule a hearing. Notice of this hearing must be served upon the Carthage Police Department, the Jasper County Prosecutor's Office, and any other agencies holding records subject to the expungement request. These agencies have the right to object to the petition.

If the court grants the expungement, all agencies maintaining records of the arrest will be ordered to seal those records within 30 days. Following expungement, the individual may legally answer "no" to questions about the arrest on employment applications and other documents, with limited exceptions for certain professional licensing boards and law enforcement agencies.

Legal Restrictions on Accessing Arrest Records

While arrest records in Carthage are generally public documents, Missouri law establishes several important restrictions on their accessibility. These limitations serve to balance the public's right to information with individual privacy interests and the integrity of the criminal justice system.

The following categories of arrest record information are subject to restricted access under Missouri law:

Closed Records: Pursuant to § 610.100 RSMo, arrest records for cases that resulted in nolle prosequi (charges dropped), dismissal, or acquittal become "closed records" after 30 days. These records remain available only to the subject of the record, their attorney, and certain governmental agencies.
Investigative Reports: Records pertaining to ongoing investigations may be closed until the investigation becomes inactive. The Carthage Police Department may withhold such records if disclosure would impair an active investigation.
Juvenile Records: Arrest records for individuals under 17 years of age are generally confidential under Missouri's juvenile code, with limited exceptions for violent offenses.
Expunged Records: As detailed in the previous section, records that have been legally expunged are sealed from public view and may not be disclosed except under specific court order.
Victim Information: Personal identifying information of crime victims, particularly in cases involving sexual offenses, domestic violence, or where disclosure might endanger the victim, may be redacted from public arrest records.

Agencies maintaining arrest records in Carthage must comply with these statutory restrictions. Unauthorized disclosure of protected information may result in civil liability and, in some cases, criminal penalties for the responsible officials.