Search St. Joseph Criminal Court Records

St. Joseph criminal court records are kept by the 5th Judicial Circuit Court in Buchanan County. The Buchanan County Courthouse at 411 Jules Street is where the Circuit Clerk holds all case files. You can search St. Joseph criminal court records online through Case.net for free. The St. Joseph Municipal Court and the Buchanan County records office also hold data tied to criminal cases in the city. This page lays out how to find and access criminal court records in St. Joseph.

St. Joseph Criminal Court Records at Buchanan County

The Buchanan County Circuit Court handles all criminal cases for St. Joseph. The courthouse is at 411 Jules Street. Call (816) 271-1462 for the clerk's office. Staff take walk-in requests for criminal court records during normal business hours. The 5th Judicial Circuit covers both Buchanan and Andrew counties, but St. Joseph cases are heard at the Buchanan County Courthouse.

Felony cases go through the Circuit Court division. Misdemeanors are heard in Associate Circuit. The clerk stores all criminal court records at the courthouse. Certified copies cost $4.00 for the first page and $1.00 per additional page. Plain copies are about $1.00 each. Older files may take more time to locate. Call ahead if you need records from several years back.

The Buchanan County Circuit Clerk's office also provides access to court records. This is a useful resource for St. Joseph criminal court records, especially for older cases or records that may not be fully digitized on the state system.

Search St. Joseph Criminal Records Online

The fastest way to find St. Joseph criminal court records is through Case.net. This free state portal covers all circuit courts in Missouri, including the 5th Circuit. Search by name, case number, or date. Results show charges, docket entries, hearing dates, and outcomes. Online payments through Case.net have been available for Buchanan County since January 2022.

You do not need an account for basic searches on Case.net. Sign up for free alerts if you want to track a case. The system sends email or text updates when new activity is filed. Case.net runs weekdays from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Central Time with some weekend access.

Note: Only public cases appear on Case.net. Sealed, expunged, and juvenile records do not show up.

St. Joseph Municipal Court Records

The St. Joseph Municipal Court is at 1100 Frederick Avenue. Call (816) 271-4553 for information. This court handles city ordinance violations. Some overlap with state criminal law and create criminal court records at both levels.

Municipal court records in St. Joseph cover traffic cases, code violations, and minor offenses under city ordinances. DWI charges can be filed at both the municipal and circuit court level. Many St. Joseph municipal records also appear on Case.net. The municipal court holds regular sessions throughout the month.

Criminal Background Checks in St. Joseph

The MACHS portal handles statewide criminal background checks. A name search costs $14 and covers open records across Missouri, including St. Joseph cases. Fingerprint checks are $20 for stronger identification. The DOC offender search is free and covers state prison inmates and supervised individuals.

For Buchanan County jail records, contact the sheriff's office directly. The DOC system does not include county jail data. Under the Sunshine Law, arrest records are open once charges are filed per RSMo 610.100.

Expungement of St. Joseph criminal court records follows RSMo 610.140. File a petition with the 5th Circuit Court. Certain offenses can be sealed after the waiting period. Once granted, records are removed from public search tools.

St. Joseph Police Reports and Records

The St. Joseph Police Department handles requests for incident reports and arrest records. These reports feed into the criminal court system once charges are filed by the prosecutor. Walk in to the police station during business hours to make a request. You will need a valid ID. Staff can look up reports by date, name, or case number. Copy fees follow Sunshine Law limits at 10 cents per page for standard copies.

Arrest logs from St. Joseph are public records. You can ask for them at any time. Active investigation files may be held back until the case is closed or charges are filed. The police department must respond to your request within three business days. If your request is large or involves a lot of pages, the department can charge for staff time at $15 per hour after the first three hours.

St. Joseph Criminal Record Expungement Process

Filing for expungement in St. Joseph starts at the 5th Circuit Court. You need to fill out a petition and file it with the Buchanan County Circuit Clerk. The court charges a filing fee. Most misdemeanor cases have a three-year wait from the date of completion of the sentence. Felony cases require a seven-year wait. Not every charge qualifies. Class A felonies and certain violent crimes cannot be expunged under Missouri law.

Once the judge grants the petition, all agencies that hold copies of the record must close them to the public. Case.net removes the case. MACHS takes it out of background check results. The St. Joseph police also seal their copy of the arrest record. You can legally say the offense did not happen after expungement is granted, which is a key part of the process that many people overlook.

St. Joseph Court Contact Details

For help with criminal court records in St. Joseph, contact the Buchanan County Circuit Clerk or the municipal court.

County Court

St. Joseph is the county seat of Buchanan County. All criminal court records are held by the Buchanan County Circuit Clerk in the 5th Judicial Circuit.