Search St. Louis Criminal Court Records
St. Louis criminal court records come from two separate court systems. The City of St. Louis is an independent city with its own circuit court, the 22nd Judicial Circuit. St. Louis County has the 21st Judicial Circuit based in Clayton. Both courts keep criminal court records that are open to the public. You can search them through Case.net at no cost, or visit either courthouse to get copies in person. The metro police department also handles arrest and incident records for the city side. Getting criminal court records in St. Louis means knowing which jurisdiction your case falls under.
St. Louis Quick Facts
St. Louis City Criminal Court Records
The 22nd Judicial Circuit Court handles criminal cases in the City of St. Louis. The Civil Courts Building at 10 N Tucker Blvd, 63101, is where the circuit court sits. This court processes felony and misdemeanor cases filed within city limits. The Circuit Clerk keeps all criminal court records on site and can provide copies to the public.
St. Louis is one of only a few independent cities in the country. It does not sit inside any county. This means the city runs its own court system separate from St. Louis County. Criminal cases that happen within city limits go to the 22nd Circuit. Cases in St. Louis County go to the 21st Circuit in Clayton. The distinction matters when you are looking for criminal court records because you need to know where the offense took place.
You can search St. Louis criminal court records through Case.net for free. The system covers both the 22nd Circuit (city) and the 21st Circuit (county). Search by name or case number. Docket entries, charges, and case outcomes show up in the results. Certified copies from the clerk cost $4.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page.
St. Louis County Municipal Court Records
The St. Louis County Municipal Court sits at 105 S Central Avenue, S27, in Clayton. Call (314) 615-8760 for details. This court handles ordinance violations from cities in St. Louis County that use the county court system. Many smaller municipalities in the county send their cases here rather than running their own courts.
Municipal court records cover traffic tickets, code violations, and some misdemeanor-level offenses under city ordinances. When these overlap with state criminal law, the case creates criminal court records in both the municipal and circuit court systems. DWI cases are a common example. St. Louis County municipal court records are viewable on Case.net in many instances.
Criminal Records from St. Louis Metro Police
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department handles arrest and incident records for the city. A city-only records check costs $4.50. A combined city and county check runs $9.00. You can request records through the department's records division. Police reports tied to criminal charges become part of the court record once the case is filed.
Under RSMo 610.100, arrest records become public once charges are filed or the investigation goes inactive. The Sunshine Law gives you the right to request these records. Agencies must respond within three business days. If your request is denied, the department must cite the specific legal reason.
Background Checks for St. Louis Criminal Court Records
The MACHS portal from the Missouri State Highway Patrol covers statewide criminal background checks. A name-based search costs $14. It pulls open records from across Missouri, including both St. Louis city and county cases. Fingerprint checks cost $20 and provide stronger identification.
The Department of Corrections offender search is free. It covers people in state prison or on probation and parole. For city jail records, contact the St. Louis City Justice Center. For county jail records, contact the St. Louis County Department of Justice Services.
Note: The DOC search does not include people who have been released from the system entirely.
St. Louis Records Under Missouri Law
Criminal court records in St. Louis follow the same state laws as the rest of Missouri. The Sunshine Law makes court records public with some exceptions. Sealed records, expunged records, and juvenile cases are not available through public searches.
Expungement in St. Louis is handled under RSMo 610.140. You file a petition in the circuit court where the case was originally heard. Not all offenses qualify. The wait time depends on the charge type. Once granted, the criminal court records are sealed from Case.net and MACHS results. The 22nd Circuit handles city cases and the 21st Circuit handles county cases for expungement purposes.
Missouri's criminal code under Chapter 558 sets out sentencing ranges. Felonies range from Class A to Class E. Misdemeanors go from Class A through Class D. Both types generate criminal court records stored at the respective circuit clerk's office in St. Louis.
St. Louis Court Contact Details
For questions about criminal court records in St. Louis, contact the right court based on where the case was filed. The city and county run separate systems, so make sure you are reaching out to the correct clerk.
| City Circuit Court | 10 N Tucker Blvd St. Louis, MO 63101 |
|---|---|
| County Municipal Court | 105 S Central Ave, S27 Clayton, MO 63105 (314) 615-8760 |
| Police Records | slmpd.org/records/ City-only: $4.50 | City/County: $9.00 |
Nearby Cities
These cities are near St. Louis in the metro area. Criminal cases are filed based on where the offense happened. Check these nearby city pages for local court information.
County Court
St. Louis is an independent city, but St. Louis County's 21st Circuit also serves the surrounding area. The city uses the 22nd Circuit for its own cases.