Search Pettis County Criminal Court Records

Pettis County criminal court records are stored at the courthouse in Sedalia, Missouri. The Circuit Clerk, Susan Sadler, oversees all court records for the county, including criminal, civil, probate, domestic, and juvenile cases. Pettis County implemented electronic filing in 2014, which means more recent criminal court records are in the digital system. You can search cases online through Case.net or walk into the clerk's office at 415 South Ohio in Sedalia. This page walks you through the ways to find and access criminal court records in Pettis County.

Pettis County Circuit Clerk Office

The Pettis County Circuit Clerk is Susan Sadler. The office is at 415 S. Ohio, Suite 324, Sedalia, MO 65301. You can call at 660-826-5000, extension 926. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office has two main locations in the building. Criminal, traffic, probate, and juvenile divisions are on the first floor. Civil and domestic divisions are on the third floor.

The Circuit Clerk maintains complete and accurate records of the court. This includes all criminal cases filed in Pettis County. The clerk receives and processes judgments, rulings, and orders from the judges. The office also collects and pays out all fines and court costs. Another duty is selecting and summoning jurors for criminal trials. If you need a copy of a criminal court record from Pettis County, this office is where you go.

Pettis County started electronic filing on July 14, 2014. Cases filed after that date are in the electronic system and easier to find. Older cases may still be in paper form. The clerk can help you locate records from either period.

Search Pettis County Criminal Cases Online

Case.net is the best online tool for looking up criminal court records in Pettis County. It is free, run by the state, and covers every Circuit Court in Missouri. Search by name, case number, or filing date. Results show charges, docket entries, hearing dates, and how the case ended. You can track cases to get alerts when new activity happens.

The system runs Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Central Time. Weekend hours vary. Only public cases show up. Sealed, expunged, and juvenile records are hidden. If you need records that are not on Case.net, contact the Pettis County Circuit Clerk at the phone number above. Staff can check both the electronic system and the older paper files for you.

Pettis County Criminal Background Checks

For a statewide look at someone's criminal history, use the MACHS portal from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. A name-based search costs $14 and scans the state's central criminal records. Fingerprint searches cost $20 for a more exact match. You can pay online with a credit card or electronic check. Walk-in service is available at the MSHP office in Jefferson City.

The Pettis County Sheriff handles local arrest records. When someone is booked, the sheriff logs the charges, bond amount, and booking details. Those records become public once charges are filed, per RSMo 610.100. For state prison inmates, the DOC offender search shows their facility and release date.

Note: MACHS results only cover Missouri. For out-of-state criminal history, you would need to check with other states or use the FBI's national database through a fingerprint submission.

Criminal Records Law in Pettis County

The Missouri Sunshine Law protects public access to criminal court records in Pettis County. Under RSMo 610.100, arrest records and court files are open to the public in most situations. The clerk has to respond within three business days. Copy fees are capped at 10 cents per page for standard documents, though court record copies follow a different fee schedule set by state statute.

Expungement of criminal records is covered by RSMo 610.140. If a person qualifies, they can petition the court to seal their criminal record from public view. Not all offenses are eligible. The waiting period depends on the charge. Once expunged, the record no longer shows up on Case.net or MACHS. The Attorney General's Sunshine Law page explains your rights if a request for Pettis County records is denied.

Pettis County Court Divisions

Criminal cases in Pettis County go through two court divisions. The Circuit Division handles felonies. A circuit judge presides over these cases. Felonies are Class A through E in Missouri, with Class A being the most serious. Armed robbery, drug trafficking, and murder cases all go through this division at the Sedalia courthouse.

The Associate Division handles misdemeanors. An associate circuit judge runs these cases. Misdemeanors are Class A through D. Penalties max out at one year in county jail and a fine. DWI, petty theft, and simple assault cases are common in this division. Pettis County keeps both divisions on the first floor of the courthouse at 415 South Ohio in Sedalia. The same Circuit Clerk handles records for both. So if you need criminal court records from either division, you only visit one office. Traffic cases with criminal penalties also go through the Associate Division. The electronic filing system that started in 2014 covers both divisions, which means most recent cases from either side are easy to find on Case.net.

Note: Pettis County also handles jury trials for criminal cases. The Circuit Clerk's office selects and summons jurors from voter rolls and driver's license records for trials in both divisions. If you need records from either division, contact the clerk at 660-826-5000, extension 926. Both divisions are on the same floor of the courthouse, which makes it easy to handle requests for either type of criminal case in a single visit.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Pettis County in central Missouri. Each maintains criminal court records through its own Circuit Clerk.