Access Platte County Criminal Court Records

Platte County criminal court records are filed at the courthouse in Platte City, Missouri. Part of the 6th Judicial Circuit, the county sits just northwest of Kansas City and handles a steady volume of criminal cases. The Circuit Clerk's office maintains all case files, from initial charges to final dispositions. You can search Platte County criminal court records for free using Case.net or visit the courthouse at 415 3rd Street in Platte City. This page covers the resources available for finding criminal court records in Platte County, including online tools and in-person options.

Platte County Circuit Clerk Office

The Platte County Circuit Court Clerk's office is at the Platte County Courthouse, 415 3rd Street, Platte City, MO 64079. The phone number is (816) 858-2232 and the fax is (816) 858-3392. The office handles all court records for the 6th Judicial Circuit, including criminal cases, civil matters, family court, juvenile cases, probate, small claims, municipal cases, and traffic violations.

For criminal court records, the clerk can pull up case files that include charges, bond information, docket entries, motions, plea agreements, and sentencing orders. You can visit in person during business hours to search and get copies. Case.net gives an overview of what is on file and how to access it. Regular copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies are $4.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each one after.

The Missouri Sunshine Laws make Platte County court records generally accessible to the public. The clerk must respond to records requests within three business days.

Search Platte County Criminal Records Online

Case.net is the free tool for searching Platte County criminal court records online. It covers all Missouri Circuit Courts and lets you look up cases by name, case number, or filing date. Results include charges, docket entries, hearing schedules, and outcomes. The system is run by the Office of State Courts Administrator and is available weekdays from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Platte County is part of the Kansas City metro area, so the court handles more cases than many rural counties. Case.net makes it easy to search without having to go to Platte City. You can track cases to get email or text alerts on new filings. This is especially useful for Platte County residents who want to follow a pending criminal case. The system only shows public records. Juvenile, sealed, and expunged cases are not visible.

Platte County Criminal Background Checks

The MACHS portal from the Missouri State Highway Patrol runs statewide criminal background checks. A name-based search costs $14. A fingerprint-based search costs $20. Both check the central criminal history repository maintained by the Highway Patrol's CJIS Division. MACHS covers all of Missouri, so it will find cases from Platte County and any other county in the state.

The Platte County Sheriff keeps local arrest records. Contact the sheriff for details on recent bookings, charges, and bond amounts. Under RSMo 610.100, arrest records become public once charges are filed. The DOC offender search covers people in state prison or on probation or parole. The Missouri Sex Offender Registry lets you check for registered offenders in the Platte County area.

Criminal Court Divisions in Platte County

Platte County has several court divisions that handle different types of cases. The Circuit Court hears felony criminal cases. The Associate Circuit Court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and small claims. The Family Court deals with domestic matters, and the Juvenile Court handles cases involving minors. The Probate Court manages estates and guardianships. Municipal courts cover city ordinance violations for towns within Platte County.

Each division creates its own records that the Circuit Clerk stores and maintains. For criminal court records specifically, felony cases go through the Circuit Court division and misdemeanors through the Associate Circuit division. Both types are searchable on Case.net and available at the clerk's office. Missouri classifies felonies from Class A through Class E and misdemeanors from Class A through Class D under Chapter 558 RSMo. The classification determines the penalty range and shows up in the criminal court record.

Note: Platte County is close to Kansas City, and some cases involving Kansas City residents may be filed here depending on where the offense occurred.

Expungement Process in Platte County

People with old criminal records in Platte County may be able to get them expunged. Under RSMo 610.140, certain offenses can be sealed from public view. You file a petition with the 6th Judicial Circuit Court. There is a filing fee. The waiting period is three years for misdemeanors and seven years for felonies, counted from when the case fully closed.

Not every crime qualifies. Class A felonies, dangerous felonies, and sex offenses are excluded. The prosecutor gets notice and may object. If they do, the judge holds a hearing. If the petition is granted, the Platte County Circuit Clerk seals the case file. It drops off Case.net. The Highway Patrol removes it from the MACHS database. Law enforcement records tied to the case also get sealed. After that, the person can legally say the arrest and charge did not happen. Given that Platte County is in the Kansas City metro, this process gets used fairly often compared to smaller rural counties. An attorney can help determine if your specific Platte County case qualifies. The current filing fee is available from the clerk's office at (816) 858-2232. Legal aid organizations in the Kansas City area may also help people who qualify for free legal services with the expungement petition process.

Nearby Counties

Platte County borders several other counties in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Each has its own criminal court records system.