Search St. Louis County Criminal Court Records

St. Louis County criminal court records are managed by the Circuit Clerk at 105 South Central Avenue in Clayton. The 21st Judicial Circuit handles all felony and misdemeanor cases filed in this county, making it one of the busiest court systems in Missouri. You can search criminal court records online through Case.net or the county's own case search tool. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday for walk-in requests. St. Louis County is separate from the independent City of St. Louis, which has its own court system. If you need to pull case files or check on a pending charge, there are several options for getting the records you need.

St. Louis County Circuit Clerk Office

The St. Louis County Circuit Clerk is the official keeper of all criminal court records in the 21st Judicial Circuit. This is one of the largest circuit court systems in Missouri. The office handles new filings, maintains case files, and provides copies to the public. Staff can look up records by name or case number.

Walk-in visits work well for getting copies. Bring a name or case number to save time at the counter. Certified copies cost $4.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after that. Regular copies are about $1.00 per page. The clerk also handles bond payments, fine collection, and court scheduling for criminal cases in St. Louis County.

The Municipal Court is a separate division that deals with traffic violations and city ordinance cases. It operates out of the same building in Clayton. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.

Search St. Louis County Criminal Records Online

You have two main ways to search criminal court records in St. Louis County online. The first is Case.net, Missouri's statewide court records portal. It covers all Circuit Courts, including the 21st Judicial Circuit. Search by name, case number, or filing date. Results include charges, docket entries, hearings, and dispositions. The search is free.

You can also contact the 21st Judicial Circuit Court directly for local case searches. The court focuses on St. Louis County cases and can be a faster way to find local records. Case.net and the clerk's office both pull from the same data, but calling the clerk gives you direct access to local court information.

Case.net lets you track cases too. You can sign up for alerts when something new gets filed in a St. Louis County criminal case. This is helpful if you need to follow a pending case without calling the clerk. Not all records show online. Sealed, expunged, and juvenile records are kept out of the public system.

Note: St. Louis County is separate from the City of St. Louis. Make sure you search the right jurisdiction for the case you need.

Criminal Background Checks in St. Louis County

The MACHS portal run by the Missouri State Highway Patrol is the main tool for background checks. A name-based search costs $14. A fingerprint search costs $20 and gives a more complete picture. You can do both online. Results come back fast for name-based searches.

St. Louis County also has its own police department, which is distinct from the many municipal police forces across the county. For arrest records and incident reports, you may need to contact the St. Louis County Police or the specific municipal department that handled the case. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police handles records for the independent City of St. Louis, not the county.

St. Louis County Records and Missouri Law

Public access to criminal court records in St. Louis County falls under Missouri's Sunshine Law. Chapter 610 of the Revised Statutes says most court records are open. You don't need to be part of the case. You don't need a reason. The Attorney General's office handles complaints when access is denied and publishes guidance on how the law works.

Under RSMo 610.100, arrest records become public once charges are filed or the case goes inactive. This applies to all records in St. Louis County. Expungement is covered under RSMo 610.140. Certain records can be sealed if you meet the requirements. The 21st Judicial Circuit handles expungement petitions locally.

Copying fees are capped at 10 cents per page for standard documents under the Sunshine Law. Requests must get a response within three business days. If a public body denies your request, they must cite a specific statute.

Offender Records for St. Louis County

The Missouri Department of Corrections runs a free offender lookup tool. Search for anyone in state prison or on probation or parole. Results show the person's name, DOC ID, facility, sentence details, and projected release date.

For county jail records, contact the St. Louis County Justice Center. They keep booking records and inmate lists. The Missouri Sex Offender Registry is another free tool. Search by name or address to find registered offenders in St. Louis County.

Cities in St. Louis County

St. Louis County has dozens of municipalities. Criminal cases for all of them are handled by the 21st Judicial Circuit in Clayton. Many cities also have their own municipal courts for ordinance violations. Below are major cities with their own pages on this site.

Other communities in St. Louis County include University City, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Chesterfield, Creve Coeur, and Wildwood. The independent City of St. Louis has its own court system and is not part of St. Louis County.

Nearby Counties

These counties border St. Louis County in Missouri. Criminal cases are filed in the county where the offense took place. Make sure you search the right jurisdiction.