In Missouri, criminal records provide a record of all information related to the criminal activity of individuals. When an individual commits a crime, the local authorities create a file that documents that individual's actions. This record will contain all misdemeanor and felony charges of that individual. It is important to gather this type of information from the appropriate source. In Missouri, these types of records are mostly available to the public. The state is an open records state. However, there can be some limitations when it comes to accessing this information.

Missouri criminal records are started at the local level, through law enforcement and court records and clerks. However, the state maintains a repository that contains all records. The Criminal records and Identification Division of Missouri is the governing agency over these records. It is a department of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Department. All state records are maintained through this agency, but that does not mean that all information is accessible to the general public through this agency. It is possible to write to or visit the following address to get additional information:

Missouri Criminal Justice Information Services

510 East Elm Street

Jefferson City, Missouri 65102

Some information can be requested by phone. Call the agency at 573 526-6153 to request a fingerprint kit, more information or for additional questions. Individuals can obtain a copy of his or her own record by making a request through this agency. If there are any inaccuracies on that report, though, the only way to correct the information is to go to the reporting agency and request the information removed. That can take a court order. It is a good idea to check these reports, but most are accurate.

In Missouri, criminal records are protected in various situations. For example, no juvenile records are made available to the public. A juvenile is defined as any person under the age of 18 or any disabled person unable to be considered an adult. These records are only accessible under the court's direction. In addition, a judge can order that all records for a person be sealed. This may be done in limited situations, such as when the individual's records contain sensitive information. These are not available for public access.

All Missouri criminal records contain information regarding the illegal actions a person takes when that person is in the state. That means that a person may be convicted of a crime in another state and the information is not available at the Missouri records search. Also, note that no information about federal charges, arrests or convictions are kept in state records. These are maintained through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI and laws protect those records from view of the public.

Individuals who are employers who wish to hire an individual only after conducting a background check that includes a criminal history will need to obtain a written waiver giving the employer authority to gather this information. This is done through a waiver signed by the individual consenting.

• Missouri Crime Reports & Statistics

• Missouri Sex Offender Registry Search