Missouri Background Check Search
Running a background check in Missouri starts with the right source. The Missouri State Highway Patrol runs the state's central criminal history system through the MACHS portal. You can search by name or get fingerprinted for a more complete check. Missouri courts also keep case records on Case.net, which covers all 114 counties and the City of St. Louis. Whether you need a criminal record search, a court case lookup, or a full background check in Missouri, these tools give you direct access to official state data.
Missouri Background Check Quick Facts
Missouri Background Check Through MACHS
The Missouri Automated Criminal History Site is the main tool for running a background check in Missouri. MACHS is run by the Highway Patrol's Criminal Justice Information Services Division, which serves as the central place for all criminal history data in the state. Under RSMo Chapter 43, the CJIS Division collects, stores, and shares criminal records from every law enforcement agency and court in Missouri. This makes MACHS the most complete source for a Missouri background check.
There are two ways to search on MACHS. A name-based search costs $15 plus a small fee and takes about 5 to 7 days to come back. You search by name, date of birth, and Social Security number. This type of check only shows open records. Open records in Missouri include convictions, charges that are still pending in court, arrests less than 30 days old, and cases with a suspended imposition of sentence while the person is still on probation. You can start a name search at machs.mo.gov.
The MACHS portal also shows the page where you begin your Missouri background check search, including account setup and search options for both name-based and fingerprint checks.
The second option is a fingerprint-based background check. This type of search is more thorough. It can pull both open and closed records from the Missouri database. Fingerprint checks cost $20 for the state search, plus $11.50 for the IDEMIA service fee. If you also need a federal FBI check, add $13.25 to that total. You schedule a fingerprint appointment through IDEMIA, which uses electronic livescan to capture your prints and send them to the Highway Patrol. Results take 7 to 10 business days. For walk-in service, visit the CJIS public access window at 1510 East Elm Street in Jefferson City. Walk-in name checks take about 30 minutes.
Note: As of July 2019, local police departments in Missouri can no longer provide criminal history checks directly, so all statewide background check requests go through MACHS.
Search Missouri Court Records on Case.net
Case.net is the free court records system for the entire state. It covers all circuit courts in Missouri's 114 counties plus the City of St. Louis. You can search for criminal cases, civil cases, traffic records, probate matters, and family law filings. No account is needed for basic searches. Just go to courts.mo.gov/casenet and search by name, case number, or filing date.
The system pulls data from the Missouri Court Automation Program, which operates under Section 476.055 RSMo. Case.net shows case parties, docket entries, motions, orders, judgments, and court dates. You can also use the "Track This Case" feature to get email alerts when something new is filed on a case you are watching. For help with the system, contact the OSCA Help Desk at (888) 541-4894.
Case.net is a solid first step for a Missouri background check when you want to look up court cases. It won't show full criminal history the way MACHS does, but it gives you real-time access to what's been filed in court. Sealed cases, juvenile matters, and some mental health proceedings are not visible on the public portal.
Missouri Background Check and Public Records Law
Missouri's Sunshine Law gives the public a right to access government records. The law is found in Chapter 610 RSMo. Under Section 610.023, every government body in Missouri must have a custodian of records who handles requests. You can submit a request in writing by mail or email. The agency has three business days to respond. They must either give you the records, tell you when they will be ready, or deny your request with a legal reason.
Section 610.026 sets the rules for fees. Agencies can charge for copies and for the time it takes staff to find records. But fee waivers are possible when a request serves the public interest. If an agency turns down your records request, you can file a complaint with the Missouri Attorney General's Office or go to court. The Attorney General's Sunshine Law page has sample request forms, guides, and a mediation program for disputes.
Under Section 610.027, courts can order an agency to release records and impose fines up to $5,000 for knowing violations. The agency may also have to pay your legal fees. This law applies to all levels of government in Missouri, from the state down to each county and city.
Missouri Criminal Records Laws
Chapter 43 of the Missouri Revised Statutes sets the rules for the state's criminal record system. Under RSMo 43.500, criminal history record information includes arrest records, charges, indictments, and all dispositions that come from those events. Every law enforcement agency, court clerk, and corrections facility in Missouri must report this data to the Highway Patrol's central repository.
Section 43.507 draws a clear line between open and closed records. Open records are available to the public. They include convictions, pending charges, arrests within the last 30 days, and suspended imposition of sentence during probation. Closed records are off limits to the general public. These include charges that were not filed, dismissed cases, not guilty findings, and completed probation under a suspended sentence. Only the person named in the record, law enforcement, and certain authorized agencies can see closed records in Missouri.
Section 43.532 makes it a crime to share criminal history records without proper authority. Fees collected for background checks go into the Criminal Record System Fund under Section 43.530, which pays for running the state's criminal history database. The Rap Back program under Section 43.540 provides ongoing monitoring of people who work with children, the elderly, or disabled individuals in Missouri.
Other Sources for a Missouri Background Check
Beyond MACHS and Case.net, Missouri has several other databases that can be part of a thorough background check. The Family Care Safety Registry screens people who provide care to children, elderly, and disabled residents. This registry pulls data from the Highway Patrol, the FBI, and multiple state departments to give a full picture of a caregiver's background. You can reach the FCSR at (573) 526-2994 or toll-free at 1-866-422-6872.
The Missouri Department of Corrections runs an offender search tool on its website. You can look up people who are in state prison, on probation, or on parole. Search by name or DOC number to find current location, sentence details, offense information, and projected release dates. This tool is useful for a Missouri background check when you want to know if someone is currently under state supervision.
The Bureau of Vital Records holds birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Missouri. Birth and death records go back to 1910. Marriage and divorce records start from July 1948. While these are not criminal records, they can be relevant to a background check when you need to verify someone's identity or personal history. Certified copies of vital records cost $14 to $15 depending on the type.
How to Run a Background Check in Missouri
Start with MACHS for the official criminal history. Go to machs.mo.gov, create an account, and run a name-based search for $15. This covers all Missouri jurisdictions.
Next, check Case.net for court records. This is free and shows what's been filed in every Missouri circuit court. You can search by the person's name and see criminal cases, civil disputes, and other filings. For county-level details like arrest reports and incident records, contact the Sheriff's Office in the county where you want to search. Each of Missouri's 114 counties has a Sheriff who keeps local arrest and jail records. You can also check the sex offender registry through the Highway Patrol's website or call 1-888-SOR-MSHP for that information.
To run a Missouri background check by mail, send a completed Request for Criminal Record Check form (SHP-158E) to the CJIS Division at P.O. Box 9500, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Include a $14 check or money order made out to "State of Missouri, Criminal Record System Fund." Mail requests take 4 to 6 weeks to process. For notarized results, add $2. You can also walk in to the CJIS public access window at 1510 East Elm Street in Jefferson City for same-day results on name-based checks.
Browse Missouri Background Check Records by County
Each county in Missouri has its own Circuit Court and Sheriff's Office that handle local records. Pick a county below to find background check resources specific to that area.
Background Check in Major Missouri Cities
Residents of major Missouri cities file through their county's Circuit Court and local police department. Select a city to find background check resources for that area.