Search St. Louis Background Check Records

St. Louis is an independent city in Missouri, not part of any county. That makes it unique for background check searches. The city has its own court system under the 22nd Judicial Circuit and its own police department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police (SLMPD). A background check in St. Louis can involve local police records, the city's circuit court, the statewide MACHS portal, and Case.net. SLMPD still offers a local record check at their Records Service Center, which gives you city-level criminal data that other departments no longer provide.

St. Louis Police Background Check Records

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department runs a Records Service Center where you can get a local background check. The office is at 1915 Olive Street, 1st Floor, St. Louis, MO 63103. It is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Unlike most other cities in Missouri, SLMPD still provides a local criminal record check.

There are two options. A city-only check costs $4.50. It covers crimes reported to or handled by SLMPD within St. Louis city limits. A combined city and county check costs $9.00 and pulls from both St. Louis city and St. Louis County records. Payment is cash, money order, or business check only. No personal checks or credit cards. You can visit in person or use the SLMPD Public Records portal for express pick-up.

The St. Louis background check from SLMPD has specific rules about what shows up. Open records include convictions, arrests less than 30 days old, and pending charges. Closed records are off limits to the general public. Closed records cover not guilty findings, dismissed cases, and charges that were never filed. If you need access to closed records, you must provide a notarized release signed by the person named in the record. Section 43.507 governs which records are open and which stay closed in Missouri.

You need valid ID to get your St. Louis background check results. SLMPD accepts a state photo ID or passport. If you do not have either, bring a Social Security card with a photo ID, or a birth certificate with a photo ID. Two forms of identification are required when you lack a state-issued photo ID.

Note: The $4.50 and $9.00 fees apply to walk-in requests at the Records Service Center only.

St. Louis Records and the Sunshine Law

Attorneys and insurance companies who need St. Louis police records can file a Sunshine Law request. SLMPD has a separate process for these requests. The SLMPD Sunshine Law page explains how to submit your request and what to expect.

Under Chapter 610 RSMo, all public bodies in Missouri must respond to records requests within three business days. Section 610.023 requires a custodian of records at every agency. For St. Louis, that includes SLMPD, the city courts, and other municipal offices. Section 610.026 allows agencies to charge for copies and search time. If your request is denied, you can challenge it through the Missouri Attorney General's office or in court. Under Section 610.027, fines up to $5,000 can be imposed for knowing violations of the Sunshine Law.

The SLMPD FAQ page also answers common questions about how to get records, what counts as a public record in St. Louis, and what the department can and cannot release.

Statewide Background Check for St. Louis

The SLMPD local check only covers St. Louis city records. For a full Missouri background check that includes all jurisdictions, you need MACHS. The Missouri Automated Criminal History Site is the state's central system for criminal records. A name-based search costs $15 and takes 5 to 7 business days. It covers every county and city in Missouri, not just St. Louis.

Under RSMo Chapter 43, the Highway Patrol's CJIS Division collects criminal history data from all law enforcement agencies and courts in the state. That includes SLMPD. So a MACHS search for someone who lives in St. Louis will show both local and statewide records in one report. The name search shows open records only. For closed records, you need a fingerprint-based check through IDEMIA. That costs $20 for the state search plus $11.50 for the service fee.

You can also mail a background check request to CJIS at P.O. Box 9500, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Include a completed Form SHP-158E and a $14 check or money order. Mail requests take 4 to 6 weeks. Call 573-526-6153 with questions about your St. Louis background check through the state system.

St. Louis Court Records Search

St. Louis has its own circuit court. The 22nd Judicial Circuit handles all criminal, civil, and family cases within the city. Court records from these cases are part of any thorough St. Louis background check.

Case.net is the free statewide court records search tool. It covers the 22nd Circuit along with every other circuit in Missouri. Search by name to find criminal charges, civil filings, traffic cases, and more. The system shows docket entries, charges, court dates, and outcomes. No account is needed for basic searches. Case.net pulls from the Court Automation Program under Section 476.055 RSMo. Sealed cases and juvenile records are not visible on the public side.

For a St. Louis background check, combining the SLMPD local record check with a Case.net search gives you a solid picture of both police and court records. Add a MACHS search on top of that for statewide coverage. Each source fills in different pieces. The local check catches city-level data. Case.net shows court filings. MACHS covers the entire state criminal history database.

Nearby Cities

St. Louis borders St. Louis County, which has its own separate court system and sheriff's office. Residents of nearby cities file through their respective county courts, not through the St. Louis city system.

Florissant is in St. Louis County and uses the 21st Judicial Circuit Court. A background check for someone in Florissant goes through that county system, not through the City of St. Louis.