Find Franklin County Background Check

A background check in Franklin County taps into both state and local records from this east-central Missouri county. The 20th Judicial Circuit Court in Union handles all case filings here. Franklin County criminal records flow through the MACHS portal, the Case.net court system, and the local sheriff's office. Whether you need a name search, a fingerprint check, or want to look up a court case, you have several paths to get Franklin County background check data. This page breaks down each method, the costs, and how long results take.

Franklin County Background Check via MACHS

The MACHS portal is the primary state tool for criminal background checks in Missouri. It covers Franklin County and all 114 counties in the state. Under RSMo Chapter 43, every law enforcement agency and court in Franklin County reports arrest data, charges, and case outcomes to the Highway Patrol's central criminal history repository. That is the database MACHS searches.

A name search costs $15 plus a convenience fee. Enter a name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Results take 5 to 7 days. You get open records only. Section 43.507 defines open records as convictions, pending charges, arrests in the last 30 days, and suspended imposition of sentence during probation. Dismissed cases and acquittals are closed. They stay out of public name search results.

Fingerprint checks cost more but pull more data. The state fee is $20. IDEMIA charges $11.50 to capture your prints and send them to the Highway Patrol. A fingerprint search returns both open and closed records from the Missouri database. If you need FBI results, add $13.25. Total processing takes 7 to 10 business days. Schedule your appointment through IDEMIA for electronic livescan.

Note: Local police in Franklin County no longer process criminal history checks as of July 2019, so all requests go through MACHS.

Franklin County Sheriff Records

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is the local source for arrest records, incident reports, and jail booking data. The sheriff covers the unincorporated parts of the county and operates the Franklin County jail. You can request records from the sheriff by filing a written request under Missouri's Sunshine Law.

Under Chapter 610, the sheriff has three business days to respond. They can charge for copy costs and staff time to pull records. Most arrest records in Franklin County are open to the public. Booking photos, charges, arrest dates, and release status are typically available. The sheriff may withhold records tied to active investigations or when release could harm an ongoing case. For routine background check requests, the process is straightforward.

Current inmate information is often available through the sheriff's office. You can check who is in the Franklin County jail and what charges they face. This gives you a fast look at recent arrests. For historical records or detailed case files, submit a formal written request to the sheriff in Union.

Search Franklin County Court Records

Case.net covers the 20th Judicial Circuit, which handles all cases filed in Franklin County. Search by name or case number at no cost. The system shows criminal cases, civil filings, traffic records, probate matters, and family law cases from the Franklin County courthouse in Union.

Each case on Case.net lists the parties, docket entries, charges, motions, and court dates. You can track a case and get email alerts when something new is filed. Case.net is a solid tool for a Franklin County background check when you want to see what has been filed in court. But it does not replace MACHS for full criminal history. Sealed records, juvenile matters, and certain mental health filings are hidden from the public portal.

The 20th Judicial Circuit also handles cases from Osage and Gasconade counties. When searching Case.net, filter by Franklin County to get only local results. The circuit clerk at the courthouse in Union can answer questions about specific cases and provide certified copies of court documents when you need them for legal or personal purposes.

Franklin County Check by Mail

You can run a Missouri background check by mail from Franklin County. Send a completed Criminal Record Check Form to PO Box 9500, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Include a $14 check or money order made out to "State of Missouri, Criminal Record System Fund." Under Section 43.530, these fees maintain the state criminal records system. Mail requests take 4 to 6 weeks to process.

Walk-in service at the CJIS office in Jefferson City is the fast option. The public access window at 1510 East Elm Street handles name checks in about 30 minutes. Jefferson City is roughly an hour west of Union, making this a reasonable trip for Franklin County residents who need quick results. Bring ID and payment. Add $2 if you need the result notarized.

The CJIS phone number is (573) 526-6153. Staff can help with questions about the form, required documents, and processing times. They do not take requests over the phone. All requests must be submitted online through MACHS, by mail, or at the walk-in window.

Franklin County Public Records Access

Missouri's Sunshine Law applies to every government office in Franklin County. Under Section 610.023, each office must have a records custodian who handles requests. Put your request in writing and send it to the right office. They have three business days to respond. The response is either the records, a timeline, or a denial with a legal reason.

Section 610.026 sets the rules on fees. Agencies can charge for copies and the time it takes to find records. Fee waivers exist when the request is in the public interest. If Franklin County denies your records request, contact the Attorney General's Sunshine Law office. The AG has a mediation program to resolve disputes. If that fails, Section 610.027 lets you go to court. Judges can order release and impose fines up to $5,000 for knowing violations.

Criminal records in Franklin County follow Chapter 43 rules statewide. Open records are available to the public. Closed records are off limits to most people. Section 43.532 makes sharing criminal history data without authority a crime. The Rap Back program under Section 43.540 provides ongoing monitoring of people in sensitive positions who work with children, elderly, or disabled residents in Franklin County.

How to Run a Franklin County Check

Start with MACHS. It covers Franklin County and the rest of Missouri in one search. A name check is $15 online. Fingerprint checks are $20 state, $13.25 more for federal FBI results. Next, go to Case.net for free court record searches from the 20th Judicial Circuit. For local data like arrest records and jail bookings, contact the Franklin County Sheriff.

If you need records from a specific office in the county, file a Sunshine Law request in writing. Be specific about what you want and the time frame. The more detail you give, the quicker the office can pull the right files. Keep a copy of your request. All Franklin County offices must respond within three business days.

The most thorough Franklin County background check combines a MACHS fingerprint search with a Case.net lookup and a local sheriff records request. The fingerprint check gives you the fullest criminal history picture from the state level, including closed records that a name search would miss. Case.net adds the court filing details. The sheriff fills in the local arrest data. Together, these three sources cover the main bases for a complete background check in Franklin County.

Cities in Franklin County

Union is the county seat of Franklin County. Washington and Pacific are also sizable cities in the county. No cities in Franklin County meet the population threshold for a separate page on this site. All residents of Franklin County file through the 20th Judicial Circuit Court in Union.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County borders several counties in eastern Missouri. Check which county your address falls in before requesting records. Each county has its own court system and law enforcement offices.