Franklin County Criminal Records
What Is Franklin County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Franklin County, Missouri, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state.
Members of the public should understand the key distinctions among record types:
- Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law, either through a guilty plea or a trial verdict.
- Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are serious offenses punishable by more than one year of imprisonment; misdemeanors carry lesser penalties, typically up to one year in a county jail.
- Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public under Missouri law. Juvenile records are presumptively sealed pursuant to § 211.321 RSMo, which restricts their disclosure except in limited circumstances authorized by statute.
- Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect outstanding judicial orders for an individual's arrest; historical records document past arrests, charges, and dispositions that have been resolved.
The principal agencies maintaining Franklin County criminal records include:
- Franklin County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking logs, and jail records
- Franklin County Circuit Court — maintains case files, arraignment records, pleas, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, and probation or parole documentation
- Missouri State Highway Patrol Criminal Justice Information Services Division — maintains statewide criminal history records
- Local municipal police departments — maintain arrest and incident reports within their respective jurisdictions
Criminal records encompass charges filed, arraignment proceedings, entered pleas, trial outcomes, sentencing details, and any conditions of probation or parole imposed by the court. The Franklin County Missouri government provides access to court and county office information through its official web portal.
Franklin County Sheriff's Office 400 E. Locust St., Union, MO 63084 (636) 583-2560 Franklin County Sheriff's Office
Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk 400 E. Locust St., Union, MO 63084 (636) 583-7346 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Franklin County Circuit Court
Are Criminal Records Public In Franklin County
Adult criminal records in Franklin County are presumptively open to the public under Missouri's Sunshine Law, codified at § 610.010–610.200 RSMo, which establishes the right of members of the public to inspect and copy governmental records. Under current law, the following categories of records are generally accessible:
- Adult conviction records, including charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentencing orders
- Court case dockets and proceeding records maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk
- Arrest logs and booking records held by the Sheriff's Office and local law enforcement agencies
- Sex offender registration information maintained pursuant to state law
The following categories of records are restricted or exempt from public disclosure:
- Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, the release of which could jeopardize law enforcement operations
- Juvenile records, which are sealed by operation of § 211.321 RSMo and accessible only upon court order or as otherwise provided by statute
- Expunged records, which are treated as if they never occurred following a court order of expungement under § 610.140 RSMo
- Certain victim information and confidential informant identities protected under applicable statutes
Missouri's Sunshine Law requires that custodial agencies respond to public records requests within three business days and provide access to non-exempt records promptly. Agencies may charge reasonable fees for copies but may not charge for the inspection of records.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Franklin County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Franklin County criminal records through several official channels. The following steps outline the process for accessing these records:
Step 1 — Identify the appropriate custodial agency. Determine whether the records sought relate to an arrest (Sheriff's Office or local police), a court case (Circuit Court Clerk), or a statewide criminal history (Missouri State Highway Patrol).
Step 2 — Submit a Sunshine Law request. For records held by county agencies, submit a written public records request citing Missouri's Sunshine Law. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email to the relevant office. Include the subject's full name, date of birth, and the approximate date range of the records sought.
Step 3 — Request court records from the Circuit Court Clerk. Members of the public may inspect court case files in person at the Circuit Court Clerk's office during public counter hours. Certified copies of court documents are available for a fee established by the court.
Step 4 — Request a statewide criminal history background check. For a comprehensive criminal history, individuals may submit a fingerprint-based background check request through the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site, which processes both state and FBI records. The current fee for a combined state and FBI fingerprint-based background check is $44.00.
Step 5 — Contact the Union Municipal Court for municipal violations. The City of Union Municipal Court handles municipal ordinance violations and is currently located at the Franklin County Courthouse.
Franklin County Courthouse 400 E. Locust St., Union, MO 63084 (636) 583-7346 Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Franklin County government portal
How To Find Criminal Records in Franklin County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Franklin County criminal records and related information:
- Missouri Case.net: The Missouri judiciary's public case management system allows members of the public to search Franklin County Circuit Court case records by name, case number, or filing date. The portal contains case dockets, charges, dispositions, and scheduled hearings. No registration is required for basic searches.
- Missouri State Highway Patrol MACHS Portal: The Missouri Automated Criminal History fingerprint portal enables individuals and authorized entities to submit fingerprint-based background check requests online. Registration and payment of the applicable fee are required.
- Franklin County Official Website: The Franklin County Missouri government website provides links to county offices, including the Circuit Court Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office, and offers guidance on accessing public records.
- Union Municipal Court: Information regarding municipal court proceedings and case status for the City of Union is available through the Union Municipal Court page.
Online portals generally contain adult court case records and statewide criminal history data. Certain records — including sealed juvenile files, expunged records, and restricted investigative materials — are not available through any public online system and may only be accessed through a court order or authorized agency request.
Can You Search Franklin County Criminal Records for Free?
Missouri's Sunshine Law mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Fees may be assessed only for the reproduction of records, not for the act of inspection itself. The following resources are currently available at no cost:
- Missouri Case.net: Free public access to Franklin County Circuit Court case records, including charges, docket entries, and dispositions, is available without registration.
- Franklin County Sheriff's Office: Members of the public may inspect arrest logs and jail rosters in person at the Sheriff's Office during regular business hours at no charge.
- Franklin County government portal: General public records guidance and office contact information are accessible at no cost through the Franklin County Missouri government website.
Fees apply for the following services:
- Certified copies of court documents (fee schedule established by the Circuit Court)
- Fingerprint-based background checks through the MACHS portal ($44.00 for combined state and FBI check)
- Copies of records reproduced by county agencies (per-page fees as established by agency policy)
What's Included in a Franklin County Criminal Record?
A comprehensive Franklin County criminal record may contain the following categories of information:
Identifying Information
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
- Photograph (mugshot) taken at booking
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) and FBI number, where applicable
Arrest Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer identification
- Booking number and jail facility
- Charges filed at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set
Court Case Information
- Case number and court jurisdiction
- Filing date and assigned judge
- Charges as filed, including applicable Missouri Revised Statutes citations and felony or misdemeanor classification
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, or no contest)
- Attorney of record information
Disposition Information
- Verdict or case outcome
- Conviction date, if applicable
- Sentencing details, including type and length of sentence, fines, restitution ordered, and conditions imposed
- Probation or parole terms
- Appeals filed and outcomes
Additional Record Elements
- Active or recalled warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status
- DUI/DWI adjudications
- Traffic violations adjudicated in circuit court
- Pending charges or open cases
How Long Does Franklin County Keep Criminal Records?
Franklin County retains criminal records in accordance with Missouri's records retention schedules established by the Missouri Secretary of State's office and applicable statutes. Under current law, the following general retention periods apply:
- Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the Circuit Court and the Missouri State Highway Patrol
- Misdemeanor conviction records: Retained for a minimum of ten years following final disposition, with many records retained permanently
- Arrest records without conviction: Retained for a minimum of three years; subject to expungement under § 610.140 RSMo upon eligibility
- Juvenile records: Retained until the subject reaches age 17 or as otherwise ordered by the court; sealed pursuant to § 211.321 RSMo
- Court case files (felony): Retained permanently by the Circuit Court Clerk
- Court case files (misdemeanor and municipal): Retained for a minimum of ten years following final disposition
- Booking and jail records: Retained for a minimum of three to five years depending on the nature of the offense
Missouri's Secretary of State Local Records Program establishes the official retention schedules applicable to county agencies. Agencies are required to maintain records in accordance with these schedules and may not destroy records prior to the expiration of the applicable retention period without authorization.