Buchanan County Booking Reports
Buchanan County booking reports are public records kept by the sheriff's office in St. Joseph, Missouri. The county runs an online inmate inquiry system that lets you look up current jail roster data, arrest details, and booking information at no cost. Under Missouri's Sunshine Law, these records stay open to any person who asks. The sheriff's office posts mugshots, charges, bond amounts, and custody status on their web portal. You can search by name, booking number, or date of birth. Buchanan County handles a high volume of bookings each year given its role as one of the larger counties in northwest Missouri.
Buchanan County Booking Reports Overview
Buchanan County Sheriff's Office
The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office sits at 501 Faraon Street in St. Joseph. This is where all booking reports for the county get processed and stored. The jail has three separate housing units with a total of 234 beds. Staff includes 7 sergeants, 4 deputies, 25 detention deputies, 3 property clerks, 2 kitchen workers, a digital download specialist, and a receptionist. Lt. Joe Lysaght serves as the Custody Officer, while Lt. Natalie Colbech handles compliance. You can reach the jail at 816-236-8800 or call 816-236-8730 for inmate questions.
Records and visitation scheduling run Monday through Thursday from 8am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm to 5pm. Fridays the office closes at 12:30pm. The Buchanan County Sheriff's website has links to the inmate inquiry tool, a most wanted PDF roster, and contact details for each division. Written requests for booking reports go to the Records Division at the same address.
Online Booking Reports Search
Buchanan County uses the NewWorld Inmate Inquiry system for its online jail roster. The Buchanan County Inmate Inquiry portal lets you search by name, booking number, or date of birth. Results show up in real time. Each record lists the person's photo, full name, subject number, custody status, scheduled release date, race, gender, date of birth, height, weight, housing facility, and any active bookings. The system pulls data straight from the jail management software so it stays current.
The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office inmate inquiry portal shows the full booking report interface for current detainees in St. Joseph.
This online tool makes it easy to check on recent arrests and current jail population without calling the office or driving to the courthouse.
Multiple bookings for the same person show up in a single search. You can see each charge tied to a booking along with bond amounts. The system also tracks when someone moves between housing units. If a person has been released, their record may still appear for a short time after.
The main page of the Buchanan County Sheriff's website provides links to the inmate search and other public services.
Bookmarks for the sheriff's page and the inmate roster are worth saving if you check Buchanan County booking reports often.
Note: The most wanted PDF roster on the sheriff's website is a separate document from the live inmate inquiry database.
Records Requests in Buchanan County
Missouri's Sunshine Law under RSMo Chapter 610 makes arrest reports and booking records open to the public. Buchanan County follows this law fully. You can submit a records request through the online portal, in person at 501 Faraon Street, by mail, fax, or email. The office processes requests during regular business hours. Standard copy fees apply at no more than 10 cents per page for documents 9x14 inches or smaller, per RSMo 610.026.
Under RSMo 610.100, all arrest reports and incident reports are open records. If someone gets arrested but not charged within 30 days, the arrest report becomes closed except for the disposition portion. Investigative reports stay closed until the case goes inactive. The law also says agencies can charge for the actual cost of staff time spent pulling records together.
Buchanan County Jail Details
The jail at 501 Faraon Street has 234 beds split across three housing units. Visitation is limited to one non-contact visit each Saturday. Hours run from 9am to noon and 1pm to 5pm. You must schedule visits in advance by calling 816-236-8888 during the scheduling window. Only adults 18 and older with a valid photo ID can visit, and you need to show up 10 minutes early or lose your slot.
Money for inmates goes through a lobby kiosk that takes cash or credit cards. Online deposits work through Inmate Canteen. Commissary orders on Tuesday need money deposited by 8am Monday. Friday orders need funds by 8am Thursday. Mail goes through USPS only. Include the sender's full name and return address. You can send up to 3 pictures per letter. Address it to the inmate's name, C/O Buchanan County Jail, 501 Faraon Street, St. Joseph, MO 64501. Email is also an option through Inmate Canteen.
Statewide Resources for Booking Reports
Beyond the local jail roster, several state databases can help you find booking reports and related records. The Missouri Department of Corrections Offender Search covers active offenders including probationers and parolees. It shows DOC ID numbers, mugshots, offense details, sentence information, and release dates. This tool does not cover discharged offenders.
Missouri Case.net gives free access to court records across all 114 counties. You can search by name, case number, or filing date without any registration. Case types include criminal, civil, traffic, and family law matters. Docket entries, parties, judgments, and hearing schedules are all available. For questions, call the help desk at 888-541-4894.
The VINELink notification system lets you track custody status changes for inmates in Buchanan County and most other Missouri jails. Sign up to get alerts when an offender is released, transferred, or has another status change. The service is free and runs 24 hours a day through their toll-free hotline at 1-866-566-8439.
Note: The Missouri Automated Criminal History System (MACHS) charges $13 per name-based search and is separate from free jail roster lookups.
Nearby Counties
Buchanan County borders several other counties in northwest Missouri. Each has its own sheriff's office and booking report system. If you need records from a neighboring area, check these county pages:
Cities in Buchanan County
St. Joseph is the county seat and largest city in Buchanan County. It is the only city in the county with a population over the qualifying threshold. Booking reports from St. Joseph go through the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office and the St. Joseph Police Department.
St. Joseph has its own city page with details on local police booking procedures and additional resources for finding arrest records.