Access St. Louis County Booking Reports
St. Louis County booking reports are among the most requested public records in Missouri. As the most populous county in the state, St. Louis County processes a high volume of arrests through its police department and jail system. The county maintains an online inmate search and the city of St. Louis (which is independent from the county) operates its own police department and City Justice Center. Both jurisdictions create booking reports that are public records under the Missouri Sunshine Law. You can search current inmates online, file records requests, and use state databases to track cases from arrest through sentencing.
St. Louis County Quick Facts
St. Louis County Police and Sheriff
St. Louis County has a unique setup. The St. Louis County Police Department handles law enforcement for unincorporated parts of the county and for many municipalities that contract police services. The county also has a separate jail and corrections system. When someone gets arrested in St. Louis County, they go through a booking process that records their name, charges, bond, and other details.
The county jail handles intake for all county-level arrests. Staff create a booking report that includes the person's full name, date of birth, physical description, arresting agency, charges, bond amount, and a mugshot. This information goes into the county system and becomes searchable online through the inmate lookup tool. The jail runs 24 hours a day and accepts inmates from dozens of local police departments within the county.
It is important to know that the city of St. Louis is not part of St. Louis County. The city operates as an independent jurisdiction with its own police department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and its own jail, the City Justice Center. If someone was arrested in the city, their booking report will be in the city system, not the county system.
Search St. Louis County Booking Reports Online
The St. Louis County Inmate Search is the primary tool for finding current booking reports. You can search by name and view charges, bond amounts, booking dates, and custody status. The system is free and does not require registration.
The screenshot below shows the St. Louis County inmate search portal where booking report data is available to the public.
For inmates in the city of St. Louis, the process is different. The SLMPD Records Division handles records requests for city arrests. The division is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at 1915 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103. You can call 314-444-5541 for information.
The image below shows the SLMPD homepage, which serves the independent city of St. Louis.
The City Justice Center at 200 South Tucker Boulevard holds city detainees. You can reach them at (314) 621-5848. The center has a capacity of about 860 inmates and houses pre-trial detainees and short-term sentenced individuals.
Note: Always check whether the arrest happened in St. Louis County or the independent city of St. Louis, as they use separate systems.
SLMPD Sunshine Law Requests
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has a dedicated Sunshine Law Portal for records requests. You can submit requests online, by mail, or by email at sunshinelawrequest@slmpd.org. The mailing address is St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Attn: Sunshine Law Unit, 1915 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103.
Fees for city records are straightforward. Copying costs $0.10 per page. Research and location fees run $15 per hour, prorated. A city-only record check costs $4.50. A combined city and county record check costs $9.00. Payment methods include cash, money orders, and business checks. They do not accept personal checks or credit cards.
You need a state-issued photo ID or valid passport to pick up records. A social security card with photo ID, or a birth certificate with photo ID, also works.
How to Request St. Louis County Booking Reports
For county-level records (not city), contact the St. Louis County Police Department or the county court system. Under RSMo 610.100, all arrest reports are open records. You can submit a written request specifying the person's name, date of arrest, and what records you need. The county must respond within three business days.
Copy fees follow the state standard of 10 cents per page per RSMo 610.026. Research time can be billed at actual employee cost. The agency may require advance payment for larger requests. If your request is denied, they must explain the reason, and you have the right to appeal.
The SLMPD Records Division, shown above, handles in-person records requests for city of St. Louis arrests during weekday business hours.
St. Louis County Jail Information
The St. Louis County jail is one of the largest in the state. It processes thousands of bookings each year from across the county's many municipalities. The facility handles intake, classification, housing, and release of inmates. Visitation rules and schedules are set by the corrections department. Contact the jail directly for the most current visitation policies.
The city's jail, the City Justice Center, holds roughly 860 inmates. It is located at 200 South Tucker Boulevard and you can contact them by phone at (314) 621-5848 or by email at dps-justice-center@stlouis-mo.gov. The prisoner processing department can be reached at 314-241-8339.
Note: The county jail and the City Justice Center are completely separate facilities with different phone numbers and records systems.
Statewide Booking Report Resources
The Missouri Department of Corrections Offender Search lets you find people in state prison custody. Given the large number of cases that come through St. Louis County courts, many convicted individuals end up in state facilities. You can search by name and get mugshots, offense details, and release dates.
Missouri Case.net shows court records for all 114 counties. This is the best free tool for tracking what happens after a booking. You can see charges, pleas, hearings, and sentencing information. The MACHS system run by the Highway Patrol does statewide criminal history checks for $13 per name search.
Nearby Counties
These counties border St. Louis County. Each one maintains its own booking report system.
Cities in St. Louis County
The city of St. Louis is independent from the county. The city of Florissant is within St. Louis County and has its own police department. The following city pages have more details on local booking report access.