Search St. Louis Released Inmates
St. Louis is an independent city in Missouri with a population of about 286,000. It does not sit inside any county, which makes its records system unique in the state. Released inmates from St. Louis may have records in the city jail, the state prison system, or both. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the City Justice Center are the main sources for local inmate and arrest data. Whether you need to look up someone who was recently released or search older case files, several tools can help you find St. Louis released inmates records.
St. Louis Quick Facts
SLMPD Records for Released Inmates
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department runs a Records Service Center where you can get arrest reports and case files. Call 314-444-5541 to ask about a record. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm. They offer an Express Pick-up option through the SLMPD Public Records portal if you want to speed things up. That way you can submit your request online and pick it up when it is ready.
A city-only record check costs $4.50. If you want both city and county records in one search, the fee goes up to $9.00. Payment must be cash, money order, or business check. They do not take personal checks or credit cards at the records window. These fees apply to criminal history checks, not just single report copies. If you only need one police report from a specific case, the cost may be less.
The SLMPD Records Service Center page explains how to request police reports, criminal history checks, and other documents tied to St. Louis released inmates.
Use that portal to start an Express Pick-up request or learn what documents you need to bring for an in-person visit.
St. Louis Sunshine Law Requests
Missouri's Sunshine Law gives the public a right to inspect most government records. In St. Louis, that includes arrest logs, booking data, and jail records. The SLMPD has a dedicated Sunshine Law page that walks you through the request process. Under Chapter 610 RSMo, agencies must respond within three business days. Fees are limited to actual costs for search and copying.
The SLMPD Sunshine Law page outlines the rules for public records access in St. Louis and how the department handles open records requests.
If your request is denied, the Missouri Attorney General handles complaints about Sunshine Law violations.
City Justice Center and Inmate Data
The City Justice Center at 200 South Tucker Boulevard is where St. Louis holds inmates. It serves as both the city jail and a processing center. When someone is arrested in St. Louis, they go through booking at this facility. The jail has an online Inmate Locator tool so you can check who is in custody right now. For Prisoner Processing questions, call 314-241-8339.
Released inmates from the City Justice Center may still have records on file with the facility even after they leave. Booking photos, charge sheets, and release dates are part of the public record under Missouri law. Arrest reports are open records under RSMo 610.100 unless a judge seals them. A court ruling in Charlier v. Corum also confirmed that inmate records held in city jails count as public records subject to disclosure.
Note: The Inmate Locator shows current bookings and may not list inmates released more than a few days ago.
St. Louis Court Records Search
Criminal cases from St. Louis go through the 22nd Judicial Circuit. Since St. Louis is an independent city, it has its own circuit court that is separate from St. Louis County. You can search case records for free on Missouri Case.net. The system covers all circuits in the state. Look up a name or case number to find charges, docket entries, and outcomes for St. Louis cases going back to the mid-1990s.
The St. Louis Municipal Courts handle city ordinance violations and minor offenses. These are lower-level cases but they still generate records. Municipal court data can show arrests that did not result in state charges. If someone was picked up in St. Louis on a city warrant and then released, the municipal court file is where that shows up.
State Resources for St. Louis Released Inmates
The Missouri Department of Corrections tracks offenders across the state. Their Offender Web Search lets you look up people currently on parole or probation, including those living in St. Louis after release from state prison. The DOC also puts out a nightly Sunshine Law data file with offender records going back to 1974. That file has 29 fields including name, offense, sentence, and release date.
For statewide criminal history checks, the MACHS system run by the Missouri State Highway Patrol covers all 114 counties plus independent cities like St. Louis. A name search is $14. A fingerprint search is $20 and returns more complete results. These searches pull arrest records, court dispositions, and incarceration history from across Missouri.
Victims in St. Louis can track released inmates through VINELink. Sign up with an offender's name or booking number and get alerts by phone, email, or text when their custody status changes. The service is free. Missouri's MOVANS line at 866-566-8267 provides live help around the clock.
Nearby Missouri Cities
St. Louis sits near several other cities in the metro area. Each one has its own police department and courts, but they all fall under Missouri state law for public records access. Here are nearby cities with released inmates pages on this site.
Since St. Louis is an independent city, it does not belong to a county. However, the neighboring St. Louis County page covers the suburban areas that surround the city.