Columbia Criminal History Records

Columbia criminal history records are available through the Boone County Circuit Court, the Columbia Police Department, and the city's municipal court. Columbia is the county seat of Boone County and home to the University of Missouri. Criminal cases in Columbia go through the 13th Judicial Circuit. The city also has its own public records portal that makes it easy to submit and track records requests online. Here is everything you need to know about searching criminal history in Columbia.

Boone County Handles Columbia Criminal Cases

Criminal cases from Columbia go through the Boone County Circuit Court, which is part of the 13th Judicial Circuit. The court handles all felony and misdemeanor cases that arise under state law. Municipal ordinance violations go to the Columbia Municipal Court instead.

Case records from the circuit court can be searched for free on Missouri CaseNet. Filter to Boone County to see Columbia-area cases. CaseNet shows charges, docket entries, parties, and case outcomes. If a case is sealed, it will not appear in the search results.

Columbia Police Department Records

The Columbia Police Department Records Unit is at 600 East Walnut Street, Columbia, MO 65201. Call 573-874-7416 before visiting. They ask that you phone first so they can have your records ready when you arrive.

Fees depend on when you request the report. If you ask within 14 days of the incident, victims get free copies and everyone else pays $3. After 14 days, victims still get free copies but others must submit a FOIA request form. The fees are listed on the form itself.

Accident reports cost $3 per report no matter who is requesting them. Payment can be made by cash, check, or debit/credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or Discover). All reports follow FOIA rules and may be redacted or withheld if they fall under an exemption.

Media requests for incident or accident reports must go through the Public Information Officer. Regular citizens can request records directly from the Records Unit. The Missouri Sunshine Law governs all public access to these records.

Columbia Municipal Court

The Columbia Municipal Court is at 600 East Broadway, Columbia, MO 65201. Phone: 573-874-7230. Fax: 573-874-7231. Email: municipalcourt@como.gov. The court handles alleged violations of City of Columbia laws.

The court is a Division of the Circuit Court of Boone County, 13th Judicial Circuit. Online case searches are available through CaseNet. Court schedules are posted on the city website.

The Columbia City Prosecutor's Office reviews, investigates, and files charges for municipal ordinance violations. The office is at 600 E. Broadway. Phone: 573-874-7229. Email: CityProsecutor@CoMo.gov. State-level crimes are handled separately by the Boone County Prosecutor at 573-886-4000.

Columbia Public Records Portal

Columbia has an online public records request portal through NextRequest. You can submit new requests, track existing ones, and receive documents by email. The portal also lets you search previous requests. Someone may have already asked for what you need, and the response might be available to view.

All requests through this portal follow the Missouri Sunshine Law, Chapter 610 RSMo. The city must respond within three business days. If you have questions about community resources, call 573-874-2489.

How to Search Criminal History in Columbia

The quickest way is CaseNet. It costs nothing. Search by name and filter to Boone County. This shows most criminal cases filed in Columbia.

For a broader search, use MACHS. Under Section 43.503 RSMo, all Missouri law enforcement sends arrest and charge data to the Highway Patrol's central database. A name search costs $15. Fingerprint checks cost about $43 total for state and FBI processing.

In-person requests go to the Columbia Police Department Records Unit at 600 East Walnut Street. Bring your ID and call ahead. The Boone County Circuit Court also takes walk-in requests for court records.

• CaseNet: free, no account needed
• MACHS name search: $15
• Police report within 14 days: $3 (victims free)
• Public records portal: free to submit, fees may apply

Under Section 610.140 RSMo, certain criminal records can be expunged. The petition gets filed in the circuit court where the arrest took place. For Columbia cases, that means Boone County Circuit Court. Not all offenses qualify, and there are waiting periods based on the type of charge.

Statewide Criminal History Check

The Missouri Automated Criminal History System, or MACHS, is the main tool for statewide checks. The Highway Patrol runs it. A name search costs $15 and returns results in a few days if done online. Fingerprint checks cost more but are more thorough. They run about $43 total for state and FBI processing combined.

CaseNet is free. It covers all 114 Missouri counties. You can search by name and filter to Boone County for Columbia cases. The Missouri Department of Corrections also has an offender search on its website. That one is free too. Between these three tools, most Columbia criminal history checks can be done from home.

Columbia Criminal History Expungement

If you have a criminal record in Columbia, you may be able to get it expunged. Section 610.140 RSMo allows expungement for certain offenses. The wait is 3 years for misdemeanors and 7 years for felonies. You file the petition in Boone County Circuit Court since that is where Columbia cases are heard.

The court will check your record. You can't have any pending charges. Violent crimes and certain other offenses don't qualify. If the judge grants the petition, the record gets sealed. It won't show up on CaseNet or background checks after that. There are filing fees involved, so check with the circuit clerk on the current cost.

Nearby Cities

Other Missouri cities with criminal history records available on this site.

Boone County Resources

For more details on criminal history records across the county, visit the Boone County criminal history page. It covers the Sheriff's Office, circuit court, and all county-level record sources.