Kansas City Criminal History Records
Kansas City criminal history records come from multiple sources across the metro area. As the largest city in Missouri, Kansas City sits mainly in Jackson County and falls under the 16th Judicial Circuit Court for state-level criminal cases. The Kansas City Police Department processes 700 to 800 records requests each week. Whether you need a single arrest report or a full criminal history check, there are both free and paid ways to search. This guide walks through each option step by step, from the KCPD Records Division to CaseNet and the state MACHS portal.
Kansas City Quick Facts
Which County Handles Kansas City Criminal Cases
Kansas City spans parts of four counties, but the vast bulk of the city falls in Jackson County. Criminal cases from Kansas City go through the 16th Judicial Circuit Court. The court runs two main offices. The western office is the Albert Riederer Community Justice Complex at 1315 Locust Street in Kansas City. The eastern office is at 308 W Kansas in Independence.
Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Copy fees are $2 for the first page and 25 cents for each page after that. If you need criminal history checks that go beyond court records, you must use the Missouri State Highway Patrol's MACHS portal. The court does not run statewide background checks on its own.
Kansas City Police Department Records
The KCPD Records Division is one of the busiest in the state. Natalie Cofield-Booker manages the unit. They handle hundreds of requests each week for police reports, arrest records, and other case files.
Reports take 10 to 14 business days from the date of the incident to be ready. Some requests take longer. Video and investigative reports can take 6 to 8 weeks. Mail requests for a single report can take up to 30 days.
The pickup spot is at 1125 Locust Street in Kansas City. Hours run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call first before you go. Payment can be made by credit card, debit card, money order, cash, or personal check. Checks should be made out to "Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, Missouri." Records are only released after payment clears.
Under Missouri Revised Statute Section 610.100, investigative reports stay closed until an investigation becomes inactive. This means some police files may not be available right away. Attorney requests for active case files go to the Office of General Counsel at OGC@kcpolice.org or by phone at 816-949-1599. Officer discipline files are closed under Section 610.021(13).
Kansas City Municipal Court
The Kansas City Municipal Court handles city ordinance cases. This includes minor criminal matters like code violations and some misdemeanor charges. The court is at 511 East 11th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106.
Phone: 816-513-2700. Fax: 816-513-6782.
To get records from the municipal court, you can download a Public Records request form or send an email to court@kcmo.org. The city asks for three business days to respond. Copy fees at this court are $1.50 for the first page and 10 cents for each page after that. Certification costs $2 per case. These fees apply to municipal court records only, not circuit court files.
The court also allows online payment for fines and citations. Traffic ticket diversion is an option for some violations. All records requests at this court fall under the Missouri Sunshine Law and Supreme Court rules.
How to Search Criminal History in Kansas City
Start with Missouri CaseNet. It is free. No account is needed. You can search by name, case number, or filing date. Filter your search to Jackson County to see Kansas City cases. CaseNet shows charges, docket entries, parties, and judgments for most criminal cases.
If a case does not show up, it may be sealed. Only a party to a sealed case can view it. They must go in person with a photo ID.
For a full criminal history search that goes beyond court records, use the MACHS portal run by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Under Section 43.503 RSMo, all Missouri law enforcement must send arrest and charge data to the Highway Patrol's central database. A name-based search costs $15. Fingerprint-based checks run about $43 total, which covers both state and FBI processing.
Kansas City also runs an open data portal with crime stats, incident data, and other public records. You can download datasets in multiple formats. Crime data gets updated on a regular basis and includes incident reports, arrest data, and calls for service. This is a good tool if you want raw crime data rather than individual criminal history records.
- CaseNet search: free, no sign-up needed
- MACHS name search: $15 per request
- MACHS fingerprint search: about $43 total
- KCPD report copies: varies by request type
- Municipal court copies: $1.50 first page, $0.10 each after
- Circuit court copies: $2 first page, $0.25 each after
Kansas City Criminal Record Expungement
Missouri law allows certain criminal records to be expunged. Under Section 610.140 RSMo, you can petition to have eligible offenses removed from your record. The petition gets filed in the circuit court in the county where the arrest took place. For most Kansas City cases, that means filing in Jackson County Circuit Court.
Not all crimes qualify. Violent felonies and certain other offenses are excluded. There is a waiting period that depends on the type of offense. Misdemeanors have a shorter wait than felonies. The court charges a filing fee, and you may need to notify the prosecuting attorney and arresting agency.
Once a record is expunged, it no longer shows up on CaseNet or in standard criminal history checks. The records get sealed, and you can legally say the arrest or charge did not happen. This is an option worth looking into if you have an old criminal record in Kansas City.
Records Access Under Missouri Law
The Missouri Sunshine Law, found in Chapter 610 RSMo, gives the public a right to access government records. This covers criminal records held by Kansas City police, the municipal court, and other city offices. When you submit a request, the office must respond within three business days.
If your request is denied, you must get a written explanation citing the specific statute. Closed records under the Sunshine Law include active investigation files, some juvenile records, and sealed cases. Most criminal case records at the circuit court level are open to the public unless a judge has ordered them sealed.
Nearby Cities
Other major cities near Kansas City also have criminal history records available through their local courts and police departments.
Jackson County Resources
For full details on criminal history records across the county, visit the Jackson County criminal history page. It covers the Sheriff's Office, detention center, and all court locations.