Butler County Criminal History Records
Butler County criminal history records are managed by the 36th Judicial Circuit Court in Poplar Bluff. This southeast Missouri county processes a steady volume of criminal cases each year through its court system. You can search for criminal history data online using CaseNet or visit the Butler County Courthouse to request records in person. The Sheriff's Office, jail, and Prosecuting Attorney all maintain records connected to criminal cases in Butler County.
Butler County Quick Facts
Butler County Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Butler County Circuit Clerk's Office is at 100 N. Main St., Room 301, in Poplar Bluff. Call (573) 686-8082 for help. The office handles all court filings for the 36th Judicial Circuit. That includes criminal, civil, traffic, probate, and family cases. Records are public unless a judge orders them sealed.
To search Butler County criminal history records online, use Missouri CaseNet. It is free. No sign-up is needed. You can search by name, case number, or date. Filter results to Butler County to find local cases. CaseNet will show docket entries, charges, parties, and case outcomes.
The Butler County Sheriff's Office website also provides access to offender search tools for the county.
This tool can help you find specific case data tied to Butler County criminal cases beyond what CaseNet shows.
Butler County Sheriff's Office
The Butler County Sheriff's Office is at 200 Oak Street in Poplar Bluff. Sheriff Mark Dobbs runs the office. The phone number is (573) 785-8444. The office provides patrol, investigations, court services, and jail operations across the county.
The Sheriff's Office keeps records of all arrests and incidents in Butler County. You can request copies of incident reports and arrest data through the office. The department works with the Poplar Bluff Police Department and other local agencies to share criminal history information.
Under Section 43.503, all law enforcement in Missouri must report arrest and charge data to the Highway Patrol. So Butler County criminal history records flow into the statewide database. A full criminal history check through MACHS will include Butler County data along with records from every other Missouri county.
Butler County Jail Records
The Butler County Jail is at 200 Phillip Kearbey Blvd. in Poplar Bluff. Call (573) 686-8067 for jail info. The facility holds pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates. Booking records include arrest dates, charges, bond info, and court dates. These records are part of each person's criminal history file.
Inmate commissary is available. Visitation runs through ICS, and you can put money on an inmate's account using the kiosk in the jail lobby. For info on a specific inmate, call the jail or visit in person during regular hours.
Butler County Criminal Case Prosecution
The Butler County Prosecuting Attorney is Paul Oesterreicher. The office is at 106 S. 2nd St. in Poplar Bluff. Call (573) 686-8060. This office reviews every case that law enforcement sends over. They decide what charges to file and take cases to court.
The office works with Haven House and other victim service groups to provide shelter, crisis help, and court advocacy for crime victims. Every charge filed by the Prosecuting Attorney goes on record at the Circuit Clerk's office. That means it shows up in the criminal history system and can be found on CaseNet once the case is in the court's system.
How to Search Butler County Criminal History
The fastest free way to check criminal history in Butler County is CaseNet. Go to courts.mo.gov/casenet and search by name. This pulls up case filings, charges, and outcomes. It is free and open to anyone.
For a broader check, use machs.mo.gov. MACHS is the state system for criminal history searches. It pulls from the Highway Patrol's central database. A name search costs $15. Fingerprint-based checks cost around $43 total.
Missouri's open records law under Chapter 610 gives you the right to request records from any government office. They must respond within three business days. If they say no, they have to give you a written reason. This covers the Butler County Circuit Clerk, Sheriff's Office, and Prosecuting Attorney.
- CaseNet: free, no account needed
- MACHS name search: $15
- MACHS fingerprint search: about $43
- Court copy fees: $2 first page, $0.25 each additional
Records that have been expunged under Section 610.140 will not appear in a standard search. Only the person whose record was sealed can view it, and they need to go to the court in person with a photo ID.
Public Access to Butler County Criminal Records
Missouri's Sunshine Law gives the public a right to view government records, and that includes criminal history files in Butler County. Chapter 610 RSMo sets the rules. Section 610.023 says any public body must respond to a records request within three business days. If they say no, they have to put the reason in writing and cite the specific law that blocks release.
Section 610.100 covers law enforcement records. Arrest logs, incident reports, and booking data are open to the public in most cases. Some records can be closed if release would hurt an active case. But once a case is done, the records are generally open. Juvenile records are an exception. Those stay sealed.
Fees for copies fall under Section 610.026. Butler County offices can charge for the actual cost of making copies. They cannot charge search fees or labor fees on top of that. If you think a request was wrongly denied, you can take the matter to court. The law allows the court to award legal fees if the denial was not in good faith.
Cities in Butler County
Butler County includes the city of Poplar Bluff. Criminal cases for Poplar Bluff residents are handled through the 36th Judicial Circuit Court. No cities in Butler County meet the population threshold for a separate page on this site.