Dunklin County Criminal History Search
Dunklin County criminal history records are maintained by the 35th Judicial Circuit Court in Kennett, deep in Missouri's Bootheel region. The county covers 547 square miles and processes criminal cases at its courthouse and Justice Center. You can search for criminal history data online through CaseNet or visit the Dunklin County offices in person. The Sheriff's Office, jail, and Prosecuting Attorney all maintain records tied to criminal cases filed in the county.
Dunklin County Quick Facts
Dunklin County Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Dunklin County Circuit Clerk's Office is in the courthouse in Kennett. The mailing address is PO Box 567, Kennett, MO 63857. The office has two phone lines: Criminal Division at 573-888-5322 and Civil/Child Support Division at 573-888-2456. Fax is 573-888-4120. The 35th Judicial Circuit handles civil, criminal, traffic, and probate cases.
Search Dunklin County criminal history records on Missouri CaseNet. This free state tool covers all Missouri courts. Search by name or case number. Filter to Dunklin County for local results. CaseNet shows charges, docket entries, and case outcomes.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol provides access to criminal history data through its MACHS system.
A statewide search through MACHS costs $15 for a name check. Under Section 43.503, all Dunklin County arrest data goes to the Highway Patrol's central criminal history database. Fingerprint checks cost about $43 total.
Dunklin County Sheriff's Office
The Dunklin County Sheriff's Office is at 1175 Floyd St. in the Justice Center in Kennett. The mailing address is PO Box 801. Call 573-888-2424. Dispatch is at 573-888-2409. The office covers all 547 square miles of Dunklin County.
The Sheriff's Office handles patrol, investigations, civil process, jail operations, and 911/Emergency Management. The Justice Center opened in 2007 and houses both the Sheriff's Office and the jail. All arrest data from the office flows into the statewide criminal history system per Chapter 43.
Records requests can be made in person at the Justice Center or by phone. Under Chapter 610, the office must respond within three business days.
Dunklin County Jail and Booking Records
The Dunklin County Jail is a medium-security detention center at 1175 Floyd St. in Kennett. Call 573-888-4010. The jail has a capacity of 52 inmates. Most sentenced inmates serve less than two years. The facility holds people waiting for trial or sentencing.
Visitation is through HomeWAV and requires creating an account online. Inmate mail should go to: Inmate Name, Dunklin County Jail, 1175 Floyd Street, Kennett, MO 63857. Booking records include the arrest date, charges, and bond information. These records are part of each person's criminal history file in Dunklin County.
Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney
The Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is in the Justice Center. The mailing address is PO Box 864, Kennett, MO 63857. Call 573-888-6676. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The office reviews cases from law enforcement and files charges. Victim services are available. All criminal charges filed become part of the court record at the Circuit Clerk's office and are searchable through CaseNet.
Once a charge is filed by the Prosecuting Attorney, it enters the public record. Even cases that end with a dismissal or acquittal stay in the system until the person petitions for expungement. This means a Dunklin County criminal history search may show a range of case outcomes, not just convictions. Reading the case details on CaseNet helps you understand the full picture.
How to Search Dunklin County Criminal History
Start with CaseNet. It is free. Search by name and filter to Dunklin County. You will see criminal case data including charges and outcomes.
For a statewide check, go to machs.mo.gov. A name search costs $15. Fingerprint checks run about $43. MACHS covers all Missouri counties.
Visit the courthouse or Justice Center in Kennett for in-person requests. Bring a photo ID. The Circuit Clerk's criminal division is at 573-888-5322. Copy fees are $2 for the first page and 25 cents per additional page.
Under Chapter 610, Missouri's Sunshine Law, all government offices must respond to records requests within three business days. If they deny your request, they must give a written reason citing the specific law. This covers the Dunklin County Circuit Clerk, Sheriff, and Prosecuting Attorney.
Expunged records under Section 610.140 will not show in standard searches. Missouri has expanded the offenses eligible for sealing in recent years. The waiting period is three years for most misdemeanors and seven years for eligible felonies. Violent crimes and sex offenses cannot be sealed. If a Dunklin County record has been expunged, it will not appear on CaseNet or in MACHS results. Only the person whose record was sealed can view it at the court with valid photo ID.
Public Access to Dunklin County Criminal Records
Missouri's Sunshine Law under Chapter 610 RSMo protects your right to request criminal records from Dunklin County. Section 610.023 requires all offices to respond within three business days. That covers the Justice Center, the courthouse, and every other public office in Kennett.
Section 610.100 applies to law enforcement records. Arrest logs, incident reports, and booking data are all included. Fees cannot exceed the actual cost of copying per Section 610.026. If the Sheriff or any other office denies a request, they must put the reason in writing and cite the specific law.
Criminal History Expungement in Dunklin County
Under Section 610.140 RSMo, some records can be expunged. Misdemeanors qualify after three years. Felonies after seven. Count from the end of the sentence. File the petition in Dunklin County Circuit Court in Kennett.
Some marijuana offenses are auto-expunged now. No petition needed for those. For other cases, you need to file, pay about $250, and show all conditions were met. Once sealed, records will not show on CaseNet or MACHS. Violent crimes and sex offenses are never eligible for expungement in Missouri.
Public Access to Dunklin County Criminal Records
Section 610.100 covers law enforcement records in Missouri. Arrest logs, incident reports, and booking data are open to the public unless release would hurt an active case. Once a case is resolved, those records are generally available. Juvenile records always stay sealed.
Copy fees are governed by Section 610.026. Dunklin County offices can charge for making copies but not for search time or labor. If they deny a request, it must be in writing with the specific statute cited. You can challenge a bad denial in court if needed.
Cities in Dunklin County
Dunklin County includes Kennett, Malden, and other Bootheel communities. No cities in Dunklin County meet the population threshold for a separate page. All criminal cases go through the 35th Judicial Circuit Court in Kennett.