Madison County Criminal History Records
Madison County criminal history records are managed through the 24th Judicial Circuit Court in Fredericktown. The county sits in the southeastern part of Missouri and has a small but active court system. Criminal cases go through the Circuit Clerk's office at the courthouse on Courthouse Square. The Sheriff's Office on North Main Street keeps arrest records and incident reports. This page shows you every way to search criminal history in Madison County, whether online or in person at the courthouse.
Madison County Quick Facts
Madison County Circuit Court Criminal Records
The 24th Judicial Circuit Court processes all criminal cases filed in Madison County. The Circuit Clerk, Tenia Hermann, runs the office at 3 Courthouse Sq in Fredericktown. Call (573) 783-2176 for questions about criminal case files. The office handles criminal, civil, probate, and traffic cases.
You can search Madison County criminal history records through Missouri CaseNet. This free state tool shows docket entries, charges, judgments, and parties for most cases. Search by name or case number and filter to Madison County. Not all records show up on CaseNet. Sealed or expunged cases will not appear in public search results.
If you need certified copies of court documents, visit the clerk's office in person. The fee is $2 for the first page and 25 cents for each page after that. Bring a name or case number to help the clerk find the right file. The Madison County Justice Center houses the courtrooms and clerk staff.
Under Chapter 610 RSMo, Missouri has rules about which criminal records stay open and which can be closed. Some cases get sealed by court order. If you cannot find a case that you know exists, it may have been expunged or sealed under state law.
Madison County Sheriff's Office Criminal History
The Madison County Sheriff's Office is at 124 N Main St in Fredericktown. The phone number is (573) 783-2234. Sheriff Nic Adams leads the office. Staff handle patrol, criminal investigations, civil process, and jail operations.
Request arrest records and incident reports during business hours. The Sheriff's Office works with the Fredericktown Police Department and other local agencies. All arrest data from Madison County gets sent to the Missouri State Highway Patrol under Section 43.503 RSMo. This feeds the statewide criminal history database.
For a full statewide criminal history check that includes Madison County, use the MACHS portal. A name-based search costs $15. Fingerprint checks run about $43 total with the FBI add-on. You will need to create an account on the MACHS site first.
Madison County Jail and Booking Records
The Madison County Jail sits at 124 N Main St in Fredericktown, same location as the Sheriff's Office. The jail holds pre-trial detainees and people serving sentences. Booking records include the date of arrest, charges filed, bond set, and upcoming court dates.
Call the Sheriff's Office to check on an inmate's status or bond amount. Booking records form part of the criminal history file for each person who passes through the facility. These records connect back to the case files at the circuit court.
Madison County Criminal Case Prosecution
The Madison County Prosecuting Attorney, Michael Ligons, files and handles criminal cases at the courthouse. The office is at 3 Courthouse Sq in Fredericktown. Call (573) 783-7212. The prosecutor reviews law enforcement reports and decides what charges to bring.
All charges filed by this office become part of the court record. You can track them through CaseNet once they are in the system. The prosecutor also handles juvenile cases and works with victims of crime in Madison County.
How to Search Criminal History in Madison County
Start with CaseNet for free online criminal history searches in Madison County. Go to courts.mo.gov/casenet and enter a name or case number. Filter to Madison County.
The MACHS portal at machs.mo.gov gives you a statewide criminal history check. This covers all 114 Missouri counties, not just Madison County. It costs $15 for a name search.
In-person requests can be made at the Circuit Clerk's office at 3 Courthouse Sq. Bring ID and the name you want to search. The clerk can pull up case files and make copies for you.
- CaseNet: free, no account needed
- MACHS name search: $15
- MACHS fingerprint search: about $43
- Court copies: $2 first page, $0.25 after
- Sunshine Law response: within 3 business days
The Missouri Department of Corrections offender search shows people in state custody. If a Madison County case led to a prison sentence, that person will be in this database.
Missouri's Sunshine Law requires a response to records requests within three business days. Denied requests must include a written reason citing the specific statute. This rule applies to Madison County offices holding criminal records.
Madison County Criminal Record Expungement
Under Section 610.140 RSMo, Missouri allows expungement of certain criminal records. Misdemeanors may qualify after three years. Felonies may qualify after seven. Some serious offenses like violent crimes and sex offenses are never eligible.
File the petition in Madison County Circuit Court where the original case was handled. The filing fee is about $250. You must show that all sentence conditions were met and enough time has passed since the case closed.
Additional Criminal History Resources for Madison County
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is the central state agency for criminal history data. Their Criminal Justice Information Services division processes background checks for the whole state. If you need a certified criminal history for Madison County or anywhere in Missouri, the MACHS portal is the official route. Employers, volunteer groups, and licensing boards all use this system.
The Family Care Safety Registry is another state resource. It checks multiple databases at once, including the sex offender registry, child and elder abuse records, and the MACHS criminal history file. This is required for people who work with children, the elderly, or people with disabilities in Missouri. The registry fee is $14.75.
Legal aid may be available for Madison County residents who need help with criminal record issues. Contact the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri or the Missouri Bar Lawyer Referral Service for options. Free legal clinics sometimes operate in rural counties like Madison County, though they may not run every month.
If you need a copy of a police report from a city within Madison County, contact the specific city police department rather than the county Sheriff. The Fredericktown Police Department handles crimes within the city limits. For crimes outside the city, the Sheriff's Office is the right contact.