Scott County Criminal History Search
Scott County criminal history records are kept by the Circuit Court and the Sheriff's Office in Benton. The county sits in the Bootheel region of southeast Missouri. All criminal cases go through the circuit court, and the Sheriff's Office maintains arrest logs and booking records. You can search Scott County criminal history through Missouri CaseNet or contact the courthouse directly. This page covers every source for criminal history records in Scott County.
Scott County Quick Facts
Scott County Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Scott County Circuit Court Clerk maintains all criminal case files at the Scott County Courthouse in Benton. Call 573-545-3521 for questions about criminal history records or case filings. The office handles criminal, civil, probate, and family cases.
Criminal history records at the court include charges filed, plea deals, trial outcomes, and sentencing data. Copy fees are $2 for the first page and 25 cents for each page after. Bring a name or case number when you visit. The staff can help you find what you need.
Scott County criminal history cases are searchable on Missouri CaseNet. This free state tool covers all 114 Missouri counties. Filter to Scott County for local results. CaseNet shows charges, docket entries, parties, and dispositions.
Sealed or expunged records will not appear on CaseNet. Only a party to the case can view sealed files. Under the Missouri Sunshine Law (Chapter 610 RSMo), all government offices must respond to records requests within three business days.
Scott County Sheriff's Office
The Scott County Sheriff's Office is at 131 S. Winchester St., Benton, MO 63736. Call 573-545-3525. The office provides law enforcement for the county in the southeast Missouri Bootheel region.
The Sheriff's Office keeps records of all arrests and incident reports. Records requests go through the Missouri Sunshine Law. The office runs the county jail and coordinates with local police and the Highway Patrol. Under Section 43.503 RSMo, all arrests must be reported to the Highway Patrol's central repository. Scott County criminal history records are part of the statewide system.
Scott County Jail Booking Records
The Scott County Jail is run by the Sheriff's Office. Call 573-545-3525 for inmate info. The jail holds people waiting for trial and those serving sentences.
Booking records include arrest dates, charges, bond amounts, and court dates. These records form part of a person's criminal history in Scott County. For current inmate data, call the jail. For older booking records, submit a formal request to the Sheriff's Office.
Statewide Criminal History Checks
The MACHS portal handles full criminal history checks. A name-based search costs $15. Fingerprint checks run about $43 with the FBI portion. You need to create an account at machs.mo.gov.
MACHS pulls from the Highway Patrol's central database and covers all Missouri counties. If someone has criminal history in Scott County and elsewhere, the MACHS report shows everything. For mail requests, write to the CJIS Division. Include the full name, date of birth, and payment. Allow 4 to 6 weeks.
Scott County Criminal Prosecution
The Scott County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is at the Scott County Courthouse in Benton. Call 573-545-3524. The office reviews law enforcement cases and files criminal charges in the circuit court.
All criminal filings are on record at the Circuit Clerk's office and show up on CaseNet. Expungement of Scott County criminal history records is handled through the circuit court. Under Missouri law, some records can be expunged after a waiting period. The wait varies by charge type. Contact the circuit clerk or a local lawyer for more info.
The prosecuting attorney also handles juvenile cases in Scott County. Juvenile criminal history records are sealed under Missouri law and not available through CaseNet or MACHS. Only the parties involved can view those records.
Understanding Scott County Criminal History Records
Criminal history in Scott County includes court case files, arrest records, and jail booking data. Court records are the most detailed. They show every charge, plea, hearing, and outcome. Arrest records from the Sheriff's Office show the date and reason for custody. Booking records add bond info and court dates.
Scott County is in the Bootheel region of southeast Missouri. Criminal records from this part of the state go to the Highway Patrol's central repository just like every other county. The MACHS database covers the entire state, so a single search picks up records from Scott County and all other counties at once.
Missouri expanded expungement rules in recent years. Under Section 610.140 RSMo, many offenses can now be expunged. Misdemeanors qualify three years after the case ends. Most felonies need seven years. Certain violent crimes and sex offenses can never be expunged. The petition is filed in the circuit court where the original case was heard.
CaseNet is good for quick lookups. But it only shows court cases. It does not show arrests that were not charged. For a full criminal history check in Scott County, use MACHS. A certified MACHS report is the most complete record available from the state.
How to Look Up Criminal History in Scott County
CaseNet is the quickest free way. Go to courts.mo.gov/casenet. For a statewide check, use MACHS at machs.mo.gov. In-person requests go to the courthouse in Benton.
- CaseNet: free, no signup needed
- MACHS name search: $15
- MACHS fingerprint check: about $43
- Court copies: $2 first page, $0.25 each after
- CJIS mail requests: 4 to 6 weeks
Bring photo ID for in-person visits. You need a name or case number. The clerk's office can search and print copies during business hours.
Public Access to Scott County Criminal Records
The Missouri Sunshine Law under Chapter 610 RSMo gives you the right to ask for criminal records from Scott County offices. Section 610.023 requires a response within three business days. The courthouse in Benton, the Sheriff, and all other offices must follow this.
Section 610.100 applies to law enforcement records like arrest logs and incident reports. Fees are capped at the actual copying cost per Section 610.026. A denied request must come with a written explanation citing the statute. If Scott County denies without a proper citation, the denial is not valid.
Criminal History Expungement in Scott County
Section 610.140 RSMo governs expungement. Misdemeanors may qualify after three years. Felonies after seven. Count from the end of the sentence. File the petition in the circuit court where the case was heard. For Scott County, that is the courthouse in Benton.
Some marijuana offenses are auto-expunged. No petition needed. For other cases, file, pay the $250 fee, and prove all conditions were met. Sealed records will not appear on CaseNet or MACHS. Only the person can view them. Violent crimes and sex offenses can never be expunged.