Run a Free Missouri Inmate Search (Local & Statewide Sources)

Carry out a free Missouri inmate search and uncover important details about any offender in the state. Valuable tools are available to provide dependable facts about anyone serving a sentence in Missouri — whether in a jail, prison, or other correctional facility.

The Missouri Sunshine Law governs how relevant information should be released to citizens. Data about offenders currently incarcerated are considered records of public interest and, consequently, shouldn’t be difficult to find.

This helpful resource aids searchers on how to work with each and every tool available to them, so they’re able to smoothly find the information they’re searching for.

Jail Inmates vs Prison Inmates

When our loved one or someone we know has been arrested or under the custody of law, it is important to know where they may be held or how to locate them.

Inmates in Missouri can be at local jails or state facilities, depending on the crime they’ve committed and their current stage in their court proceedings. Looking up these records may sound complicated, but it’s really not that hard.

If a concerned citizen is trying to find an individual who’s been recently arrested and is still waiting for trial or bail to be set, they’ll likely be found at a county or city jail.

However, if the offender has already been tried and is currently serving a sentence, the inmate can be found at a state prison (or a federal facility, depending on the type of crime he committed). There are ways to locate those individuals and find detailed information about them.

Regardless of the offender’s circumstance, when running an inmate search in Missouri, it’s always important to remember that free information is accessible by the public. Everyone should feel empowered and free to run searches anytime they need to uncover reliable information about anyone.

This article will provide tools and tips to contact local agencies, as well as state and federal sources, to locate the person of interest.

How To Conduct a Missouri Inmate Search (County Jails)

Searching for individuals recently incarcerated can be challenging when the exact location or the occurrence or the law enforcement agency in charge isn’t known. The tip is to keep in mind that each county can offer different resources to support concerned citizens in their searches.

St. Louis County, for instance, provides information through the Inmate Locator.¹ This system requires searchers to input the potential offender’s first and last name and will lead to information about the individuals currently kept in this jurisdiction.

When performing an inmate search in St. Louis County, it’s important to know that the local correctional facility is operated by the Justice Services Department, and they can be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for support and more information as follows:²

St. Louis Justice Services
100 South Central
Clayton, MO 63105

Phone: 314.615.5245
Email: jsocial@stlouiscountymo.gov

Another option is to reach out to the St. Louis Police Department, which handles all arrests in this county and can provide information and support regarding incidents in the area.

St. Louis Police Department
7900 Forsyth Blvd.
Clayton, MO 63105

Phone: 636.529.8210

In particular, the St. Louis Police Department offers support to victims who need to be updated about their cases and their offenders or who need help getting their lives back on track. The Victim Services Office can be contacted by phone at 314.652.3623 or by email at victimadvocate@supportvictims.org.³

Another example of how counties can provide information and support to interested individuals is the Jackson County Inmate Search. This tool allows inquiries by last name only (in other words, knowing or having the offender’s first name won’t affect the ability to find relevant information). It also allows people to narrow the search by gender and race if the searcher considers those criteria to be helpful.

Results will reveal the offender’s ID number, their full name, date of birth, and more. By clicking on the ID number, it’s possible to see more details about the offender – including a mugshot. However, if more information about the case that led to the arrest and sentence is needed, the searcher will need to dig a bit deeper to find the information they need.

For more information contact the Jackson County Detention Center at:⁴

Jackson County Detention Center
1300 Cherry St
Kansas City, MO 64106

Phone: 816.881.4200
Email: corrections@jacksongov.org

When running a full background check becomes necessary, or the goal is to uncover more detailed information about someone’s criminal history, readers can access Missouri criminal records, which will walk them through every rope in obtaining valuable information in state.

How To Check Whether Someone Is in a Missouri State Prison

When searching for offenders that can be anywhere in the state, the Missouri Department of Corrections (MDOC) facilitates searcher’s inquiries through the Inmate Search System.

In order to use the system to run a state inmate search, people are required to input the offender’s first and last name. Only using a last name won’t work with the inmate search.

Results that match the inquiry will appear as a list including full name, date of birth, gender, race, height, and weight. It’ll also include the offender identification number.

By clicking on that number, searchers can obtain plenty of details, including a mugshot, the individual’s location and all the charges filed against them (with details about their sentence).

Another advantage is that the “Inmate Search” will show information about individuals who aren’t incarcerated but remain under supervision, like parolees and probationers. A complete list of all district offices that supervise this population can be found online, but it’s also possible to reach out to the Parole and Probation main office for support:⁷

Parole & Probation Division
3400 Knipp Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65109

Phone: 573.751.8488
Fax: 573.751.8501

If the goal is to contact any prison in Missouri, there’s a full list of all correctional facilities in the state available online.⁸ Citizens can also contact the Missouri Department of Corrections directly if more information is needed, as follows:

Missouri Department of Corrections
2729 Plaza Dr
Jefferson City, Missouri 65102

Phone: 573.751.2389
Fax: 573.526.0800

Individuals who’ve been victims of any crime in the state can access resources in a few different ways. First and foremost, it’s important to understand that victims are eligible for an array of resources that aren’t readily available to an average citizen. They should never hesitate to take advantage of those resources.

Victim’s Services are provided through the Missouri DOC, and they can be contacted by phone at 573.526.6516 or by email at victims@doc.MO.gov. Victims can also to obtain services through the Missouri Department of Public Safety using the following information:

Missouri Department of Public Safety
Office for Victims of Crimes
Lewis and Clark Building, 4th Floor West
Jefferson City, Missouri 65102

Phone: 573.526.1464
Email: cvsv@dps.mo.gov

How To Complete a Search for Federal Prisoners

If a federal crime has been committed, it’s possible that the inmate of interest is being kept at a federal facility. If that’s the case, searchers should know that the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) allows people to search for inmates currently held at federal facilities using a very convenient system.⁹

The BOP search system will show information about inmates who were arrested starting in 1982. It allows citizens to run searches by name (first and last) and shows results that include plenty of details, such as: the offender’s full name, location, age, and possible release date (when available), among other things.

For more information about current federal inmates, concerned citizens can always contact the BOP using the information below:

Federal Bureau of Prisons
320 First St NW
Washington, DC 20534

Phone: 202.307.3198

Another way to access information about federal inmates is to use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER). This isn’t a free service, but it effectively helps concerned citizens find information about national offenders.

Those interested in using PACER should register (by adding their personal information and a form of payment to their account). After that, they can access records and obtain information. Each page accessed on PACER costs $0.10, and full pricing information is available online (for the other services they provide).¹⁰

Moreover, older records can be accessed through the National Archives & Records Administration (NARA).

When concerned individuals can conveniently run searches and uncover public records information, everyone benefits from living in a more transparent, educated, and informed society. Everyone who needs to establish facts about someone who’s been incarcerated can now seamlessly perform a Missouri inmate search.