St. Louis County Jail Mugshots

St. Louis County jail mugshots are managed through the Department of Justice Services, with the Sheriff's Department headquartered at 105 South Central Avenue in Clayton, Missouri. The county operates the City Justice Center, which holds approximately 860 inmates and serves as the primary adult detention facility for the area. You can search for St. Louis County jail mugshots using the online inmate locator. Missouri's Sunshine Law makes most booking records public. This page covers how to find inmates, what records are available, and the different tools you can use to access St. Louis County arrest data.

St. Louis County Sheriff and Justice Services

The St. Louis County Sheriff's Department is located at 105 South Central Avenue, 5th Floor, Clayton, Missouri 63105. You can reach them at (314) 615-4724. The department works closely with the Department of Justice Services, which oversees the county's detention operations. Kito Bess serves as the Director of Justice Services.

The City Justice Center at 200 South Tucker Boulevard in Saint Louis is the only adult detention facility in St. Louis County as of August 2025. The facility holds approximately 860 inmates. You can reach the Justice Center at (314) 621-5848 or by fax at (314) 588-0273. For visitation questions specifically, call (314) 626-2800. The email for the facility is dps-justice-center@stlouis-mo.gov.

St. Louis County is the most populous county in Missouri with over one million residents. The jail processes a very high volume of bookings compared to other counties in the state. Every arrest creates a record that includes a mugshot, personal details, charges, and bond information.

Search St. Louis County Mugshots Online

St. Louis County provides an online inmate locator. You can search by entering the person's first and last name. The system returns results showing inmates' names, birth dates, physical attributes, the holding facility name, arrest date and time, release date and time, case number, court date, and case status. This is one of the more detailed inmate search systems among Missouri counties.

If you cannot find someone through the online locator, contact the Prisoner Processing Department at 241-8339. They can check the system directly and tell you if someone is in custody. The online system covers current inmates, but calling is sometimes faster when you need immediate answers about a recent booking.

VineLink provides another search option that covers the entire state. You can look up St. Louis County inmates by name or ID and register for free custody status alerts. Missouri Case.net shows court records for all criminal cases filed in St. Louis County, including filings, hearing schedules, and outcomes.

What St. Louis County Jail Records Include

The public portion of St. Louis County jail records includes the inmate's name, date of birth, physical description, holding facility, arrest and release dates, case number, and court date. Mugshots are part of the booking record. This information is available through the online locator and through records requests.

Some information is not available to the public. Visitor information for current inmates is kept private. Crime victim details are protected. Juvenile inmate records are sealed. Sealed or expunged records are not accessible through any public search tool. These protections are built into Missouri law and apply specifically to certain categories of sensitive information.

Missouri Law and St. Louis County Mugshots

Under Missouri's Sunshine Law, Chapter 610 RSMo, arrest reports are public records per § 610.100. The booking photo taken at the St. Louis County jail is part of the arrest record. Records remain open as long as charges are filed within 30 days of the arrest. Given the volume of cases in St. Louis County, charges are typically filed promptly for the vast majority of bookings.

Records close under § 610.100.2 if charges are not filed within 30 days, or if they are dismissed or result in an acquittal. Missouri's stated policy under § 610.011 favors public access to government records. Courts must interpret the Sunshine Law broadly when it comes to openness and narrowly when it comes to exceptions. Social Security numbers are always redacted per § 610.035.

Requesting St. Louis County Arrest Records

For records not available through the online locator, contact the St. Louis County Sheriff's Department at (314) 615-4724 or the City Justice Center at (314) 621-5848. You can also email dps-justice-center@stlouis-mo.gov. Written requests can be submitted in person at the sheriff's office at 105 South Central Avenue in Clayton. The Missouri Attorney General's Sunshine Law page has sample forms.

The office must respond within three business days. Given the volume of requests that St. Louis County handles, providing detailed identifying information helps avoid delays. Include the person's full name, date of birth, and any other details you have. You do not need to state a reason for your records request.

Money Deposits for St. Louis County Inmates

To deposit money for telephone or commissary accounts for inmates at the St. Louis County jail, you can use the lobby kiosks. These accept credit cards with a $3 fee per deposit. There are separate kiosks for commissary and telephone accounts. An online payment platform is also available. You will need the inmate's Master Number (IMN) to make any deposit. Contact the jail if you do not have this number.

State Resources for St. Louis County Searches

The MODOC Offender Search covers people sentenced to state prison from St. Louis County. Given the county's size, a significant number of cases move from the county jail to the state system each year. The MACHS background check costs $15 per name search and provides statewide criminal history data. MOVANS sends free custody change alerts.

St. Louis County also has a Juvenile Detention Center at 105 South Central Avenue in Clayton, reachable at (314) 615-8029. This is a short-term secure facility for juvenile offenders and operates under different rules than the adult jail. Juvenile records are not public.

St. Louis County Court Records

St. Louis County is part of Missouri's 21st Judicial Circuit. Criminal cases from the county go through the circuit court in Clayton. Case.net provides free access to all case filings, motions, hearing schedules, and dispositions. The sheriff's office is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm for in-person visits and records requests.

Cities in St. Louis County

St. Louis County contains dozens of municipalities. The city of St. Louis operates independently but is closely connected to the county's justice system. Florissant is another major community within the county. All arrests within St. Louis County can result in bookings at the City Justice Center.

Other cities in the county include University City, Chesterfield, Ballwin, Webster Groves, Kirkwood, and Creve Coeur. Residents of all these communities are processed through the county system when arrested on county charges.

Nearby Counties

St. Louis County borders several other counties in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. Check their records if you cannot find someone in the St. Louis County system.