Police Records in Franklin County
Franklin County police records are held by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office at 1 Brickyard Drive in Union, Missouri. These records include arrest reports, incident documents, booking logs, inmate rosters, and civil process records. Missouri's Sunshine Law gives the public the right to request and access these documents. The sheriff's office accepts requests in person, by mail, and by fax. This page walks you through the process of finding and getting Franklin County police records.
Franklin County Quick Facts
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Steve Pelton leads the Franklin County Sheriff's Office and serves as the 3rd Vice-President of the Missouri Sheriffs' Association. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can reach the sheriff's office at (636) 583-2560 or fax to (636) 583-2561. Mail requests go to 1 Brickyard Dr, Union, MO 63084.
The Franklin County Sheriff's website provides information about the office and its services. An inmate search is available through the Franklin County website for checking current jail population. For records requests, submit them in writing to ensure a clear record of your inquiry. Under Missouri Sunshine Law Chapter 610 RSMo, the sheriff's office must respond within three business days.
Franklin County falls under the 20th Judicial Circuit. Criminal cases that result from sheriff's arrests are filed with this circuit court. Gasconade County is also in the 20th Judicial Circuit, so if you need to compare court activity across both counties, Case.net will show both in the same judicial circuit search.
| Office | Franklin County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Brickyard Drive, Union, MO 63084 |
| Phone | (636) 583-2560 |
| Fax | (636) 583-2561 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | franklincountysheriff.org |
| Judicial Circuit | 20th Judicial Circuit |
Types of Records You Can Get in Franklin County
Franklin County police records cover a range of law enforcement documents. The sheriff's office holds records from incidents throughout the county, including unincorporated areas and smaller communities that do not have their own police department. Larger cities like Washington and Union have their own departments, and each city's police records would be held by that department's records office.
Arrest records document when someone was taken into custody by a Franklin County deputy. They include the person's name, date of arrest, charges, and booking details. Incident reports are created for any call where a deputy responds and writes a report, whether or not an arrest happened. These cover property crimes, traffic stops, disturbances, and more. The inmate roster shows who is currently held in the Franklin County Jail. Civil process records document service of court documents including summons and subpoenas.
Accident reports from crashes investigated by the sheriff's office are held locally. Crashes on I-44 and other state roads where the Missouri State Highway Patrol responded are held by MSHP. Franklin County is a larger county with more traffic than most, so both agencies handle a significant volume of crash reports.
- Arrest records and booking information
- Incident and investigation reports
- Inmate roster and jail records
- Warrant records
- Accident reports (county and local roads)
- Civil process records
Report fees for accident and incident reports in Franklin County are typically $5 to $10 per report. Paper copies run $0.10 per page under Section 610.026 RSMo.
Online Access to Franklin County Records
Missouri's online court system makes it easy to search for cases that originated from Franklin County law enforcement. Case.net is the Missouri Judiciary's public database where you search by name, case number, or attorney. Cases from the 20th Judicial Circuit, which covers Franklin County, show up here once filed with the court. You can see charges, docket entries, scheduled hearings, and final dispositions.
The Franklin County Sheriff's website at franklincountysheriff.org also has current information about the office and inmate search tools available through the Franklin County government site. Check the website before visiting in person to see what online options are available for the record type you need.
For statewide criminal history data, the Missouri Automated Criminal History System is managed by the MSHP CJIS Division. Name-based searches are $15 and return open records. Fingerprint-based searches are more complete and available for authorized purposes. These statewide records pull from a broader dataset than what the local sheriff holds. You can also search the Missouri Sex Offender Registry by name or location for offenders registered in Franklin County.
Fee Schedule and Sunshine Law Rights
Franklin County follows Missouri's Sunshine Law fee structure for public records. Under Section 610.026 RSMo, paper copies are capped at $0.10 per page. Research time may be billed at the clerical hourly rate. Accident and incident reports typically run $5 to $10 per report in Franklin County. There is no charge just to look at a record in person. The office should give you a cost estimate before copying anything if the fee will exceed $5.
Chapter 610 of the Missouri Revised Statutes is the legal foundation for your right to access Franklin County police records. This law says all government records are presumed public. The sheriff's office must point to a specific statutory exemption if they want to withhold something. Section 610.100 RSMo covers law enforcement records specifically and says all arrest and incident reports are public once the investigation becomes inactive.
The Missouri Attorney General's office enforces the Sunshine Law. If you believe Franklin County has improperly denied your request, you can file a complaint at ago.mo.gov/missouri-law/sunshine-law. That same page has sample request letters and a Sunshine Law guide that helps you understand both what you are entitled to and how to ask for it.
State-Level Resources for Franklin County Records
For records that go beyond what the Franklin County Sheriff's Office holds, these state-level resources are the next step.
The MSHP handles crash reports on I-44 and other state highways in Franklin County. The patrol also manages the Missouri Sex Offender Registry and provides statewide criminal history checks through the CJIS Division. Franklin County sits along major transportation corridors, so the MSHP covers a significant volume of traffic incidents in the county that are separate from what the sheriff handles.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County is located in east-central Missouri, southwest of St. Louis. These neighboring counties each have their own sheriff's offices and public records procedures under the Sunshine Law.