Search Arrest, Mugshot & Inmate Records by Name
Search by name and state for arrest, booking, mugshot, inmate, jail roster, prison, criminal and court-record search categories.
Independent records-search resource. This website is not a government agency, police department, sheriff's office, jail, prison or courthouse. Search coverage varies by source and jurisdiction. Some links may lead to third-party services, and compensation may be received when a partner service is used.
Find a Buchanan County Jail Inmate in St. Joseph, Missouri
For a current Buchanan County Jail inmate search, start with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Inquiry system. The public roster is for the Buchanan County Jail in St. Joseph, Missouri, and lets you search by name, subject number, booking number, custody status, booking-date range and housing facility.
The fastest practical route is: search the official roster → open the correct inmate → record the booking/subject number → use the jail, court or state system only for the next task you actually need. Do not rely on a third-party name match when you are sending money, arranging a visit or checking a release.
How to Search the Buchanan County Jail Roster
- Open the official Inmate Inquiry. Use the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department portal linked above rather than beginning with a commercial people-search site.
- Start with the person’s legal name. If you know only the name, enter the spelling most likely used during booking. Avoid relying on a nickname.
- Use an identifier when available. A subject number or booking number is more precise than a common name and can reduce mistaken matches.
- Choose “In Custody” for a current-jail search. Use this when your question is whether the person is presently listed in Buchanan County custody.
- Use booking dates when useful. The portal provides Booking From Date and Booking To Date fields that can help narrow a particular booking period.
- Open the matching person carefully. Compare the available date of birth, physical details, booking information, photo and housing information rather than relying only on the name.
- Save the identifiers before leaving the roster. Write down the booking number or subject number because it may be useful when calling the jail or dealing with inmate services.
What the Buchanan County Inmate Search Can Show
The public search interface currently includes fields and roster columns designed to separate people with similar names. Information can vary by inmate and booking.
| Roster information | How to use it | Important caution |
|---|---|---|
| Name and photograph | Initial identity check | A name or photo alone should not be used for a high-consequence identification. |
| Subject number | Identifies the person in the local jail system | It is different from a court case number or Missouri DOC number. |
| Booking number / multiple bookings | Helps identify a specific jail admission | One person can have more than one booking. |
| In-custody status | Helps answer whether the person is currently listed in custody | Status can change after release, transfer or court action. |
| Scheduled release date | Can provide release-related information when a date is posted | A scheduled date should not be treated as a guaranteed pickup time. |
| Date of birth and physical details | Useful for separating people with similar names | Verify multiple identifiers where possible. |
| Housing facility | Shows the location/status recorded in the jail system | Housing can change during custody. |
| Booking, charge, bond or court details | May appear when you open the applicable booking record | Use the court record for the legally controlling case status. |
A jail roster is a custody and booking record, not a final criminal-case record. An arrest, jail admission, mugshot or listed charge does not establish guilt or a conviction.
If the Inmate Does Not Appear
Do not assume that a failed name search means there was no arrest. Work through these possibilities in order:
- Very recent booking: intake may still be underway.
- Name variation: retry the legal surname, former surname, hyphenated name, suffix or a different spelling.
- Search is too narrow: remove unnecessary fields and search the surname first.
- Already released: a current-custody list can change quickly after bond, court action or release processing.
- Transferred: the person may have moved to another jurisdiction, Missouri Department of Corrections custody or federal custody.
- Not booked into the county jail: a person who was cited and released or temporarily held elsewhere may not appear as a Buchanan County Jail inmate.
- Restricted information: juvenile, sealed and other protected records may not be publicly searchable.
If the arrest happened in St. Joseph and the online status remains unclear, call the Buchanan County Corrections Division at 816-236-8800 with the person’s full legal name and date of birth if known.
Use the Right Record for What You Need
| You need | Best starting point | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Current Buchanan County jail custody | Official Inmate Inquiry | Search name, subject number or booking number. |
| Very recent arrest | Inmate Inquiry + jail phone | Allow for booking, then call 816-236-8800 if urgent. |
| Booking number or housing | Inmate Inquiry | Open the matching record and save its identifiers. |
| Current criminal case or court activity | Missouri Case.net | Search the defendant and confirm Buchanan County. |
| State-prison transfer | Missouri DOC Offender Search | Search the person in the state system. |
| Federal incarceration | Federal BOP / federal custody route | Use our Federal Jail Inmate Search guide. |
| Custody-change alerts | VINE | Select Missouri and search the inmate before registering for notifications. |
| Older jail-specific record | Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office | Ask which records process applies to the record and date you need. |
For a broader explanation of how county rosters, state prisons and federal systems differ, see our County Jail Inmate Search & Roster Lookup guide.
Buchanan County Jail Contact and Facility Information
501 Faraon Street
St. Joseph, MO 64501
Corrections: 816-236-8800
The Buchanan County Corrections Division states that the jail has three housing units and a total bed capacity of 234. It houses sentenced and non-sentenced people committed to the custody of the Sheriff.
Bond, Commissary and Adding Money
Bonding at Buchanan County Jail
The Sheriff’s current bonding instructions use Turnkey Corrections kiosks in the jail lobby and booking area. The kiosk accepts cash or credit cards but does not accept prepaid cards. The jail states that it no longer directly accepts cash, checks or money orders for bonding or commissary; funds are processed through the kiosk system.
During booking, an inmate may be able to self-bond through the booking kiosk when the case permits it. Before paying anything, confirm the inmate, active case, current bond amount and whether release is actually authorized. Holds or another case can affect release even after a payment is made.
Putting Money on an Inmate Account
Friends and family can use the jail lobby kiosk or the service linked by Buchanan County at InmateCanteen.com. Verify the person’s identity and current custody before sending funds.
The Sheriff’s commissary information currently states that money should be deposited:
- by 8:00 a.m. Monday for Tuesday commissary orders; and
- by 8:00 a.m. Thursday for Friday commissary orders.
These are operational deadlines and can change, so use the county’s current Inmate Commissary page before making a time-sensitive deposit.
Buchanan County Jail Visitation
For the general public, Buchanan County currently publishes one non-contact visit on Saturday, subject to facility rules and holidays.
| Visitation item | Published rule |
|---|---|
| General visiting day | Saturday |
| Visiting hours | 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m., except holidays falling on Saturday |
| Appointment phone | 816-236-8888 |
| Appointment times | Mon–Thu: 8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m.; Fri: 8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. |
| Minimum visitor age | 18 with accepted current photo identification |
| Visit frequency | One visitation per weekend |
| Arrival | Check in 10 minutes early; the county says a late check-in causes cancellation |
The Sheriff’s rules also state that people currently on probation or parole are not permitted to visit, visitors may be checked for outstanding warrants, proper attire is required, and contraband is prohibited. A visit can be denied or cancelled for security, case or facility-operational reasons.
Video Visits
Buchanan County also identifies Turnkey Corrections/InmateCanteen for video visitation, email and SMS messaging services. Because available sessions depend on the inmate and current system, locate the inmate first and then use the service linked by the Sheriff’s Office.
How to Send Mail, Receive Calls and Message an Inmate
Inmate Mail
Personal letters should be addressed in this format:
C/O Buchanan County Jail
501 Faraon Street
St. Joseph, MO 64501
Current county rules say:
- all incoming mail is subject to search;
- packages are not accepted;
- mail must include a complete and accurate sender return address;
- letters, cards and correspondence must be sent through the U.S. Postal Service;
- the sender’s full name and return address must appear on the envelope; and
- up to three pictures per letter are allowed under the published rule.
Phone Calls
Buchanan County states that inmates have access to telephones for outgoing calls and that calls are limited to 15 minutes. A collect-call block from your telephone provider can prevent a jail call from connecting.
The county identifies Securus Technologies as its telephone service provider. Published Securus support numbers are:
- mobile-device calling support: 1-972-734-1111;
- landline/international support: 1-800-844-6591.
Friends and family can review account and funding options through Securus. Do not send payment to a person who contacts you independently claiming they can activate an inmate phone account.
Charges, Court Dates, VINE and Transfer to State Custody
Use Missouri Case.net for the Criminal Case
The jail roster and the court docket answer different questions. The roster is primarily for custody and booking. For filed charges, docket entries, hearings and later case activity, use the official Missouri Judiciary Case.net.
- Open the official address at courts.mo.gov/casenet.
- Search using the person’s name or case number.
- Narrow the results to Buchanan County when appropriate.
- Compare the defendant and case information with the jail record.
- Use the court or Circuit Clerk for an official or certified record when one is required.
If the Person Was Transferred to Missouri State Prison
A person who moves from Buchanan County Jail into Missouri Department of Corrections custody should be searched in the Missouri DOC Offender Search. A county-jail roster and a state-prison locator are separate systems.
Custody Notifications Through VINE
Buchanan County links to VINE as a custody-notification resource. At VINELink, select Missouri, search the person and use the available notification option if you need alerts about custody-status changes.
Do not depend on a notification service alone for an urgent safety decision. For a live, time-sensitive custody question, confirm with the responsible facility.
Before You Visit, Pay, Mail or Pick Someone Up
- Confirm the inmate is still in Buchanan County custody.
- Verify at least two identifiers when names are common.
- Save the booking or subject number.
- Recheck current bond before sending money.
- Confirm visitation before traveling to the jail.
- Check current mail restrictions before posting photographs or other material.
- Do not treat a scheduled release date as a guaranteed physical release time.
- Use Case.net for the court case rather than assuming the original booking charge is the final outcome.
Buchanan County Jail Inmate Search FAQs
1. What is the official Buchanan County Jail inmate search?
The official Buchanan County, Missouri search is the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Inquiry at inmate.co.buchanan.mo.us. It is the best starting point for checking people listed in local jail custody.
2. Can I search the Buchanan County jail roster by booking number?
Yes. The public search supports name, subject number and booking number, along with an In Custody option, booking-date range and housing-facility filter.
3. What information can the Buchanan County inmate roster show?
The roster can show information such as name, photograph, subject number, custody status, scheduled release date, date of birth, physical descriptors, multiple bookings and housing facility. Additional booking, charge, bond or case information may be available within an inmate record.
4. Why can’t I find someone who was recently arrested in St. Joseph?
The booking may still be processing, the person’s name may be entered differently, the person may have been cited and released, already released from jail, transferred to another agency or held outside Buchanan County. For an urgent current-status question, call the jail at 816-236-8800.
5. What is the Buchanan County Jail address and phone number?
The Buchanan County Jail / Corrections Division is at 501 Faraon Street, St. Joseph, Missouri 64501. The Corrections phone number published by Buchanan County is 816-236-8800.
6. When can the public visit a Buchanan County Jail inmate?
The county currently publishes general non-contact visitation on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., except holidays falling on Saturday. Visits require advance scheduling; call 816-236-8888 during the county’s appointment hours.
7. How do I send a letter to a Buchanan County Jail inmate?
Address it to the inmate’s full name, C/O Buchanan County Jail, 501 Faraon Street, St. Joseph, MO 64501. Include your complete name and return address. The county says packages are not accepted and currently allows no more than three pictures in a letter.
8. How can I put money on an inmate’s account or pay a bond?
The jail uses Turnkey Corrections kiosks for bonding and inmate funds. The kiosks accept cash or credit cards but not prepaid cards. Inmate-account deposits can also be made through the InmateCanteen service linked by the county. Verify the current bond and inmate before paying.
9. Where do I check a Buchanan County inmate’s court case or state-prison transfer?
Use the official Missouri Case.net at courts.mo.gov/casenet for the criminal court case. If the person has entered Missouri state correctional custody, use the Missouri Department of Corrections Offender Search instead of the county-jail roster.
10. Does appearing on the Buchanan County Jail roster mean someone was convicted?
No. An arrest, booking, jail photograph or listed criminal charge does not establish guilt or a conviction. Check the related court record for filed charges, hearings, dismissals, judgments and final disposition.
Official Resources for Final Verification
- Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office – Corrections
- Buchanan County Inmate Inquiry
- Official Visitation Information
- Official Inmate Bonding Information
- Official Inmate Commissary Information
- Official Inmate Mail Rules
- Official Phone Call Information
- Missouri Judiciary Case.net
- Missouri Department of Corrections Offender Search
- VINE Custody Notifications
Accuracy note: custody, housing, charges, bond, court dates, visitation and release status can change after publication. Use this page to understand the correct process and verify the final live status through the responsible official system before making a payment, traveling to the facility or arranging a pickup.
Best Way to Get the Right Buchanan County Result
Start with the Sheriff’s Inmate Inquiry and confirm the correct person before doing anything else. For a recent arrest that has not appeared yet, call Corrections. After you find the inmate, use the specific jail page for visitation, mail, calls or money. Use Missouri Case.net for the criminal case and Missouri DOC only after a transfer to state correctional custody. This keeps a simple custody search from turning into multiple unnecessary third-party searches.