Adults arrested in Mississippi County on felony or misdemeanor charges are processed at:
200 W. Commercial Street
Charleston, MO 63834
Most Missouri county jails are run by the sheriff, though a few larger counties operate a separate corrections department. Deputies book their own arrests here, and municipal police departments without a holding facility bring in theirs. Intake officers fingerprint and photograph each arrestee, inventory belongings, check for outstanding warrants and screen for medical issues before housing.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol and other state agencies also book arrestees at the Mississippi County Detention Center, and federal agencies such as the U.S. Marshals and ICE may hold people here.
The public arrest list is taken from the jail’s official booking list (opens in a new tab) or an official statewide listing. Where permitted, it can display a mugshot, the charges and the arresting agency. Charges filed in court can also be checked on Missouri Case.net. Questions about a record can go to the Mississippi County Detention Center at 573-683-2111.
Missouri law says a person arrested without a warrant must be released within 24 hours unless a charge is filed and a warrant issued to hold them. Once charged, the person sees a judge, often by video, who reviews the conditions of release and appoints counsel if needed.
Since 2019, Missouri Supreme Court Rule 33.01 has required judges to choose the least restrictive release conditions that protect the public and ensure appearance, and to consider a person’s ability to pay before setting money bail. When a bond is required, it can be posted in cash or through a bail bond agent licensed by the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance. Details are on our Bail page.
Missouri law has barred municipalities from adopting sanctuary policies since 2009, and jail staff are expected to check whether a person being released or transferred has outstanding warrants, including federal ones. The Missouri State Highway Patrol and dozens of sheriffs’ offices and police departments across the state have signed 287(g) agreements with ICE.
Moving through booking, from arrival until the person is placed in housing or released, takes a few hours in most cases but can last a full day during busy periods.
Give the Mississippi County Detention Center a call at 573-683-2111 to ask whether the person is being held.
The call may go to an automated system or to a booking officer. Staff may need the person’s date of birth before they can share anything.
It can take several hours after an arrest for a new booking to be entered.
You can also look the person up on the Mississippi County Detention Center Booking Roster.
Someone arrested in Mississippi County is brought to the county jail or to the local police department for booking.
The process involves several steps. Attorneys typically advise against discussing the case with officers or anyone else in custody, because those conversations, including jail phone calls, may be recorded and used by prosecutors.
Officers photograph and fingerprint the person, collect personal details and search for warrants in Mississippi County, around Missouri and nationwide. Missouri law calls for a DNA sample at booking from people arrested for burglary, sexual offenses and felonies or misdemeanors that are crimes against a person, among others.
For a DWI arrest, refusing a chemical test results in a one-year license revocation, and officers may obtain a warrant for a blood draw.
Missouri restricts strip searches: a person arrested for a traffic offense or a non-felony cannot be strip searched unless there is probable cause to believe they are hiding a weapon, drugs or evidence. Pat-downs, metal detectors and body scanners are still used on everyone.
Questions cover health conditions, current medications, allergies, drug and alcohol habits, mental health, any risk of suicide, gang ties and identifying marks like tattoos. The jail relies on this information to classify each person and meet medical or safety needs.
Belongings are collected, counted and stored for the length of the stay. A person can usually sign a form allowing a relative or friend to pick up certain items.
Stored items include street clothes, cash, wallets, purses, phones, jewelry, piercings, watches and possibly eyeglasses if they create a safety risk. Laces are taken out of any shoes the person is allowed to wear.
The person is generally given a phone call to reach a family member, friend or lawyer and to begin arranging bond or bail.
Those who stay in custody are issued a uniform, slip-on shoes, bedding, a towel and toiletries.
A shower and a lice or scabies treatment may be required before the person is escorted to a housing unit.
Some bookings take about an hour, while others last 24 hours or more. Wait times depend on the number of arrests, available staff and the person’s behavior.
When someone arrives severely intoxicated or aggressive, officers may keep them in a holding cell until booking can safely continue.