Buchanan County Jail Roster Search
The Buchanan County jail roster is available through a full online inmate inquiry system that shows everyone in custody at the jail in St. Joseph, Missouri. Buchanan County has about 84,800 people and covers 415 square miles in northwest Missouri. Sheriff Bill Puett runs the office and the 234-bed jail facility. The inmate inquiry system shows names, booking numbers, charges, mugshots, and scheduled release dates. This page walks through every way to search the Buchanan County jail roster, the jail's mail rules, and how public records laws apply to these records.
Buchanan County Jail Roster Quick Facts
Buchanan County Sheriff's Office and Jail
The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office is at 501 Faraon Street, Saint Joseph, MO 64501. The phone is (816) 236-8800. Fax is (816) 901-1758. Administrative hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Sheriff Bill Puett heads the department. Chief Deputy Commander Mike Donaldson can be reached at (816) 236-8800. Captain Tiger Parsons oversees administration and public records requests at (816) 236-8868.
The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office website provides access to the jail roster, corrections information, and inmate mail rules for the St. Joseph facility.
The Buchanan County jail has three separate housing units with a total bed capacity of 234 inmates. It provides complete detention services for St. Joseph and the rest of Buchanan County. The jail also houses inmates from smaller nearby counties that may not have their own facilities. Nearby jails include the St. Joseph Community Supervision Center, Western Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center, and the Riverbend Treatment Center.
Buchanan County Inmate Inquiry System
The Buchanan County Inmate Inquiry System is one of the more detailed jail roster tools in Missouri. It shows a full list of inmates in custody. Each entry includes the inmate's name, booking number, race, gender, date of birth, height, weight, housing location, mugshot, subject number, custody status, and scheduled release date. This is far more detail than most county jail rosters provide.
The Buchanan County Inmate Inquiry System displays detailed records for everyone on the jail roster, including mugshots and scheduled release dates.
The system is free and open to the public. You do not need an account to search. Just visit the inquiry page and browse the list or search by name. This is the fastest way to check the Buchanan County jail roster without making a phone call.
You can also use VINE at vinelink.com to check Buchanan County inmates. Select Missouri and pick Buchanan County. VINE shows custody status, charges, and booking data with updates every 15 minutes. Register for free alerts if you want to know when an inmate's status changes.
Buchanan County Jail Roster Inmate Mail
The Buchanan County inmate mail page has the full rules for sending mail to someone on the jail roster. Address all mail to the inmate's name, C/O Buchanan County Jail, 501 Faraon Street, St. Joseph, MO 64501. Include your full name and return address. The jail inspects all incoming mail before giving it to inmates.
Buchanan County is one of the larger jails in northwest Missouri. The sheriff's office also publishes a Most Wanted roster in PDF format on their website. These profiles include identifying details, charges, and mugshots. The Most Wanted list covers people with active warrants who are not yet on the jail roster because they have not been arrested. The Missouri Department of Public Safety page for Buchanan County lists additional contact info including the Juvenile Office at 411 Jules St. Joseph, MO 64501.
Buchanan County Jail Records and Public Access
Buchanan County jail roster records are public under Missouri's Sunshine Law. Chapter 610 covers all public records. Section 610.100 specifically makes arrest records open, including the person's name, arrest date, charges, and immediate facts. The Administration Division under Captain Tiger Parsons handles records requests. You can submit requests in any format, though written requests by letter or email are preferred.
Paper copies cost no more than 10 cents per page. The Attorney General's Sunshine Law page explains how to file a complaint if your request for Buchanan County jail records is denied. Penalties for violations range from $1,000 to $5,000 per incident.
Buchanan County's violent crime rate is 18.1, below the US average of 22.7. Property crime sits at 39.6, slightly above the national average of 35.4. As a mid-sized county with a city like St. Joseph, the jail roster sees consistent activity throughout the year.
For court records, use Missouri Case.net to look up charges and hearings. The MODOC offender search covers anyone who has been transferred from the Buchanan County jail to state prison.
Note: Social Security numbers are always removed from jail records under Mo. Rev. Stat. 610.035.
Buchanan County Jail Roster Victim Alerts
Victims of crimes in Buchanan County can register for notifications through MOVANS and VINE. VINE covers custody changes at the jail. MOVANS adds court event alerts like hearings and sentencing. Both are free. Missouri law under Mo. Rev. Stat. 595.209 calls victim rights "absolute and paramount." The MOVANS Coordinator is at 573-526-1929. Crime Victim Services is at 573-526-1464. The Juvenile Office for Buchanan County is at 411 Jules St. Joseph, MO 64501.
Cities in Buchanan County
St. Joseph is the county seat and only qualifying city in Buchanan County. All arrests in St. Joseph go to the Buchanan County jail.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Buchanan County in northwest Missouri. Each has its own jail roster and sheriff's office.