Joplin Inmate Population and Jail Roster
Joplin is the largest city in southwest Missouri, and its inmate population is split across two counties. The city spans both Jasper County and Newton County, which means people arrested in Joplin may be held in either county's jail. This page explains how to search Joplin inmate population records, access both county jail rosters, and use Missouri public records law to find the information you need.
How Joplin Inmate Population Records Work
Joplin straddles the Jasper-Newton county line, making its inmate population more complex than most Missouri cities. The majority of the city falls in Jasper County, with the Jasper County Detention Center in Carthage serving as the primary facility for Joplin-area arrests. A portion of the city, however, is in Newton County, where the Newton County jail handles those bookings. Which facility holds a specific inmate depends on where the arrest took place within the city.
The Joplin Police Department headquarters is at 602 S Main St., Joplin, MO 64801, phone (417) 624-0820. After an arrest by Joplin Police, detainees are transferred to the appropriate county facility. Records requests for police reports go to the Joplin Police Department. For jail records, contact the Jasper County Sheriff's Office at jaspercountysheriff.org or the Newton County Sheriff's Office at newtoncountysheriff.org, depending on which county processed the arrest.
Both county agencies and the Joplin Police Department operate under Missouri's Sunshine Law, Chapter 610 RSMo. Records requests must be answered within three business days. Copies cost up to 10 cents per page.
Jasper County Detention Center
The Jasper County Detention Center is located at 405 E 5th Street, Carthage, MO 64836, phone (417) 358-8177. Sheriff Randee Kaiser leads the department, and Lieutenant Michael Kingsbury serves as Jail Administrator. The current facility was completed in 1993 and holds inmates in six pods with a design capacity of 165. The average daily population runs between 180 and 200 inmates, meaning the facility typically operates above design capacity.
The Jasper County jail maintains a current inmate roster on the Jasper County Sheriff's website. The roster includes inmate names, holds from other counties and cities, bond amounts, and work release information. Mugshots are not included in the online roster. Staff includes a captain, seven sergeants, twenty-eight detention officers, and one medical tech.
Mail to inmates at Jasper County must be on postcards no larger than 5x7 inches. Address: [Inmate's Name], 405 East 5th Street, Carthage, MO 64836. Books may be shipped directly from the publisher. Commissary funds can be added via JailATM online, by phone, or at the lobby kiosk. Video visitation is offered both on-site and remotely. Each inmate gets one free 15-minute on-site visit per visitation day. On-site video visit hours are 10:30 AM to 2 PM and 6 PM to 9 PM. Up to three visitors per party are allowed per visit.
Newton County Jail
Newton County operates a jail for arrests in the Newton County portion of Joplin. The Newton County Sheriff's Office at newtoncountysheriff.org manages the facility. Jail Administrator Charity Richardson oversees operations. The Newton County Jail opened in 2014, replacing a facility that was more than 100 years old. For Joplin arrests that fall in Newton County, check the Newton County roster directly or contact the Sheriff's Office to determine current inmate status.
If you are not sure which county handled an arrest, start with the Jasper County roster, since most of Joplin falls in Jasper County. If the person isn't there, check Newton County. You can also use VINE Link to search across multiple facilities at once.
Searching Joplin Inmate Population Records
To find someone in the Joplin inmate population, start with the Jasper County Sheriff's online roster at jaspercountysheriff.org. If not found there, check the Newton County Sheriff's roster at newtoncountysheriff.org. The VINE Link service also covers both county facilities and lets you search and register for alerts. Call 1-866-277-7477 to register by phone, or sign up at vinelink.com.
For Joplin residents serving state prison sentences, the Missouri DOC Offender Search covers all active state offenders. The search is free, updates daily, and lets you search by name or DOC ID. Results include physical description, mugshot, current location, and sentence information. For questions, call DOC Constituent Services at (573) 526-2695.
For federal inmates from Joplin, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator. Southwest Missouri residents in federal custody may be held at facilities in Kansas, Arkansas, or Oklahoma depending on the case. The BOP tool searches across all federal facilities.
The Joplin Police Department provides information about the department and how to request police records for Joplin inmate population arrests.
Joplin Police Department
The Joplin Police Department serves a city of more than 52,000 residents spanning two counties. Officers process arrests and transfer detainees to the appropriate county facility. Police reports and incident records from Joplin arrests are maintained by the department and available through a Sunshine Law request. Contact the Records Division in writing with your request, describing the records as specifically as you can. Include dates, case numbers, or names where possible.
For court cases arising from Joplin arrests, the Jasper County Circuit Court handles cases from the Jasper County portion of the city. Newton County Circuit Court handles cases from the Newton County portion. Missouri's free Case.net system at courts.mo.gov/casenet lets you search by name or case number across both counties.
Missouri DOC Records for Joplin Residents
Joplin residents convicted of state crimes may be housed at various Missouri DOC facilities. The Ozark Correctional Center (OCC) at 929 Honor Camp Lane, Fordland, MO 65652, phone (417) 767-4491, is a minimum-security facility in the Ozark hills and may hold some southwest Missouri residents. The South Central Correctional Center (SCCC) at 255 West Highway 32, Licking, MO 65542 is another nearby option for medium and maximum security inmates. Use the free Missouri DOC Offender Search to find any current state offender.
VINE Notification in Joplin
The VINE Link service covers Jasper County and Newton County facilities where Joplin-area inmates are held. Register to receive automatic alerts when an inmate's status changes. Alerts go by text, email, phone, or app. The service is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day. Call 1-866-277-7477 to register. VINE covers more than 2,900 facilities nationwide and operates in 48 states.
Sunshine Law Access for Joplin Records
All Joplin inmate records held by public agencies are subject to Missouri's Sunshine Law under Chapter 610 RSMo. Booking logs, arrest records, and daily jail rosters are presumed public. Agencies must respond within three business days. Copies cost up to 10 cents per page. For help with the process, see the Missouri Attorney General's Sunshine Law guidance at ago.mo.gov/missouri-law/sunshine-law.
The Jasper County Sheriff's Office maintains the county jail roster and provides information about Joplin-area inmate population records.
Nearby Cities
Other Missouri cities near Joplin with inmate population pages:
- Springfield - Greene County, about 70 miles east of Joplin
For county-level inmate population records, see the Jasper County inmate population page.