Chariton County Inmate Population

The Chariton County inmate population is maintained by the county sheriff's office in Keytesville, Missouri. This page covers how to search current jail records, find booking details, and access public information on inmates held at the Chariton County Jail under Missouri's Sunshine Law.

Chariton County Sheriff's Office and Jail

The Chariton County Sheriff's Office in Keytesville handles all local inmate custody and booking. The jail is a small facility with 19 beds. Despite its size, the county has one of the highest jail incarceration rates in Missouri. On average, the daily population runs close to the full 19-bed capacity. The office maintains arrest logs and booking records as required by law.

You can reach the jail directly at (660) 288-3277. Staff are available to answer general questions about current inmates, booking status, and release dates. The sheriff's main website is at charitoncountysheriff.com. For online roster access, the jail also maintains a roster portal at charitoncountyjail.org. Note that this site has had intermittent access issues, so calling the jail directly may be faster if the site is down.

The sheriff's office is the primary point of contact for all inmate population inquiries in Chariton County. They can confirm whether a person is in custody, provide charge information, and direct you to the right office for records requests. Female inmates make up roughly 11 percent of the inmate population at this facility, which runs a small but active detention operation.

The Missouri DOC offender search at web.mo.gov/doc/offSearchWeb/ covers state-level offenders and can supplement county jail searches for Chariton County inmates who have moved to state custody.

How to Search the Chariton County Inmate Population

There are two main ways to look up current inmates in Chariton County. The first is through the online roster at charitoncountyjail.org. This tool lists current bookings with names, booking numbers, dates of birth, charges, and release date information. It also shows recent releases from the past 48 hours. The roster is updated regularly so information stays fairly current.

The second option is calling the jail at (660) 288-3277. This is useful if the online roster is unavailable or if you need details that aren't displayed online, such as the arresting officer or vehicle information tied to the arrest. Staff can typically confirm custody status and provide basic charge information over the phone. For a full records request, you will need to submit a written request under the Missouri Sunshine Law.

If the person you're looking for is not listed at the county level, check the Missouri Department of Corrections search at web.mo.gov/doc/offSearchWeb/. This covers active offenders in state custody, including those on probation or parole throughout Missouri. Chariton County inmates sentenced to more than a year are typically transferred to state facilities.

Jail Facility Details

The Chariton County Jail is a small county detention center. It holds both pretrial and sentenced inmates. The facility has 19 jail beds and typically operates at or near capacity. Incarceration rates in Chariton County have increased significantly over the past several decades, rising roughly 280 percent over 45 years. This trend reflects both local enforcement priorities and statewide changes in how minor offenses are handled.

The jail handles bookings for all arrests made by county deputies and any local law enforcement in the area. Booking records include the inmate's name, date of birth, booking number, criminal charges, and release date. Arresting officer details and crime location information are also documented at the time of booking. These records are considered public under Missouri's open records law.

Pretrial population data from prior years showed over 1,000 pretrial inmates cycling through county jails statewide, and Chariton County's small size means even a few pretrial cases can significantly affect average daily population numbers. Records requests for older booking data must go through the sheriff's office in writing.

Visitation and Inmate Communication

Visitation policies at the Chariton County Jail are set by the sheriff's office. Call (660) 288-3277 ahead of any visit to confirm current hours and scheduling rules. Small county jails often have limited visitation windows. You may be required to be on an approved visitor list before you can see an inmate.

Mail is generally accepted at the jail. Inmates receive US mail sent to the facility in Keytesville. Include the inmate's full name and booking number on the envelope. Check with the jail about any restrictions on envelopes, paper size, or content before sending anything. Some facilities in Missouri only accept postcards or have limits on photographs. Phone call services are available through the inmate's account at the facility. Money deposits can often be made in person or through an approved third-party service. Contact the jail directly to confirm which services are active at this facility.

Missouri Sunshine Law and Public Records Access

Chariton County inmate records are public under Missouri Sunshine Law, Chapter 610 RSMo. Under § 610.011, public records are presumed open unless a specific legal exception applies. Booking logs, arrest records, and custody rosters are generally available to anyone who asks. You do not need to state a reason for your request.

Under § 610.023, the sheriff's office must respond to records requests within three business days of receipt. § 610.026 sets copy fees at no more than 10 cents per standard page. Research time may also be billed if the request requires significant staff effort to fulfill. Submit your request in writing to the Chariton County Sheriff's Office in Keytesville. Include your name, contact information, and a clear description of the records you want.

§ 610.100 covers arrest records specifically. It confirms that arrest reports and incident records are public. Some items may be withheld if they would compromise an ongoing investigation or reveal information about a victim of a sex offense. For most booking-related requests, the information is available quickly.

The full text of Missouri Sunshine Law Chapter 610 is available at revisor.mo.gov, which is the official state statute database for Missouri.

VINE Link and State Resources

VINE Link is a free victim notification service that tracks inmate custody status in Missouri. If you are a victim or concerned party, you can register at vinelink.com to get automatic alerts when an inmate's custody status changes. This works for county jails as well as state correctional facilities. Alerts can be sent by phone, email, or text message.

The Missouri Department of Corrections operates the statewide offender search at web.mo.gov. This covers offenders in active state custody, on parole, or under probation supervision. The DOC headquarters is at 2729 Plaza Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65102, and can be reached at (573) 751-2389. For state facility locations, visit doc.mo.gov/facilities/adult-institutions/address-listing.

The Chillicothe Correctional Center, one of the nearest state facilities, is located at 3151 Litton Road, Chillicothe, MO 64601, phone (660) 646-4032. Chariton County inmates sentenced to state prison may be assigned to Chillicothe or other facilities based on classification and bed availability.

Cities in Chariton County

Chariton County's largest city is Keytesville, the county seat. No cities in Chariton County have a dedicated inmate population page. All inmate population records for residents of Chariton County are handled through the county sheriff's office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Chariton County. Each maintains its own jail and inmate records through the county sheriff's office.