Criminal Department

The Criminal Division of the Office of the Clay County Circuit Clerk is responsible for the maintenance and filing of both Felony and Misdemeanor criminal cases; along with the associated records. We can answer questions via phone such as “what day and time do I have court”? Criminal Cases are filed according to a Probable Cause Statement along with one of three types of Charging Documents: Indictment, Complaint or Information. The charging document lists what the defendant is being accused of. When a criminal case has received a Judgment/ is Sentenced; that Judgment is sent to Criminal Division for processing. The Court Costs and any fines/fees ordered are then assessed to the case.

Should you choose to represent yourself, please know that you will be held to the same standards as a licensed attorney.
Criminal Clerks are not allowed to give legal advice, instruct you on how to proceed; or advise you of which documents you may need for your situation.
Criminal Clerks do NOT have authority to grant Continuances.
IF you have received a Traffic Ticket/Citation your case is with the Traffic Division

CHANGE OF ADDRESS:

If you have a change of address, it is very important that you notify the court.
We will not change your address by phone. You must appear in person with Identification, or mail us a change of address.
It is important to keep your mailing address current, as the court will send all notices/updates to the address on file.

INCARCERATED AND MISSED A COURT DATE?

If you missed a Court date due to being incarcerated, you may provide this court with a Letter of Incarceration from the location of your incarceration. The letter does NOT keep a Failure to appear warrant from being ordered and issued. The letter simply shows that you did not fail to appear willfully.

Need to Access Closed Records?

Criminal Division provides records as allowed by law when requested in proper form.
Closed records are only available to the parties listed on the case in question; such as the Defendant or the Attorney of Record at that time. To access said records, please appear in person with a valid ID.
Alternatively, you may request your records via fax at (816) 407-3899.Attn: Criminal Records.
Make a clear and legible copy of your valid ID, and on that same paper, list the documents you are requesting. Please include your full name, DOB and the last four numbers of your SS#, as well as any pertinent information that will help us find your record(s) and of course, the location that you would like the records to be sent to.
Please include a contact number should there be any questions. Your request must include your notarized signature.

Criminal FAQs

How do I get a continuance?

You need to go to court and ask the Judge or contact your attorney if you have one.
Clerks in the Criminal Division are NOT allowed to grant continuances on criminal cases.

What is an arraignment?

Typically, the first Court date after one has been arrested for the first time on a particular case is an arraignment. The arraignment is a hearing where the defendant is informed of the charges filed against him/her by the States Attorney. A plea of guilty or not guilty is typically entered at that time.

Bond posting

A warrant must be served before you can post bond. Bond may ONLY be posted at the facility where the warrant has been served. The Court cannot accept a bond payment. You cannot post your bond online. If do you do so, it will be returned.

Bond refund

Your bond will be refunded ONLY after your case is finished, or by order of the Judge. After a judgment has been entered on your case, court costs as well as any fee(s) ordered will be assessed and deducted from said bond. A bond refund cannot be processed on the day of the judgment. Processing of a bond after judgment takes approximately 7 to 10 days. Make sure we have a current address as bond money will be mailed to the address we have on file.

Bond assignment form (may be found in either Traffic or Criminal Divisions)

Fill out this form if you need the bond refund check to be made out to a person or business other than yourself. You must show your ID to prove you are the owner of the bond.

Forms

Number	Title	Last Revised
319	Application to Inspect Closed Criminal Records
CR40	Bond	06/01/2007
	Bond Assignment	06/04/2015
315	Criminal Case Information Form
511	Entry of Appearance	01/31/2011
CR120	Notice Of Appeal - Criminal	07/08/2019
547	Petition to Enter Plea of Guilty	01/28/2015
	Precept Form	10/13/2005
	Request for Interpreter/Translator	08/09/2011
CR190	Subpoena - Order to Appear / Produce Documents / Give Depositions	01/07/2025

Additional court forms are available on the Missouri Courts website.

Circuit Court - Criminal & Traffic Court Costs - Criminal & Traffic Court Costs

7^TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT OF CLAY COUNTY, MISSOURI
Liberty, Missouri

AMENDED ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

Effective August 28, 2023
CRIMINAL & TRAFFIC COURT COSTS
PAYABLE to CLAY COUNTY CIRCUIT CLERK
ALL CHARGES ASSESSED UPON DISPOSITION

Criminal Court Costs	Costs
Felony Bindovers	$301.50
Felony	$286.50
Felonies, Chapter 195 RSMo Drug Cases Class A, B or unclassified DNA profiling ADDITIONAL Surcharge	$30.00
Felony Non-Support	$301.50
Misdemeanor	$109.50
Felony reduced to Misdemeanor	$109.50
If bound over	$124.50
Additional Charges as Ordered by Judge	Costs
Drug lab testing charges:
State lab	$150.00
Other lab	As invoiced
Crime Victim Compensation Judgment:
Class A or B Felony	$68.00
Class C or D Felony	$46.00
Misdemeanor	$10.00
Traffic Court Costs	Costs
Misdemeanor filed by ticket (Drug & Alcohol charge)	$106.50
Plus additional costs as ordered (i.e., Recoupment)
Misdemeanor tickets (not drug or alcohol)	$96.50
Water Patrol, Conservation	$94.50
Gaming Boats, Liquor Control (w/ court appearance)	$106.50
Statute by State and County Parks	$73.50
Ordinances by County Parks	$73.50
Traffic violations (w/ court appearance)	$73.50
Municipal Court (Avondale, Birmingham, Glenaire, Holt, Missouri City, Mosby, and Village of Oakwood)	$30.50
Smithville	$34.50
Time Payment Fee (see Local Court Rule 5.7)
Fee	$25.00

Effective August 28, 2023

The Clerk shall impose a fee of twenty-five dollars on each person who fails to pay a court-ordered judgment, penalty, fine, sanction, court costs, restitution or juvenile monetary assessment within thirty (30) days of the date of the court imposed judgment, penalty, fine, sanction or court cost.

A surcharge of two dollars for all Traffic violations of any county ordinance or State Law including an infraction, if a person has pled guilty will be assessed.

SO ORDERED this 18^th day of September, 2023.

/S/Timothy J. Flook
Presiding Judge

Contact Information

Building:	James S. Rooney Justice Center
Address:	11 South Water Street Liberty, Missouri 64068
Telephone:	816-407-3860

Criminal Department