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If you’ve successfully expunged your Missouri criminal record, you probably assume it’s gone for good. For most background checks, that’s true. But if you’re applying for certain jobs that require fingerprinting, your expunged record might still appear.
Missouri courts can only request that the FBI remove your record from federal databases. According to Missouri Revised Statute § 610.140, “the central repository shall request the Federal Bureau of Investigation to expunge the records from its files.” But whether the FBI actually honors that request is decided case-by-case.
This means your expunged Missouri record won’t show up on standard name-based background checks, but it might still appear when someone runs your fingerprints through the FBI’s database. Understanding when this matters can save you from unexpected surprises during job applications.
How Missouri Handles Criminal Background Checks
Missouri uses a centralized system called MACHS (Missouri Automated Criminal History Site) to process all criminal background checks. The system is run by the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division, which serves as the central repository for all Missouri criminal history files.
MACHS offers two types of background checks: name-based searches and fingerprint-based background checks.
The critical difference: fingerprint searches can reveal expunged records because they access federal databases that Missouri courts don’t control.
What Missouri Law Says About Expunged Records (RSMo § 610.140)
When a Missouri court grants your expungement, RSMo § 610.140 requires several things to happen. Your records become confidential and sealed from public view. State agencies must remove your case from their electronic files. And critically, “the central repository shall request the Federal Bureau of Investigation to expunge the records from its files.”
Missouri courts don’t have jurisdiction over the FBI. The Missouri Highway Patrol can ask the FBI to remove your record from federal databases, but the FBI decides whether to honor that request on a case-by-case basis. In many situations, the FBI won’t recognize a state expungement.
Your physical fingerprint card stays on file. Fingerprints are biometric records, and expungement doesn’t destroy them. At the state level, your fingerprints won’t be connected to your expunged case. But if someone runs those prints through the FBI’s system, your expunged Missouri conviction could still appear.
This doesn’t mean expungement is worthless, it just means you need to understand its limits when fingerprinting is involved.
Name-Based vs. Fingerprint Background Checks in Missouri
Name-Based Background Checks
Most private employers use name-based checks through the MACHS Name Search Portal. These searches cost $15 and pull records based on your name, date of birth, and social security number. They scan Missouri’s state-level databases and public court records.
If you’ve successfully expunged your Missouri criminal conviction, it won’t appear on these searches. The record has been sealed at the state level, so private background check companies can’t access it. For the vast majority of jobs—retail, office work, restaurants, construction—you’ll face name-based checks, and your expunged record stays hidden.
Fingerprint-Based Background Checks
Fingerprint checks are different. They cost approximately $43 total and run through both the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the FBI’s databases. Your prints are captured electronically by IDEMIA fingerprint locations across Missouri using Live Scan technology, then matched against millions of records in the FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS).
Because fingerprint checks access federal databases, your expunged record may still appear.
When You'll Face Fingerprinting in Missouri
Most jobs in Missouri don’t require fingerprinting. But certain positions, especially those involving vulnerable populations or government work, require fingerprint-based background checks by law.
State and Federal Government Jobs
Any position with a Missouri state agency or federal employer typically requires fingerprinting. This includes jobs with the Missouri Department of Corrections, Department of Social Services, and federal agencies like the TSA or Postal Service.
Law Enforcement and Security
All law enforcement positions require fingerprinting. This includes police officers, sheriff’s deputies, corrections officers, and private security roles who require state licensing.
Healthcare and Vulnerable Populations
Missouri requires fingerprinting for anyone working with children, the elderly, or people with disabilities. The Missouri Family Care Safety Registry conducts fingerprint checks for healthcare workers, home care providers, and facility staff. These checks cross-reference criminal records, sex offender registries, and child abuse databases.
Teaching and Childcare
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requires all teachers, substitute teachers, and school staff to complete FBI fingerprinting background checks. Childcare workers face the same requirement.
Professional Licensing
Many Missouri professional licenses require fingerprinting, including medical licenses, nursing licenses, real estate licenses, and legal licenses. Even after expungement, you must disclose expunged convictions on these applications under RSMo § 610.140.8.
Adoption and Foster Care
Anyone applying to adopt or become a foster parent in Missouri must complete fingerprint-based background checks.
What To Do If Your Expunged Missouri Record Appears on Fingerprinting
If your expunged Missouri record shows up on a fingerprint background check, don’t panic. There are steps you can take to verify the problem and potentially fix it.
Request Your FBI Identity History Summary
Start by requesting your own FBI “rap sheet” through the FBI’s Identity History Summary Check. This service costs $18 and shows exactly what the FBI has on file under your fingerprints. You’ll see whether your Missouri expungement was processed at the federal level or if your record still appears in FBI databases.
Verify Your Missouri Expungement Was Properly Processed
Check the MACHS system to confirm your record was sealed at the state level. You can run a name-based search for $15 to verify nothing appears. If your record still shows up in Missouri databases, your expungement may not have been completed correctly.
Contact the Missouri State Highway Patrol
The Highway Patrol’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division handles all fingerprint processing and FBI coordination. Call them at (573) 526-6153 to verify they submitted your expungement request to the FBI and to check the status of federal removal.
Challenge Incorrect Information
If your fingerprint check shows arrests or convictions that were expunged, you have the right to challenge that information. According to the Missouri Bar, you can dispute inaccurate criminal history records with both state and federal agencies.
Consult an Attorney
If your expunged record continues to appear despite proper processing, an experienced expungement attorney can help. Missouri law includes penalties for agencies that fail to properly expunge records under RSMo § 610.125.
How St. Louis Expungement Law Can Help
At St. Louis Expungement Law, we focus exclusively on Missouri expungements. We understand the complexities of both state and federal record clearing, including the frustrating reality that fingerprint-based background checks may still reveal expunged convictions.
When you work with us, we don’t just file your petition and hope for the best. We ensure your expungement is properly processed through the Missouri State Highway Patrol and that the FBI request is submitted correctly under RSMo § 610.140. If problems arise, such as if your record appears on a fingerprint check when it shouldn’t, or if agencies fail to comply with the court’s expungement order, we follow up and fight to protect your rights.
If you’re worried about fingerprint background checks revealing your expunged Missouri record, or if you’re ready to start the expungement process, contact St. Louis Expungement Law today. We’ll give you straight answers about what expungement can and can’t do and help you move forward with confidence.
