Missouri Criminal Defense Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Missouri criminal defense attorneys who navigate the state’s Class A-E felony grading, persistent and dangerous offender enhancements, SIS (Suspended Imposition of Sentence) and SES (Suspended Execution of Sentence) dispositions, and recreational marijuana under Article XIV.

Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
Matched with a Missouri attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Missouri criminal defense case review

A Missouri attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

How we match your Missouri criminal defense case

When you submit a Missouri criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Missouri law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Missouri who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Get started How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Exhibit A

What happens with a criminal defense claim in Missouri

Day 0
Arrest or charge.
Say nothing beyond identifying yourself and ask for a lawyer. Do not consent to searches. Everything after this is built on what you did not say.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A Missouri criminal defense attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Days 1–14
First appearance and bail.
Your attorney addresses release conditions and gets the charging documents. In Missouri, this is where the tone of the case is set.
Weeks to months
Discovery and motions.
Police reports, video, lab work, witness statements. Motions to suppress or dismiss are filed where the evidence was obtained improperly.
Before trial
Negotiation or trial.
Most cases resolve by dismissal or plea; some go to trial. Your attorney advises on the risk of each with the actual evidence in hand.
Resolution
Outcome and record.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for murder, attempted murder, and forcible sexual offenses; 3 years for most felonies; 1 year for misdemeanors (R.S.Mo. § 556.036)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 1 year
1 year for most misdemeanors (R.S.Mo. § 556.036(2)(3))
Sentencing Structure: Class A-E
Class A-E felony grading under R.S.Mo. § 558.011 (since 2017 reforms); SIS / SES dispositions under § 557.011; persistent and dangerous offender enhancements (§ 558.016)
Expungement / Record Sealing: 3 years
R.S.Mo. § 610.140 — broad eligibility (2018 expansion); most misdemeanors after 3 years and many felonies after 7 years post-completion; Amendment 3 marijuana expungement
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under Mo. R. Crim. P. 22.07; constitutional right to bail with exceptions (Mo. Const. Art. I, § 20); pretrial risk assessment encouraged after 2018 rule changes
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Missouri grades felonies as Class A (10-30 years or life), Class B (5-15 years), Class C (3-10 years), Class D (up to 7 years), and Class E (up to 4 years) under R.S.Mo. § 558.011. First-degree murder carries mandatory life without parole or death (Missouri retains death penalty). Missouri uses presumptive Probation and a Suspended Imposition of Sentence (SIS, R.S.Mo. § 557.011) or Suspended Execution of Sentence (SES) framework — SIS is uniquely valuable as no conviction is entered upon successful completion. Missouri legalized recreational marijuana in November 2022 (Amendment 3, codified as Mo. Const. Art. XIV) — adults 21+ can possess up to 3 oz; medical cannabis legalized 2018. Amendment 3 also provided for expungement of many prior marijuana convictions, with petitions filed through 2024 deadlines (and ongoing). Missouri persistent offender (R.S.Mo. § 558.016) and dangerous offender enhancements add to maximum sentences. Missouri’s expungement statute under R.S.Mo. § 610.140 was substantially expanded in 2018 — most misdemeanors after 3 years and many felonies after 7 years. Missouri prosecutors (county/circuit prosecuting attorneys) plea-bargain extensively.

Exhibit B

When to call a criminal defense attorney in Missouri

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

Exhibit C

Criminal Defense cases we take in Missouri

Which one is closest to yours?

DWI

Missouri DWI under R.S.Mo. § 577.010 (.08 BAC). First offense (Class B misdemeanor): up to 6 months jail, $1,000 fine, 30-day suspension then 60-day restricted. Prior Offender (2nd DWI): Class A misdemeanor. Persistent Offender (3rd): Class E felony. Chronic Offender (4th+): Class D felony.

Sound like yours? A Missouri attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.

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Exhibit D

How much do Missouri criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Missouri · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in Missouri are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in Missouri work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Mo. R. Prof. Conduct 4-1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. The Missouri State Public Defender represents indigent defendants statewide.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your Missouri criminal defense compensation can include

A Missouri criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Charge Dismissal

Outright dismissal through motion to suppress, motion to dismiss for insufficient probable cause, speedy trial under Mo. R. Crim. P. 32.01 / R.S.Mo. § 545.780 (180-day rule), or prosecutor nolle prosequi.

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Exhibit F

Missouri criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Missouri attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Missouri State Highway Patrol, Kansas City PD, St. Louis Metropolitan PD, county sheriffs, and city police use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment rights and Mo. Const. Art. I, § 19.

Yes. Missouri misdemeanors are graded as Class A (up to 1 year, $2,000), B (up to 6 months, $1,000), C (up to 15 days, $750), D (no jail, $500) under R.S.Mo. § 558.011. SIS / SES dispositions and pretrial diversion can result in no conviction or dismissal. DV and DWI convictions trigger major collateral consequences.

State cases go through Missouri Circuit Court (felonies) or Associate Circuit Court (misdemeanors and lesser felonies). Federal cases go to U.S. District Court for the Eastern (St. Louis, Cape Girardeau) or Western (Kansas City, Jefferson City, Springfield, Joplin) District of Missouri under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Federal cases commonly involve I-70 / I-44 / I-35 drug trafficking, § 922(g) firearm cases, and federal fraud.

Missouri plea agreements under Mo. R. Crim. P. 24 are negotiated between the Prosecuting Attorney and defense. Pleas can include charge reductions, SIS (no conviction entered upon completion) or SES (conviction entered but sentence suspended), drug court entry, treatment court entry, and stipulated sentence recommendations.

Yes — R.S.Mo. § 610.140 was significantly expanded in 2018. Most misdemeanors expungeable after 3 years post-completion of probation/sentence. Many felonies expungeable after 7 years. Multiple convictions can be expunged (limit: 2 felonies and unlimited misdemeanors total). Marijuana possession convictions are subject to expungement under Amendment 3. Many serious offenses (Class A felonies, sex offenses, DV) excluded.

Missouri handles juveniles under 18 in juvenile court under R.S.Mo. § 211.011 et seq. (Raise the Age effective January 1, 2021 expanded juvenile jurisdiction to include 17-year-olds for most offenses.) Juvenile records are confidential. Certification to adult court for juveniles 12+ for serious felonies under R.S.Mo. § 211.071.

Missouri DWI under R.S.Mo. § 577.010 uses .08 BAC (.04 commercial, .02 under-21). Implied consent under § 577.020 — refusal triggers 1-year administrative license revocation. Mandatory IID under § 577.600 for repeat offenders. Persistent Offender (3rd DWI) is a Class E felony; Chronic Offender (4th+) is Class D felony.

Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Missouri

Same Missouri rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.

Other case types in Missouri

All Missouri practice areas →

Animal Incident attorneysMissouri holds dog owners strictly liable — the owner pays for an unprovoked bite even if it’s the dog’s first offense.

Business Dispute attorneysMissouri enforces reasonable non-competes — and the state Supreme Court has set out the modern reasonableness test.

Car Accident attorneysMissouri is a fault state with pure comparative negligence — and a generous five-year filing deadline gives plaintiffs more breathing room than most states.

Consumer Protection attorneysThe Missouri Merchandising Practices Act lets consumers recover actual and punitive damages plus attorney fees for deceptive practices.

Defective Product attorneysMissouri recognizes strict products liability — and pure comparative fault applies, so plaintiffs can recover even on contested designs.

Employment attorneysThe Missouri Human Rights Act tracks the federal discrimination categories — and a 2017 amendment imposed damages caps and a tougher causation standard.

Family Law attorneysMissouri is an equitable-distribution state — and a five-factor test governs property division, with marital misconduct relevant.

Immigration attorneysMissouri has immigration court in Kansas City — and the Eighth Circuit federal appeals court shapes much of asylum and removal practice.

Lemon Law attorneysMissouri’s new-vehicle lemon law covers new vehicles within 12 months — and the federal warranty law is often a necessary backup.

Medical Malpractice attorneysMissouri caps med-mal non-economic damages — currently $400K for non-catastrophic injuries and $700K+ for catastrophic ones, adjusted annually.

Personal Injury attorneysA five-year filing deadline is one of the longest in the country — and pure comparative fault makes Missouri plaintiff-friendly on doctrine.

Slip and Fall attorneysMissouri premises liability turns on notice and reasonableness — pure comparative fault means even partially negligent plaintiffs can recover.

Social Security Disability attorneysMissouri disability hearing offices in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield process moderate volumes — Eighth Circuit federal precedent shapes review.

Workers’ Compensation attorneysMissouri workers’ comp runs through the state Division of Workers’ Compensation — and a Second Injury Fund covers pre-existing disability claims.

Missouri Criminal Defense Attorneys

How we match your Missouri criminal defense case

Case type

Size and complexity

Jurisdiction and licensing

Capacity and fit

What happens with a criminal defense claim in Missouri

Arrest or charge.

Tell us what happened.

First appearance and bail.

Discovery and motions.

Negotiation or trial.

Outcome and record.

When to call a criminal defense attorney in Missouri

Criminal Defense cases we take in Missouri

DWI

Drug possession and distribution

Assault

Domestic violence

Stealing / theft

White-collar crimes

Gun and firearm charges

Sex offenses

Homicide

Juvenile offenses

Probation and parole violations

Federal crimes in Missouri

How much do Missouri criminal defense attorneys cost?

What your Missouri criminal defense compensation can include

Charge Dismissal

Charge Reduction

Suspended Imposition of Sentence (SIS) / SES

Plea Agreement

Trial Acquittal

Post-Conviction Relief

Missouri criminal defense questions, answered

Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Missouri

Other case types in Missouri

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