How to Become a Volunteer at Boone County Jail (Application & Arrival Checklist)
Volunteering at Boone County Jail starts with a paper application and background check. Here's how to apply, what authorizations you'll need, what to bring on each visit, and the rules that could get you turned away at the door.
Boone County Jail's volunteer program is straightforward once you know the steps. Complete the volunteer application, mail it in, and go through the background-check authorization. If approved, you'll need to bring proper ID every visit, follow facility rules about where you can go and what you can do, and leave prohibited items behind. A couple of easy-to-miss details: the application doesn't treat DWI as a "minor traffic violation," and your application may become a public record under Missouri law.
Start by completing the Boone County Jail volunteer application and mailing it to the address printed on the form. Fill it out completely - incomplete applications slow things down, and this form kicks off your entire review process.
- ✓ Attn: Jail Administration, Boone County Sheriff’s Department, 2121 County Drive, Columbia, MO 65202
The application includes an authorization for police or law enforcement agencies to release your arrest record (if any) to the Boone County Sheriff's Department. This isn't optional - it's a required part of the screening process.
Heads up: On the application’s arrest/charge question, DWI charges or convictions are not considered “minor traffic violations.”
Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID every time you visit. Staff may check it at each visit - being a familiar face won't get you past the front desk without it.
Volunteer access can be limited based on safety and security needs. If your activities create a security concern or threaten anyone's safety, jail administration may restrict or pause them until the issue is resolved.
Prohibited Items
- ✓ Sharp metal objects
- ✓ Cellular telephones
- ✓ Recording devices
- ✓ Tobacco products
- ✓ Lighters
- ✓ Any item that could compromise the safety and security of the facility
Do not pass items: Volunteers aren’t permitted to provide any items to detainees unless custody staff approves it.
Expect boundaries around what you can do and where you can go inside the jail. If volunteer activities create a security risk, administration may limit or discontinue them until the problem is resolved.
Want to provide a service that normally requires a professional license or certification? You'll need active State of Missouri credentials. Without current Missouri credentials or certificates, you won't be allowed to perform those services through the volunteer program.
The jail can refuse or terminate a volunteer appointment at any time, for any reason. If your service is terminated, you'll receive a formal letter explaining why.
Public-records notice: The volunteer application warns that the document might be subject to disclosure under the Missouri Sunshine Law (Ch. 610, RSMo).
Ready to apply? Complete the volunteer application and mail it to: Attn: Jail Administration, Boone County Sheriff's Department, 2121 County Drive, Columbia, MO 65202.
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