How to Become a Volunteer at Boone County Jail: Application Steps & Rules
Volunteering at Boone County Jail starts with a written application and a screening process. Once approved, you'll need to follow clear rules about identification, what you can bring inside, and how you can interact with detainees.
The volunteer application asks whether you have been arrested or are currently facing charges for anything other than "minor traffic violations." Don't assume a DWI counts as minor. The form explicitly states that Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) charges or convictions are not considered minor traffic violations, so you need to report them.
An arrest history won't automatically disqualify you, but expect your answers to be reviewed closely. The paperwork is designed to gather arrest and charge information up front as part of the jail's broader screening process. Accuracy matters more than keeping things simple.
Start with the Boone County Jail Volunteer Application and complete every field that applies to you. Use clear, legible handwriting and double-check details like contact information and identifying numbers before mailing it.
- ✓ Sign the authorization that allows any police or law enforcement agency to release your arrest record (if any) to the Boone County Sheriff’s Department
- ✓ Acknowledge the disclosure statement that the application may be subject to Missouri Sunshine Law (Ch. 610, RSMo)
- ✓ Answer the arrest/charges question carefully, remembering that DWI charges or convictions are not considered minor traffic violations
Mail your completed application to: Attn: Jail Administration, Boone County Sheriff's Department, 2121 County Drive, Columbia, MO 65202.
By submitting the application, you're agreeing to a records check. The form includes a statement authorizing any police or law enforcement agency to release your arrest record to the Boone County Sheriff's Department.
Bring identification every time you come to the jail as a volunteer. Boone County Jail requires volunteers to present a valid, government-issued photo ID at each visit, including orientation and any later volunteer sessions.
Tip: Make your ID part of your routine. Any time you're coming for volunteer-related activities, bring a valid government-issued photo ID.
Prohibited Items and Giving
- ✓ Sharp metal objects
- ✓ Cellular telephones
- ✓ Recording devices
- ✓ Tobacco products
- ✓ Lighters
- ✓ Any item that could compromise the safety and security of the facility
Volunteers must keep firm boundaries with property. Boone County Jail does not allow volunteers to give any items to detainees unless custody staff approves it first. Don't hand anything over directly without prior clearance.
If your volunteer role involves a professional service that normally requires a license or certification, verify your credentials first. The jail's volunteer rules require active credentials and/or certificates in the State of Missouri for any such services.
Volunteer access is tied to safety and security inside the jail. If volunteer activities threaten facility order, security, or anyone's personal safety, jail administration may limit or discontinue those activities until the issue is resolved. The jail also reserves the right to refuse or terminate a volunteer appointment at any time and for any reason. If terminated, you'll receive a formal letter explaining the specific reason.
Before writing anything sensitive on the application, note the disclosure warning. The volunteer application states that the document may be subject to disclosure under the Missouri Sunshine Law (Ch. 610, RSMo).
Find an Inmate at Boone County, MO
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
