Sheriff and jailer to receive prisoners - penalty for refusal - medical ...
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 221.040
in effect221.040. Sheriff and jailer to receive prisoners — penalty for refusal — medical exams required. — 1. It shall be the duty of the sheriff and jailer to receive, from constables and other officers, all persons who shall be apprehended by such constable or other officers, for offenses against this state, or who shall be committed to such jail by any competent authority; and if any sheriff or jailer shall refuse to receive any such person or persons, he or she shall be adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be fined in the discretion of the court.
2. The sheriff and jailer shall not be required to receive or detain a prisoner in custody under subsection 1 of this section until the arresting constable or other officer has had the prisoner examined by a physician or competent medical personnel if the prisoner appears to be:
(1) Unconscious;
(2) Suffering from a serious illness;
(3) Suffering from a serious injury; or
(4) Seriously impaired by alcohol, a controlled substance as defined in section 195.017 , a drug other than a controlled substance, or a combination of alcohol, a controlled substance, or drugs.
3. The cost of the examination and resulting treatment under subsection 2 of this section is the financial responsibility of the prisoner receiving the examination or treatment.
(RSMo 1939 § 9196, A.L. 2007 S.B. 22) Prior revisions: 1929 § 8527; 1919 § 12552; 1909 § 1574
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=221.040Fetched: 10/17/2026