§ 137.170 Entry of judgment in criminal action

When a judge decides a criminal case, the court clerk has to write down the judgment in the court's official records. This creates a permanent record that anyone can look up later.

If the judgment is a guilty verdict, the clerk also has to write a short note in the record saying exactly what crime the person was convicted of. This means the record does not just say someone was found guilty. It also names the specific offense.

This rule keeps court records accurate and easy to understand. It also protects the defendant, because the record clearly shows what they were actually convicted of, not something vague or unclear.