Individual seeking access to Kansas public records, such as marital documents, criminal records, warrants and other public records, can perform a records search to view and obtain these documents.
This article provides helpful and simple instructions on retrieving state public records in Kansas.
What Is the Kansas Open Records Act?
The federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) grants Americans the right to be informed about government matters. Kansas has its own FOIA law called the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA).
This law allows people to request Kansas government records via digital, written, or photographic means.1 Exception includes information related to criminal investigation cases, government employees, and other confidential records.
Several third-party sites provide a public records search service and, unlike many government websites, some of them cost nothing to use. Additionally, site users are given major privacy because they don’t have to divulge much information about themselves. Interested parties receive instant results, and they can research across the whole country.
Alas, the drawbacks of private websites include outdated and/or inaccurate information. Therefore, it’s recommended that public information seekers consider surfing government sites since they provide up-to-date and trustworthy answers to their questions.
People need to know where to find the appropriate court, correctional institution, and government bureau before they begin tracking down records.
Free Kansas Criminal Records
There are many free and paid methods available for perusing criminal records in the state of Kansas, which are explained more in-depth later in this article.
Kansas criminal and arrest records, sometimes called rap sheets, typically contain an individual’s present and past aliases, social security numbers, DUIs, past court convictions, ongoing criminal court proceedings, and more.
A person’s criminal history lets others–particularly property owners and employers–know whether the subject in question is a safe and upstanding individual or not.
Can Anyone Review Kansas Criminal Records?
Criminal records in the state are generally considered Kansas public records as mandated by the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA). However, some records may be subjected to some limitations and restrictions.
How Do I Find Kansas Public Records Regarding Criminal History?
If someone needs to run a criminal history check on another person or themselves, they can use the Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Criminal History Record Check Tool.
People can utilize this feature to conduct criminal history checks on anyone 18 and older. An individual needs to sign up for a special account before using it. Site visitors have to click the “Perform a Record Check” button to be directed here to the Criminal History Record Search.
Those who need assistance with the signup process can consult these instructions. The cost of each name-based search is $20.00
Anyone preferring a $35 fingerprint-based criminal check can follow these steps:
- Obtain fingerprinting cards either from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KFBI) or the local sheriff’s office or police department. (The KFBI provides these cards for free)
- Follow the guidelines outlined in the sample card before mailing the fingerprint cards in for processing to this address:
Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI)
ATTN – Criminal History Records Section
1620 Southwest Tyler
Topeka KS 66612 – 1837
Once that’s done, the requestor will need to call(785)-296-4038 to schedule an appointment for getting fingerprints taken. The appointment location is here:
Kansas Bureau of Investigation HQ Annex
1631 Southwest Topeka Boulevard
Topeka Kansas 66612
There is a $10 fingerprinting fee for this service and operating hours are on weekdays from 8 am to 4:30 pm.
Certified record checks are available in both name-based and fingerprint-based checks and are ideal for people who are planning to adopt, apply for a visa, or hire a new employee. With that said, it’s not possible to conduct a request for a certified record online.
Instead, individuals have to print out a certified criminal record request form, fill it out, and mail it to the Kansas FBI. Requests for fingerprint-based searches must include both the request form and the fingerprint card.
For those who desire a complete record check that includes details like juvenile delinquent offenses and arrests, they need to mail a letter of request along with their personal fingerprint card to the KBI. The fee for certified records checks are $30 for name-based and $45 for those that are fingerprint-verified.
Where Is the Best Place To Find Kansas Mugshots?
Kansas residents can find mugshots through many of their local law enforcement agencies, particularly police departments and sheriff’s office.
For example, people can view arrest details, including mugshots through the Saline County Sheriff’s Office Booking Search. They only need to scroll down to see a full list of booked suspects.
The Shawnee County Department of Corrections keeps a daily booking report of inmates in the county’s Adult Detention Center. Citizens can search for individual under custody through their Online Inmate Search Portal and can download the Daily Booking Archives containing inmate information, including their full name, mugshot, offense, and more.
The Labette County Sheriff’s Office’s Inmate Roster allows site visitors to see inmate photos. Click on their profiles to learn more information about anyone’s arrest records, including charges and agency who made the arrest. Moreover, users can also search for a specific person by first or last name through the search box.
Since some local jails don’t have online tools, people may need to contact their county jail by phone to inquire about mugshots. They just need to type “[county name] mugshots” into a search engine to begin.
Are Kansas Juvenile Records Public Information (Open Record)?
In Kansas, juvenile records are often considered public records, particularly when the offender is 18 years of age or older at the time of the offense, based on Article 23: Revise Kansas Juvenile Justice Code.
As a result, someone who committed a petty offense as a teen can be denied a job unless they expunge the record. There are specific criteria someone has to meet to qualify for record expungement:
- They have to be at least 23 years old or two years have passed since they finished their sentence
- Said offense qualifies for record expungement
- There are no pending cases against them
Crimes like murder, child abuse, and sexual offenses are not eligible for expungement.2
How Do I Find Out if I Have a Warrant? Free Kansas Warrant Search Form
To see if someone has a warrant in Kansas, people can use online search tools provided by the relevant courts or law enforcement agencies, including sheriff’s office and local police departments.
For example, by utilizing the City of Wichita Court’s Warrants Search Tool, users can search for warrants issued by the local court by name or docket number.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office’s Warrant Search allows site visitors to search by name or city. They can also call 913-715-5212 to report themselves or someone else with an active warrant. Anyone local can review the Johnson County Kansas warrant lookup process for step-by-step guidance.
The “Outstanding Profiled Felons” and “Top 10 Most Wanted” pages are operated by the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office display mugshots of individuals with outstanding warrants. Users can contact the sheriff’s office of Crime Stoppers of Wichita-Sedgwick to divulge any details about a wanted suspect.
Locals can also call 911 or dial the number of their sheriff’s office to tell law enforcement about outstanding warrants.
How To Check the Sex Offender Registries in Kansas
People who want to be on the lookout for sexual predators in their neighborhood can check out the Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Public Offender Registry. Users first have to agree to its terms before going to the next page.
These searches are not limited to people convicted of sexual offenses. Site visitors can also check the “Violent,” “Drug,” and/or “General” boxes to broaden their search. There is also a “Geographical Search” tab to find how far registered offenders live from someone’s address, and an “Other” search option that allows users to look up offenders via an email address or Facebook username.
Individuals interested in researching offenders on a national level can visit the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) to find sex offenders by name or entering a location to search within a 1-3 mile radius.
Get a Background Check for Employment or Personal Reasons: Kansas
Whether a person is aiming to get hired for a certain occupation or qualify for an apartment, it’s often necessary to prove that they’re honest and safe by undergoing a background check. An individual’s driving record, employment history, and any criminal convictions are a few of many details that show up on a background check.
Kansas residents needing to run a background check on someone else or themselves can use the methods mentioned earlier in the Criminal History Check section.
If they’re operating a child care center, they need to fill out a Fingerprint Card Form and, if applicable, adhere to any out-of-state background check requirements before turning in paperwork. Applicants can send the required forms to the Kansas Department of Human and Environment’s Child Care Licensing Division.
Child Care Licensing
1000 Southwest Jackson, Ste. 200
Topeka, Kansas 66612
Phone: 785.296.1270
Fax: 785.559.4244
People interested in conducting their own background checks can look to their local sheriff’s office or police department for low- or no-cost options.
Kansas Court Record Information
Court records in Kansas typically consist of transcripts of cases, oaths of office, and judgments resulting from criminal and civil trials.
Most court records in the state are publicly accessible except for ones that can’t be disclosed, such as grand jury trials and adoption records.3
The Kansas Judicial Branch is comprised of four courts including Municipal Courts, District Courts, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court:
- Municipal courts, sometimes called city courts, assist people who committed petty offenses such as violating nuisance laws
- District courts deal with cases related to criminal acts, child welfare, and civil cases
- The Court of Appeals is in charge of retrials of residents as well as administrative organizations
- The Supreme Court lies in Topeka, Kansas, and supervises the other Kansas courts
How Do I Find Court Records in Kansas?
Kansas has several state courts that works separately from the federal court system. Kansas courts is divided into 3 main levels: District Courts, Court of Appeals and Supreme Courts.
District Courts: These courts handles wide range of civil or criminal cases. Each counties in the state has their own district court.
Court of Appeals: The main task of these courts is reviewing decisions made by the lower District Courts and determining whether to uphold, modify, or reverse those decisions.
Supreme Courts: Its primary role is to interpret and apply state law, in order to ensure that the lower courts, including district courts are following legal precedents and constitutional principles.
Each courthouse carries a public terminal that visitors can utilize to track document images and docket information. If anyone prefers to search from the comfort of home, they can create an account and use the eCourt Public Access Portal.
Though this is a convenient service, people should keep in mind that some records are only available at the public terminal, and they can’t access sealed records or cases.
The State of Kansas Courts offers a fee-based District Courts Records Search. Searches and cases are $1.50 each; This service only offers information, not records; individuals who want court records will need to fill out and send this Kansas Request Form for Court Records to the State’s Judicial Branch:
Kansas Judicial Branch
301 Southwest 10th Ave
Topeka KS 66612
Residents interested in obtaining records related to Supreme Court and/or Court of Appeals cases can contact at:
Court of Appeals & Supreme Court
Kansas Judicial Center
301 SW, 10th Ave.
Topeka, KS 66612-1507
Phone: 785.296.2256
Fax: 785.296.7076
Email: info@kscourts.org
Additionally, people can locate the appropriate district court for their needs through this list of district courts and contact them.
How To Obtain Someone’s Bankruptcy Records in Kansas
If someone needs to look up another person’s bankruptcy record, they can visit any court locations of the US Bankruptcy Court of the District of Kansas to print copies of them from the terminal. Printed pages cost $0.10 each, and photocopies are $0.50.
Interested parties can also retrieve bankruptcy records from the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) website for $0.10 a page; documents are available in PDF or HTML formats.
Individuals who prefer to call can dial (866)-222-8029, ext. 51 in the morning, afternoon, or night to use the Voice Case Information System.
Locating Kansas Detainee & Inmate Records
There are about 8,100 inmates who dwell in Kansas’ 97 jails. Furthermore, there are approximately 10,000 prisoners in the state.4
Inmate records in Kansas are typically made up of detention centers, booking report histories, and demographic information. These are important for others to know to identify them if they try to escape and see if they’re eligible for parole in the future.
How Do I See if Someone Is Incarcerated in a Kansas Jail?
If a family member or another loved one is in jail, they can be located by using a jail inmate search tool.
For instance, people can use the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office’s Inmate Search to find someone by their name or previous booking history in the county that goes back as far as three years.
The Geary County Inmate Inquiry features a list of inmates, mugshots, and demographics. Site visitors can click on their names to learn more about their charges. The inmate inquiry resource even offers search area for finding inmates by name, booking number, and subject, as well as a checkbox to filter results by custody status.
The Finney County Sheriff’s Office’s inmate search lets users scroll up and down to view inmates’ photos, arresting agencies, and other details. Concerned parties with a specific inmate in mind can locate them by name and booking number in the search box.
Searchers can apply the above methods to other police departments and sheriff’s offices by searching “[county name] inmate search” in any search engine. If that doesn’t turn up any results, local law enforcement agencies can be contacted by phone or in person to find information on an inmate’s whereabouts.
How Do I Find Out if Someone Is Incarcerated in a Kansas Prison?
Searchers seeking incarcerated individuals held in federal correctional facilities can search the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) website by browsing the inmate locator by either their assigned BOP register number or name and related demographics.
The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) is in charge of eight state prisons and one work release facility. It provides an offender database called Kansas Adult Supervised Population Electronic Repository (KASPER). Once people agree to its disclaimer, they’ll be able to search offenders by name or KDOC number.
In addition to looking up offenders, an individual can research parole or community correction absconders by clicking on their respective tabs. Users can even narrow down their search by using the “Advanced Search” feature to locate an inmate by facility name, KBI number, and other details.
Sending Money to a Kansas Prison Inmate
After finding a loved one in prison, many people like to send money to support them as they wait out their sentence. Kansas residents can send them money by two electronic methods: Access Secure Deposits and JPay.
To sign up for an Access account, members of the public can call 866-345-1884 or create an account online. They can also sign up through the CashPayToday site at their local kiosk. Additionally, they need to get a deposit coupon by printing it off.
If they opt for JPay, they can dial 800-574-5729 or sign up through its website. There’s a specific deposit slip for this service, too.
Those who live out of state can send checks or ACH payments with other documentation to this address:
Centralized Inmate Banking
P.O. Box 9101
Topeka KS 66608
Visiting a Kansas Inmate
If someone wants an in-person visit with a prison inmate, there are certain rules that both inmates and their loved ones have to abide by. Inmates can have up to 20 approved visitors.
Approved visitors include immediate family members, spouses, attorneys, law enforcement, and a designated primary visitor. Prospective visitors have to complete both an application and background check before visitation can begin.
Visitors need to carry a current ID with them on visiting day; acceptable forms include a birth certificate, visa, driver’s license, state ID, or passport.
Prison Inmate Correspondence
Those who desire to keep in touch with their loved ones via other means can write, phone, or communicate with prisoners through electronic messaging. Letters can be mailed to any of these correctional institutions.
ICS Corrections provides telephone service for inmates, and accounts can be set up through the number (888)-506-8407. ViaPath Technologies allows inmates and their friends and family to communicate via tablet account. Fees for this service vary.
Kansas Vital Records Review
Vital records in Kansas include stillbirth certificates, genealogy requests, divorce certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, and birth certificates. This section concentrates on four of these records: birth, death, marriage, and divorce records.
Who Is Authorized To Obtain Vital Records in Kansas? (Free Kansas Divorce Records Search)
The only people who are authorized to obtain such records are partner property owners, family members, beneficiaries, legal representatives, and the subject on the record.
If someone isn’t the named party on the record or a relative, the requestor has to provide written authorization or evidence of legal representation.5
Although there are limitations as to who can access this information through the vital records, third-party search sites check government resources and other online sites like social media so they may have more information where access to vital records is restricted.
To give readers an idea of just how many people are divorced, the graph below shows Kansas’ divorce rates by county and based on the United States Census Bureau estimates over the past 5 years:
How Do I Find Divorce & Marriage Records or Birth & Death Certificates in Kansas?
Interested parties can retrieve marriage, divorce, birth, and/or death certificates through the Kansas Department of Health & Environment’s Office of Vital Statistics via the five following methods:
- Mobile app: People can download the IKAN app to their smartphone and pick up the package in person or have the record(s) shipped to them.
- Phone: Customers can dial (877)-305-8315 to place an order. Best of all, it’s available 24/7, making it flexible for night owls and morning lovers.
- Online: Anyone can order from VitalChek through their favorite mobile device.
- Mail: Patrons can request regular or priority shipping from this address:
KDHE – Office of Vital Statistics
1000 Southwest Jackson #120
Topeka KS 66612
- Pick-up: Requestors can order from the app or the website. They’ll need to have an ID and be the applicant to pick up their package.
The price for certified copies of the above records is $20 with additional charges for expedited deliveries, which are optional. Mail-order certificates have a seven to 10-day processing time.
Sometimes locating an important records is difficult, but it doesn’t have to be.
Record seekers may now learn how to seamlessly approach the task of locating Kansas public records, including vital records from KDHE’s Office of Vital Statistics, court case documents through the eCourt public access portal, and criminal records via the Kansas Bureau of Investigations (KBI) Criminal History Record Check.
References
1Kansas Open Records Act (KORA). (n.d.). Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission. Retrieved June 25, 2022, from <https://www.krgc.ks.gov/images/stories/pdf/Statutes/KORA%20statutes.pdf>
2Juvenile Expungement: Clear your juvenile record in Kansas. (n.d.). Kansas Legal Services. Retrieved June 25, 2022, from <https://www.kansaslegalservices.org/node/juvenile-expungement>
3KS Courts – Request Court Records. (n.d.). Kansas Judicial Branch. Retrieved June 25, 2022, from <https://www.kscourts.org/Public/Request-Court-Records>
4Kansas 2019. (n.d.). National Institute of Corrections. Retrieved June 25, 2022, from <https://nicic.gov/state-statistics/2019/kansas-2019>
5Office of Vital Statistics | KDHE, KS. (n.d.). Kansas Department of Health. Retrieved June 25, 2022, from <https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1165/Office-of-Vital-Statistics>
6Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Accessed 26 April 2024. <https://docis.sncoapps.us/Inmate/Charges?inmateid=24429120>
7Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Accessed 26 April 2024. <https://jims.jocosheriff.org/pw/index.aspx>
8Kansas District Court Public Access Portal. Accessed 6 May 2023. <https://search.kscourts.org/prodportal>
9Kansas Criminal Justice Information System. Accessed 6 May 2023. <https://kdocrepository.doc.ks.gov/kasper/>