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  1. Shawnee County Court
  2. Shawnee County Arrest Records

Shawnee County, Kansas Arrest Record

When an arrest occurs in Shawnee County and the arrestee is booked into the criminal justice system, a Shawnee County arrest record is created. A Shawnee County arrest record documents highlighted details on the subjects of the arrest, such as the arrestee’s identification, arresting agency or officer, booking number, or custody status. The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office or  city officers like the Topeka Police Department create the arrest records in Shawnee County.

Unless exempted generally or by court order, arrest records are open to the public in the state of Kansas by virtue of Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) K.S.A. § 45-215 through 45-223. Arrest records being public is in the best interest of the public, as it provides an avenue to inspect and monitor the activities of law enforcement and to also aid research.

Though the same statute, K.S.A. § 22-4701 governs the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) which maintains Kansas’ Criminal History Record Information (CHRI). The CHRI is a wider repository of Kansas incarceration records. Both statute provisions stand as authorities backing individuals seeking to inspect arrest records in Shawnee County.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Shawnee County, Kansas?

Arrest records document law enforcement interaction with the public and they are maintained by public agencies, hence it is referred to as a public record.“Public records shall be open for inspection by any person.” This is the stipulation of the Kansas Open Records Act (K.S.A. 45-216(a)) that authorizes law enforcement agencies like the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office to ensure the public can access all arrest records, unless exempted.

Searchers are not required to be resident in Shawnee County before they can access arrest records, so it is open to the public in every sense. However, searchers are required to provide a means of identification when making an in-person search. As for online search, they are to prepare the necessary information needed to facilitate the search, such as the inmate’s full name, date of birth, or arrest date.

What do Public Shawnee County Arrest Records Contain?

Shawnee County arrest record’s public facing elements are simply the standard information that highlights an individual’s interaction with law enforcement during arrest, booking and custody details. Shawnee County arrest records contain the following types of arrest data:

  • Full name
  • Mugshot
  • Booking number
  • Booking date and time
  • Release date
  • Agency
  • Sex
  • Race
  • Date of birth
  • Warrant
  • Statute description 
  • Bond amount and bond type
  • Court date and time

However, Shawnee County exempts some arrest record information from being available to the public. They include:

  • Information tied or crucial to an ongoing investigation are protected under K.S.A. § 45-221(a)
  • Juvenile records are generally confidential and not made available under K.S.A. § 38-2312
  • Records sealed by court order under K.S.A. § 22-2410
  • Arrest records of individuals not charged with a crime following arrest.

Shawnee County, Kansas Arrest Search

Individuals interested in searching beyond county arrest records have both state and federal resources at their disposal. They can access state Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) through the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) Criminal History Record Search portal. However, the search is limited to adult convictions without disposition less than a year old with a fee of $30. New users are to create an account to login and conduct searches using the inmate’s name and date of birth.

Another state resource is the Kansas Department of Corrections that provides a free online search portal to find inmates held in state managed facilities. Searchers are required to input the inmate’s full name (last, first and middle names) and a KDOC number for a basic search. Advanced search is available through Social Security Number, State ID, birth date, conviction county, etc.

The federal resource available to find arrest records in Kansas is the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator that maintains records of all inmates currently held in federal facilities in the state of Kansas and the country as a whole. Also, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) hosts and maintains the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) that offers restricted access. However, it is only open to authorized personnel and for authorized background check purposes.

Shawnee County Inmate Locator

Shawnee County inmate locator is easy to use. It is maintained by the Shawnee County Department of Corrections (DOC) and hosted on the Shawnee County website. It provides a jail roster and booking report of inmates held in the Shawnee County Detention Center. The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, however, provides a list of active warrants that can be searched by first name and last name. If online search does not yield result, individuals can visit or contact the office directly:

Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office

320 S. Kansas Ave., STE 200,

Topeka, KS 66603

Phone: (785) 251-2200

Shawnee County Third Judicial District Court

200 SE 7th Str., Suite 209

Topeka, KS 66603

Phone: 785-251-6700

Fax: 785-251-4908

Arrest Warrant Search in Shawnee County

An arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge based on probable cause, authorizing law enforcement to take the proposed offender into custody. The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office is the main agency that serves warrants after they have been issued through the Third Judicial District Court. Arrest warrants are issued when a court or law enforcement has a solid probable cause to suggest that a crime has been or is about to be committed.

Shawnee County arrest warrants contain the proposed offender’s name, name of the issuing court (Shawnee County Third Judicial District Court), criminal charges, case number, and date of issuance. The Sheriff’s Office maintains an online warrant search tool that requires these search criteria: 

  • Offender's first name
  • Offender's last name

The Kansas Criminal Procedure Code at K.S.A. § 22-2302 mandates the public availability of arrest warrants in Shawnee County unless the disclosure would tamper with an ongoing investigation or law enforcement strategy. KORA K.S.A. § 45-216 also reiterates the law that warrants that are not part of an active investigation are generally public records in Shawnee County, Kansas.

Aside from the online list provided by the Sheriff’s Office, researchers can submit a record request to the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office or the Shawnee County District Court Clerk via phone, mail, or in-person.

Agency/Resource

Purpose

Search Methods

Note

Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office 

Serves and maintains active warrants 

Phone, online warrant search tool, In-person at:

320 S. Kansas Ave., STE 200,

Topeka, KS 66603

Phone: (785) 251-2200 

An online search is available on the Sheriff’s Office website. However, it’s recommended to visit in person or call the Sheriff’s Office for accuracy

Shawnee County District Court

Issues warrant upon approval of probable cause

Online case search, via phone, or in-person at:

200 SE 7th Str., Suite 209

Topeka, KS 66603

Phone: 785-251-6700

Fax: 785-251-4908

The Court Clerk’s Office provides warrant issuance records. Fill out a KORA request form and send it to the Clerk’s office. Mail requests require a  $20 research and copy fee

Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI)

Maintains a statewide repository of CHRI and warrant information 

Phone: 785-296-8200

Online search is available based on name and date of birth. Fingerprint-based search is also available 

K.S.A. § 22-4704 limits public access to adult records and recent arrests

Topeka Police Department 

Conducts city level arrests

Via phone and in-person records room at:

320 S. Kansas Ave., STE 200,

Topeka, KS 66603

Phone: (785) 368-9551

Records request may be submitted in person or via mail

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Shawnee County

There are several options for members of the public to access Shawnee County arrest records without incurring charges. It is available online and in person:

1. In person Free Inspection

  • Shawnee County Courthouse: The Courthouse allows visitors to search court records related to criminal cases, which contains arrest records. Search can be done at no cost at the public access terminals, however, copying fees apply:

Shawnee County Third Judicial District Court

200 SE 7th Str., Suite 209

Topeka, KS 66603

Phone: 785-251-6700

  • Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office: Individuals can make a request to inspect arrest records at the Sheriff’s Office during business hours without being charged anything. 

Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office

320 S. Kansas Ave., STE 200,

Topeka, KS 66603

Phone: (785) 251-2200

2. Online Free Inspection

  • Shawnee County Department of Corrections: The Shawnee County DOC website hosts an online search tool to find inmates and a daily booking report that is updated daily.
  • Shawnee County District Court: Shawnee County District Court records are also maintained digitally and can be viewed through its case search tool. Users are to search by name and case number.

Shawnee County Arrest Report

Arrest record and arrest report serve different purposes within the Shawnee County Criminal Justice System. An arrest record is a custodial-managed entry that summarizes the fact that a person was booked into custody. It highlights data such as name, mugshot, booking date and time, date of birth, race, sex, release date, statute description, and so on. Shawnee County arrest records are usually found in the daily booking report maintained by the Shawnee County Adult Detention Center.

Whereas an arrest report is a document prepared by the arresting officer describing the circumstances surrounding the arrest and details of the alleged crime. It highlights the officer’s observations, a witness statement and confiscated items or evidence. The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office and municipal police like the Topeka Police Department generate arrest reports in Shawnee County. K.S.A. § 45-221(a) provides that arrest reports are public unless withheld for containing protected information that might disrupt an active investigation.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Shawnee County

Under K.S.A. § 22-2410, expungement is the major method of removing arrest records from public inspection in Shawnee County. The state of Kansas does not provide a general sealing remedy for adult arrest records, asides expungement. Record sealing is equivalent to expungement in the state of Kansas.

An expungement petition can be filed where the arrest did not result in conviction or resulted from a mistaken identity, the alleged offender was acquitted, the waiting period expired or charges were dropped.

Expungement petitions are filed at the Shawnee County District Court for a fee of $195. No cost is charged for an arrest that was based on a mistaken identity. The petitioner must list out their identifying details like their full name, date of birth, sex, and race. The arresting agency and arrest date must be included as well. The Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office’s has provided templates to assist with the expungement process by drafting a petition forms for both adult expungement and juvenile expungement.

How Do You Remove Shawnee County Arrest Records From the Internet?

After expunging the arrest record officially through the District Court and it has been processed by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, every official government online portal is required to remove the expunged arrest record.