Shawnee County, Kansas Inmate Search

An inmate search in Shawnee County checks official county records to find an inmate in the local jail facility. A search helps individuals confirm an inmate’s precise location, custody status, and other details about their stay in jail. Adult inmates in Shawnee County are held in the Shawnee County Adult Detention Center and the Detention Center Annex, while juveniles are held in the Juvenile Detention Center. All three facilities are managed by the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.

There are also state-run prisons located in the county, specifically the Topeka Correctional Facility and the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex. The Topeka Correctional Facility is a women’s prison, while the Juvenile Correctional Complex is for juvenile offenders. Details on state prisoners should be obtained from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

How to Find an Inmate in Shawnee County Jail

There are several ways to find an inmate in the Shawnee County jail system. The most direct way to locate an individual in custody is through the Shawnee County Inmate Search portal. Researchers may also view the Daily Booking Report for present-day arrestees or the Daily Booking Archive for a list of individuals arrested on previous days.

Individuals can also verify if a person is in jail by calling the Shawnee County Department of Corrections phone line, (785) 251-5000, or inquiring in person at the jail.

Shawnee County Department of Corrections and Detention Center

501 Southeast 8th Avenue

Topeka, KS 66607

Shawnee County Annex

818 Southeast Adams

Topeka, KS 66607

How to Use the Shawnee County Jail Roster

Individuals wondering how to access and use the Shawnee County jail roster may follow the steps below:

• Access the Shawnee County Website: Navigating to the Shawnee County website is the first step. The website can be opened on a phone or a computer; however, accessing it on a computer may make the process easier.
  
• Navigate to the Department of Corrections Page: Locate the menu at the top of the page and select "Departments and Offices," and then click "Department of Corrections."
  
• Open the Inmate Search Portal: On the Department of Corrections page, select "Inmate Search" on the left sidebar menu. This takes the user to the search portal.
  
• Initiate a Search: Review and accept the terms and conditions for use. Afterward, enter the inmate’s last name (required), first name, or birth date, then select "Search." Alternatively, download the Daily Booking Report or select the Daily Booking Archive to view daily incarceration reports.

What Information is Included in the Shawnee County Inmate Roster

The following details about a Shawnee County inmate are typically shown in the Shawnee County inmate roster.

• Full name
• Gender
• Race
• Date of birth
• Mugshot
• Booking number, booking date, and time
• Arresting agency
• Warrant number
• Charge description
• Bond type and amount
• Court date

The details above are publicly available based on the provisions of the Kansas Open Records Act (K.S.A. 45-215 et seq.). According to the law, inmate records are disclosable to the public upon request, excluding instances where a specific exception applies. Nonpublic records include juvenile records, inmate fingerprints, personal home addresses, and Social Security numbers.

Contact Details for Shawnee County Jail or Sheriff’s Office

For inquiries related to the Shawnee County jail, individuals may visit or call the Department of Corrections (located in the same complex as the jail).

Shawnee County Department of Corrections and Detention Center

501 Southeast 8th Avenue

Topeka, KS 66607

Phone: (785) 251-5000

Classification Fax: (785) 251-7765

Administration Fax: (785) 251-4924

Shawnee County Annex

818 Southeast Adams

Topeka, KS 66607

Fax: (785) 251-4930

Note: The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office maintains no oversight over the local jail.

Jail Facility Overview in Shawnee County

The Shawnee County Department of Corrections is responsible for managing the jail system in the county. The jail system uses a primary facility (the Adult Detention Center) to house adult inmates in Shawnee County. The facility has a bed capacity of approximately 507 inmates and is designed for short-term housing, with an average length of stay of about 10 days. According to official reports, the facility processes roughly 13,000 adult offenders annually.

Shawnee County also has a Detention Center Annex with a capacity of 200 beds, which is generally intended for lower-risk individuals and those participating in the department’s specialized programs.

Juvenile inmates, meanwhile, are housed at the Shawnee County Juvenile Detention Center, which is also managed by the Department of Corrections. The detention center has a bed capacity of 70 and provides secure custody for youth under 18, focusing on education and rehabilitation. The department processes around 1,300 juveniles every year.

Agency	Office and Mail Address	Phone Number	Office Hours	Email
Shawnee County Adult Detention Center	501 Southeast 8th Avenue Topeka, KS 6660	(785) 251-5000	24 hours a day, full week	Communications primarily occur in person and over the phone; there is no dedicated email address for all three detention centers
Shawnee County Annex	818 Southeast Adams Topeka, KS 66607	(785) 251-5000	24 hours a day, full week
Shawnee County Juvenile Detention Center	401 Southeast 8th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66607	(785) 251-7700	24 hours a day, full week

How to Send Money to an Inmate in Shawnee County Adult Detention Center

Inmates detained in the Shawnee County Adult Detention Center are provided a commissary account that they may use to purchase items, such as toiletries, food, and to make phone calls. The most convenient way to send money to an inmate is online through the detention center’s approved third-party vendor. Individuals can deposit money into the inmate’s account using their credit or debit card.

Loved ones can also deposit money into an inmate’s account in person at the Records Window at the front lobby of the Annex Facility. If the Records window is closed at the time of deposit, individuals may deposit the funds at the booking window. Accepted payment methods are cash, credit cards, and debit cards.

Another way to deposit money into an inmate’s account is by sending it through the mail. Cash is not accepted via mail; instead, individuals must send a money order, attorney trust account check, cashier’s check, government check, or tribal check. The money order or check should be made payable to the inmate and should include the sender’s name and address.

Depositors should note that if an inmate has yet to settle any court costs or facility fees (e.g., booking, inmate work program, and disciplinary fees), money sent to their account may be used to settle the fees before being made available for their use.

Inmate Search by Jail Facility

An inmate in Shawnee County is generally housed in one of three locations: the Shawnee County Adult Detention Center, the Shawnee County Annex, or the Shawnee County Juvenile Detention Center. The Adult Detention Center and the Annex primarily house adults, while the Juvenile Detention Center houses youths.

To search for an inmate in the Adult Detention Center or its Annex, one may access the Shawnee County Inmate Search portal for a name search or to review the daily booking reports.

For inmates in the Juvenile Detention Center, it will be necessary to call or visit the center; juvenile records are not accessible online, nor to unauthorized parties, due to their confidential nature. Individuals searching for a detained juvenile will often need to provide a valid means of identification that proves a relationship with the youth before information may be released.

Shawnee County Visitation Rules and Schedules

The Shawnee County Department of Corrections recognizes the need for family members and friends to keep in touch with their relatives in jail. Visits at the Shawnee County Adult Detention Center and Juvenile Detention Center are conducted primarily through a video visitation system managed by a private provider. The video visitation system replaced in-person contact visits on January 21, 2025.

Individuals who want to visit an inmate will first have to schedule the visit through the private provider’s website or at the onsite kiosk in the detention facility. During scheduling, individuals may choose to have the visit remotely or on-site at the kiosks in the detention center’s lobby. Visits conducted on-site are typically free, while remote visits cost a fee but are more convenient.

Below are general guidelines for visitors.

• All on-site visitors aged 15 and above must present a valid government-issued photo ID.
• Visitors are prohibited from wearing see-through blouses, tank tops, spaghetti straps, or clothing with profanity.
• On-site visitors cannot bring personal belongings into the visitation area.
• Sexual behavior, nudity, or display of weapons or drugs is prohibited.

Juvenile Visitation

The Juvenile Detention Center allows parents, legal guardians, siblings, and grandparents to visit a detained youth. However, only two adults or one adult and a child can visit at the same time, with each visit lasting 25 minutes. The table below highlights the visitation schedule for the Juvenile Detention Center.

Tuesday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
6:30 p.m.	6:30 p.m.	10:00 a.m.	10:00 a.m.
7:00 p.m.	7:00 p.m.	10:30 a.m.	10:30 a.m.
7:30 p.m.	7:30 p.m.	11: 00 a.m.	11: 00 a.m.

Mailing and Commissary Information

The Shawnee County Department of Corrections uses a digital mail system (for personal correspondence) provided by the same private vendor in charge of visitation. The DOC transitioned to this system to improve safety and security.

Individuals who want to send a personal mail, such as letters, cards, and photos, have to send it to the provider’s address with the inmate’s name and number included. The sender’s name and return address should also be written on the envelope. The vendor inspects all mail to ensure compliance with the jail’s regulations. Mail that satisfies all underlying regulations will be scanned and delivered to the inmate electronically via a tablet or kiosk.

Legal mail and money orders are processed directly at the detention centers and not by the third-party vendor. Legal mail and money orders are addressed in the following way:

Adult Detention Center:

[Inmate’s Full Name]

Shawnee County Adult Detention Center

501 Southeast 8th Avenue

Topeka, KS 66607

Juvenile Detention Center:

[Inmate’s Full Name]

Shawnee County Juvenile Detention Center

401 Southeast 8th Avenue

Topeka, KS 66607

Any publication sent to an inmate by mail must come directly from the publisher and must be sent to the respective detention facility.