Kansas Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find Kansas criminal records, arrest records, court records, inmate information, and the public offender registry, and how Kansas background-check and record-clearing laws work. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official Kansas sources, and it points you to the state and county agencies that hold each type of record. You can also start a name search using the tool on this page.

Are criminal records public in Kansas?

Most adult criminal records in Kansas are public under the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), K.S.A. 45-215 et seq., which declares that public records shall be open for inspection by any person. Court case records, booking information, and conviction histories are generally open. The main exceptions are records sealed by expungement, active criminal investigation files, and information protected by other specific statutes, such as juvenile records and certain victim details.

How do I look up a criminal record in Kansas?

There are three main ways to access Kansas criminal records:

• KBI name-based criminal history search. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) Criminal History Record Search lets anyone submit a name-based check online for $20, or by mail for $30. The results return conviction and arrest information held in the KBI's central repository. A fingerprint-based search ($45) is the only way to confirm a record truly belongs to a specific person.
• Kansas court case records. The Kansas judicial branch launched a new statewide public portal in late 2025. You can search district court records at casesearch.kscourts.gov by case number, party name, or citation for cases from participating counties.
• An online people-search tool like the one on this page, which compiles public-record data from many sources into one report. These tools are for personal knowledge only and are not a substitute for an official KBI check or an FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act)-compliant background check.

Where can I look up arrest records in Kansas?

Arrest records are held by the agency that made the arrest, such as a city police department or county sheriff's office. Many Kansas county sheriffs publish an online jail roster or inmate list showing recent bookings. Arrest information also flows into the KBI's central repository and can appear on a name-based criminal history check. Remember that an arrest is not a conviction: it means a person was taken into custody, not that they were found guilty of anything.

How do I look up warrants in Kansas?

Arrest warrants are issued by courts. The most direct way to check for an outstanding warrant is to contact the clerk of the district court in the county where potential charges would be filed, or to call the local county sheriff's office. Some Kansas counties also post warrant information on their sheriff or court websites. The Kansas statewide case-search portal at casesearch.kscourts.gov may surface open warrant information for participating counties. Active warrants can also appear on third-party background reports, but the issuing court is the authoritative source.

How do I find court records in Kansas?

Kansas district courts maintain records at the county level. The statewide starting point is the Kansas eCourt public portal at casesearch.kscourts.gov, which launched expanded functionality in November 2025 and allows searches by case number, party name, business name, or citation across participating judicial districts. For counties not yet on the statewide system, contact the district court clerk in the county where the case was filed. Certified copies of documents are available from the clerk in person or by mail request.

Do arrests show up on background checks in Kansas?

For employment, housing, and credit screening conducted through a consumer reporting agency, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) governs what may be reported. Under the FCRA, non-conviction arrest records generally cannot be reported once they are more than seven years old. Kansas does not have a separate state law that further restricts what commercial background-check companies may report beyond the federal rules, so federal FCRA standards apply. An official KBI conviction check will report both convictions and arrests that are part of the central repository record.

How far back does a background check go in Kansas?

Kansas follows the federal FCRA seven-year rule for most background checks used in employment, housing, or credit decisions. This means a consumer reporting agency generally will not report non-conviction adverse items (arrests that did not lead to conviction, dismissed charges) older than seven years. There is an important federal exception: when a position pays $75,000 or more per year, the FCRA lifts the seven-year cap and convictions can be reported back further. Key points:

• Arrests that did not result in a conviction generally cannot be reported after seven years.
• Convictions can often be reported beyond seven years under federal law (particularly for higher-paying jobs).
• The KBI's own criminal history records have no seven-year cutoff - that limit applies only to consumer reporting agencies, not to the raw government record itself.

How do I find someone in jail or prison in Kansas?

It depends on where the person is held:

• State prison or state supervision. Use the Kansas Department of Corrections' KASPER (Kansas Adult Supervised Population Electronic Repository) to search by name for anyone sentenced to KDOC custody since 1980. KASPER shows current location, offense, and supervision status, and is updated daily except weekends. Note that KASPER is not a complete criminal history - it covers only KDOC-managed cases.
• County jail. People awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences are held in county jail. Check the county sheriff's online inmate roster for the county where the person was arrested.
• Federal custody. For federal cases, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator rather than KASPER.

How do I find out if someone is on probation or parole in Kansas?

State parole and post-incarceration supervision are managed by the Kansas Department of Corrections, and a person's supervision status may appear in KASPER. Probation (serving a sentence in the community under court supervision instead of prison) is administered by the sentencing court and the local community corrections office; the court's case records are the best public source for probation status. You can search district court records at casesearch.kscourts.gov or contact the clerk of the district court where the case was filed.

What are the felony severity levels in Kansas?

Kansas does not use a simple A/B/C felony classification. Instead, under K.S.A. 21-6804, felonies are ranked on a sentencing grid with two axes: a severity level (1 through 10 for non-drug crimes, 1 through 5 for drug crimes) and the offender's criminal history. A judge finds where the two axes intersect to determine the presumptive sentence. General ranges by severity level for non-drug crimes:

• Level 1 (most severe, e.g., capital murder): 147 to 653 months
• Level 2 (e.g., murder second degree): 109 to 498 months
• Levels 3-5: roughly 31 to 247 months depending on history
• Levels 6-10 (less severe felonies): roughly 5 to 46 months, with many resulting in probation rather than prison for first-time offenders

These are sentencing ranges in months, not guaranteed sentences. The actual term depends heavily on prior criminal history. Consult an attorney or the official grid for specifics.

What are the misdemeanor classes in Kansas?

Kansas misdemeanors are divided into three classes under K.S.A. 21-6602, all served in county jail rather than state prison:

• Class A misdemeanor (most serious): up to one year in county jail and a fine up to $2,500. Examples include battery and simple assault.
• Class B misdemeanor: up to six months in county jail and a fine up to $1,000. A first-offense DUI under K.S.A. 8-1567 is a Class B nonperson misdemeanor.
• Class C misdemeanor (least serious): up to one month in county jail and a fine up to $500.

Are traffic violations crimes in Kansas?

Minor traffic offenses are generally classified as traffic infractions under Kansas law and carry only a fine, with no jail time and no criminal conviction. More serious driving offenses carry criminal weight. Under K.S.A. 8-1567, a first DUI conviction is a Class B nonperson misdemeanor; a second DUI conviction is a Class A nonperson misdemeanor. A third DUI is a Class A nonperson misdemeanor as a baseline, but it escalates to a severity level 6 nonperson felony if the person had a prior DUI conviction within the preceding ten years. Reckless driving and fleeing a law-enforcement officer can also be charged as misdemeanors or felonies depending on the circumstances.

Is the sex offender registry public in Kansas?

Yes. The KBI maintains the Kansas Public Offender Registry, which covers not only sex offenders but also certain violent and drug offenders required to register under the Kansas Offender Registration Act (KORA), K.S.A. 22-4901 et seq. The registry is free to search by name or geographic area, and shows the registrant's photo, address, and offense information. Some registrants are excluded from public display under a Kansas Supreme Court ruling (State v. Myers) relating to offenses committed before April 14, 1994.

How long must a sex offender register in Kansas?

Registration duration is set by K.S.A. 22-4906 and depends on the offense:

• 15 years from release or conviction for lower-tier offenses such as sexual battery and certain drug-related offenses requiring registration.
• 25 years for mid-tier offenses including criminal sodomy with a minor, indecent solicitation of a child, and aggravated sexual battery.
• Lifetime for the most serious offenses, including rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, aggravated criminal sodomy, and kidnapping. A second or subsequent conviction of any registerable offense also triggers lifetime registration.

Time spent incarcerated or out of compliance does not count toward the registration period - it effectively pauses the clock. Unlike some other states, Kansas does not have a court petition process for early removal from the registry once the lifetime requirement attaches.

How do I expunge or clear my criminal record in Kansas?

Kansas allows expungement, which destroys the court and KBI records of a conviction and lets you legally say you have not been convicted, under K.S.A. 21-6614. You must wait after completing your sentence, discharge from probation or parole:

• 3 years for misdemeanors, infractions, most low-level felonies (severity levels 6-10 non-drug, level 5 drug), and arrests that did not lead to conviction.
• 5 years for higher-level felonies (non-drug severity levels 1-5, drug levels 1-4) and DUI-related convictions.
• 10 years for a second or subsequent DUI conviction.

At a hearing, the court must find that you have not been convicted of a felony in the past two years, that no criminal proceedings are pending against you, and that expungement is consistent with the public welfare. Certain serious violent offenses - murder, rape, and most sex offenses - are not eligible for expungement. The KBI publishes an official expungement fact sheet with current eligibility details.

Do I need a lawyer to expunge my record in Kansas?

You are not legally required to hire an attorney to petition for expungement in Kansas. The courts make forms and procedures available, and the Johnson County District Attorney's office, for example, publishes a free public guide. That said, eligibility rules are detailed and case-specific - a mistake in the petition can delay or forfeit your chance. Many people consult an attorney or a legal-aid organization, especially for felony cases or when the waiting period calculation is not straightforward.

How long does a felony stay on your record in Kansas?

A Kansas felony conviction stays on your record permanently unless the court grants an expungement under K.S.A. 21-6614. There is no automatic deletion. The federal FCRA seven-year rule limits what a commercial background-check company may report for certain non-conviction items, but it does not erase the underlying government record. If you obtain an expungement, the KBI destroys the record and you may lawfully say you have not been convicted - but expungement is not available for the most serious felonies.

Are juvenile criminal records private in Kansas?

Juvenile records in Kansas are generally not public. Under the Revised Kansas Juvenile Justice Code, juvenile adjudication records are confidential and are not accessible to the general public or ordinary background checks. They can be seen by courts, prosecutors, and law enforcement. A juvenile (or former juvenile) may petition for expungement under K.S.A. 38-2312 once two years have passed since final discharge or they have reached age 23, provided they have not since been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor (other than a traffic offense) and the court finds expungement warranted. Juveniles adjudicated for offenses requiring registration under the Kansas Offender Registration Act are not eligible for expungement while the registration obligation is active.

Johnson County criminal records

Johnson County is the most populous county in Kansas, home to more than 650,000 residents in the Kansas City metropolitan area. District court records for Johnson County are available through the Kansas statewide portal at casesearch.kscourts.gov. You can search by party name or case number. For in-person access or certified copies, contact the Johnson County District Court clerk at the Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe. The Johnson County District Attorney's office also publishes public information about local expungements and diversion programs at da.jocogov.org/expungement.

Official Kansas criminal record sources

• KBI Criminal History Record Search - name-based criminal history check ($20 online, $30 by mail).
• Kansas District Court CaseSearch - statewide public portal for district court records by name or case number.
• KASPER Offender Search (KDOC) - locate people in Kansas state prison or under KDOC supervision.
• Kansas Public Offender Registry (KBI) - free public search for sex, violent, and drug offenders required to register.
• K.S.A. 21-6614 (expungement statute) - the official Kansas record-clearing law.
• KBI Expungement Fact Sheet (Feb. 2025) - official eligibility summary from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
• K.S.A. 22-4906 (sex offender registration duration) - 15-year, 25-year, and lifetime registration tiers.
• Johnson County District Attorney - Expungement - local guide for the most populous Kansas county.

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). An arrest record or mugshot is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Kansas public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.