Kansas is an open records state where criminal history records are publicly accessible through the Kansas Bureau of Investigation's online portal. The KBI's name-based statewide search is available to anyone who creates a KanAccess account, and it costs $20 per search. Kansas also has one of the more clearly structured expungement systems in the region, with defined waiting periods and a significant practical nuance: when the KBI processes an expungement, it notifies law enforcement agencies and the FBI but does not notify private background check companies. That gap matters for anyone trying to understand the real-world effect of getting a Kansas record expunged. This guide covers the full system.
What Makes Kansas Arrest Records Public
The Kansas Open Records Act, codified at Kansas Statutes Annotated Section 45-215 and following, establishes that government records are public unless specifically exempted by statute. Criminal history records, including arrest records, are public under this framework.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation serves as the central repository for criminal history record information in the state under KSA Section 22-4705. All law enforcement agencies in Kansas are required to report fingerprint-based arrest records to the KBI. The KBI maintains and disseminates this information through its Criminal History Records Section.
The default status of Kansas arrest records is public, reflecting the state's commitment to government transparency. Exceptions apply to juvenile records, sealed or expunged records, and records tied to active investigations where disclosure could compromise the investigation or personal safety.
What a Kansas Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document. It reflects the facts of an arrest as recorded at the time of booking and carries no presumption of guilt.
A Kansas arrest record includes the person's personal identifying information -- name, date of birth, address, and physical description. It lists the name and signature of the judge who issued any warrant, the time and place of the arrest, the charges filed, and the arresting agency. Booking photographs, or mugshots, are part of Kansas arrest records and are generally publicly available. Court dispositions are submitted to the KBI and appear in the criminal history record when reported.
How to Search Kansas Arrest Records
The KBI Criminal History Record Check portal at kansas.gov/criminalhistory is the primary public tool. Users must create a free KanAccess account to access the portal. A name-based search costs $20 per person searched and can be paid by credit or debit card at the time of the request. Results are typically processed in about ten business days for standard requests. The KBI address is 1620 SW Tyler Street, Topeka, KS 66612. Phone: 785-296-8200.
A fingerprint-based criminal history check is also available through the KBI and provides a more definitive match. The cost is $35 for a non-certified fingerprint check or $45 for a certified copy. Fingerprint cards can be obtained for free from the KBI or from local sheriff offices. Mail requests go to: Kansas Bureau of Investigation, ATTN -- Criminal History Records Section, 1620 SW Tyler, Topeka, KS 66612-1837.
The Kansas District Court records search provides free online access to court case filings and case information across the state court system. The portal is accessible through the Kansas judicial branch website and allows searches by name, case number, and other criteria. While the court portal shows case type, location, and birth year, it does not show dispositions -- cross-referencing with the KBI check or contacting the clerk of the court directly is needed to confirm case outcomes.
County sheriff offices are the right tool for recent arrests. Kansas has 105 counties and each county sheriff maintains local booking records. Most county sheriffs publish online inmate rosters or booking logs updated regularly. For anyone arrested in the past 24 to 72 hours, the county sheriff website is where to start.
For broader multi-source background searches across Kansas's 105 counties and other jurisdictions, TruthFinder is a practical option.
VINELink at vinelink.com connects to the Kansas DOC system and many county facilities and provides free real-time custody status and notification registration.
County Jail Records in Kansas
Kansas has 105 counties and each county sheriff manages the local jail. County jails hold people recently arrested, those awaiting trial, and individuals serving short sentences. For anyone arrested recently, the county sheriff website is the correct starting point.
When someone is convicted and sentenced to state prison, they enter the Kansas Department of Corrections system. The KDOC operates KASPER -- the Kansas Adult Supervised Population Electronic Repository -- as its primary public inmate search tool. KASPER allows searches by name or KDOC number and returns the inmate's current facility, offense information, sentence terms, parole eligibility, and projected release date. KASPER is accessible through the KDOC website.
Federal Arrests in Kansas
Federal arrests in Kansas are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. After federal sentencing, individuals enter the Bureau of Prisons rather than the Kansas DOC.
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for locating anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. Federal court records are available through the PACER system at pacer.gov.
Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the KBI criminal history database. A KBI check will not surface federal charges.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
An arrest record documents that law enforcement took someone into custody. A conviction record documents a court's finding of guilt. In Kansas, the arrest entry does not automatically update when the case resolves.
Charges can be dropped, cases dismissed, and juries acquit. In all of those situations the arrest entry remains in KBI records and may appear on background checks unless the record is expunged. The default is persistence -- the burden falls on the individual to pursue expungement for qualifying records.
Kansas Expungement Under KSA 21-6614
Kansas expungement is governed by Kansas Statutes Annotated Section 21-6614. The statute covers expungement of conviction records, arrest records, and diversion agreements. Filing the petition requires a $176 docket fee, though the court may waive all or part of that fee.
Waiting periods before a petition can be filed vary by offense level:
For misdemeanor convictions and minor felonies (traffic infractions, class D or E felonies, and nongrid or severity level 6-10 felonies for crimes after July 1, 1993): three or more years must have elapsed since the person completed the sentence, was discharged from probation, or was released from parole.
For more serious felony convictions: five or more years, with longer waiting periods for certain DUI offenses.
Ineligible for expungement: serious violent offenses including murder, rape, and sex offenses; offenders currently required to register under the Kansas Offender Registration Act; and driving a commercial vehicle under the influence.
At the expungement hearing, the court must find that the petitioner has not been convicted of a felony in the past two years, that the circumstances warrant expungement, and that expungement is consistent with the public welfare.
One critical practical point: after the KBI processes an expungement order, it notifies the FBI, the Kansas Secretary of Corrections, and any Kansas law enforcement agency that was involved with the event. However, the KBI does not notify private background check companies or data aggregators. This means expunged records may continue to appear on third-party background check sites unless the person separately contacts those companies to request removal. InmateAid's resources on mugshot removal and background check cleanup address this process in more detail.
Arrest records without a conviction are generally eligible for expungement under separate provisions of KSA 21-6614 for acquittals and dismissed charges.
Frequently asked questions
Are Kansas arrest records public?
Yes, under the Kansas Open Records Act at KSA 45-215. Arrest records are public by default unless specifically exempted by statute. Juvenile records, sealed or expunged records, and active investigation materials are exempt. The KBI maintains the statewide criminal history database and provides public access through its online portal for $20 per name-based search.
How do I search Kansas arrest records?
The KBI Criminal History Record Check portal at kansas.gov/criminalhistory requires a free KanAccess account and charges $20 per name-based search. For court case filings, use the Kansas District Court records search through the Kansas judicial branch website -- it is free but does not show dispositions. For recent arrests, check the relevant county sheriff's website. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data. For real-time custody status, VINELink at vinelink.com provides free notifications. For KDOC state prison inmates, use the KASPER tool through the KDOC website.
What does a Kansas arrest record contain?
A Kansas arrest record includes personal identifying information (name, date of birth, address, physical description), the warrant judge's name if applicable, the time and place of the arrest, charges filed at booking, and the arresting agency. Booking photographs are part of Kansas arrest records and are generally publicly accessible. Court dispositions appear in KBI records when submitted by courts.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in Kansas?
No. An arrest documents that someone was taken into custody. A conviction reflects a court's finding of guilt. You can have a Kansas arrest record with no conviction if charges were dropped, dismissed, or you were acquitted. The arrest entry remains in KBI records and may appear on background checks unless expunged under KSA 21-6614.
How do I find someone in a Kansas county jail?
Check the sheriff's office website for the county where the arrest occurred. Most Kansas county sheriffs publish online inmate rosters. VINELink at vinelink.com connects to many county facilities statewide and provides free notification registration. For someone sentenced to state prison, use the KASPER tool through the KDOC website.
Can I search federal arrest records in Kansas?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the KBI database -- a KBI check will not surface federal charges.
How long does an arrest stay on record in Kansas?
Kansas arrest records remain in KBI files indefinitely unless expunged under KSA 21-6614. There is no automatic expiration. The burden falls on the individual to petition the court for expungement of qualifying records. Waiting periods of three to five years or more apply depending on the offense before a petition can be filed.
Who qualifies for expungement in Kansas?
Under KSA 21-6614, misdemeanors and minor felonies generally qualify after a three-year waiting period from sentence completion. More serious felonies require five years. Diversion agreements qualify after three years from completion. Serious violent offenses, sex offenses, commercial DUI, and anyone currently required to register under the Kansas Offender Registration Act are ineligible. The petition is filed in the convicting court with a $176 docket fee (which the court may waive).
Does expungement notify background check companies?
No. When the KBI processes an expungement order, it notifies the FBI, the Kansas Secretary of Corrections, and Kansas law enforcement agencies involved in the case. It does not notify private background check companies or data aggregators. Expunged records may continue to appear on third-party background check sites and data brokers until the person separately requests removal from each one. This is a meaningful gap that many people are unaware of after obtaining an expungement.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
An arrest entry is created at booking and remains in KBI records regardless of what happened in court. If charges were dropped, the case dismissed, or you were acquitted, the arrest entry persists until expunged. Additionally, if the court never submitted a disposition to the KBI, the record may show an arrest without a resolution entry -- checking the Kansas District Court records system can clarify whether a disposition exists in court files. ---
Discovery Offer - Silos 1-2
Search arrest records and find out where they are
If you're trying to locate someone who was arrested or find out where they are being held, TruthFinder searches arrest records, court records, and custody status across all 50 states.