Barton County Arrest Records

Police officers in Barton County can initiate an arrest with or without a warrant when a person has violated city ordinances or state laws. Once an arrest is made, details about the incident are documented in an arrest record, which becomes part of Barton County's public records. The Barton County Sheriff's Office is the primary agency maintaining these records and makes them available in person during business hours. The staff may require a valid ID and specific information about the arrest to process the request.

The arresting officer will file a charge against the defendant in court, and a hearing date will be set. The court clerk will document and include the arrest details in the Barton County court records and make them available to the public.

Are Arrest Records Public in Barton County?

Yes, arrest records are considered public under the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA). The KORA ensures that Barton County law enforcement agencies open their records to the public for inspection and copying during regular office hours. However, some arrest records are deemed confidential and inaccessible to the public. Such records include criminal investigation records (K.S.A. 45-221), juvenile arrest records, medical, psychiatric, and psychological records, and records that reveal a law enforcement officer's home address or property ownership.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The Barton County Sheriff's Office makes most of its arrest records available to the public. These public arrest records generally contain the following information:

• The arrestee's gender, mugshot, weight, height, eye and hair color, race, and date of birth
• Charge description, code, description, type, case number, disposition, OTN number, and offense date
• Bond agency, amount, type, and status

Barton County Arrest Statistics

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) report shows that Barton County law enforcement agencies recorded 636 adult arrests in 2021. The two top crimes people were arrested for were simple battery (180) and drug offenses (138). That same year, juvenile arrests totaled 42.

Find Barton County Arrest Records

The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) maintains arrest records of all law enforcement agencies in the state. Individuals searching for Barton County arrest records can check the KDOC Offender Search portal using a name or KDOC number. They can also visit any KDOC facilities during business hours to obtain copies of Barton County arrest records.

Several federal law enforcement agencies also make Barton County arrest records available to the public. Most agencies provide such records online and in person at their local offices. For example, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has an Inmate Locator where individuals can find Barton County arrest records using a number or name. Record seekers can also visit the BOP facilities during business hours to obtain copies of the Barton County arrest records. Similarly, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) allows members of the public to use its Online Detainee Locator System to find Barton County arrest records. The search can be conducted using the offender's A-Number or biographical information to find the appropriate record. Requesters can also visit the ICE local field offices and ICE detention facilities to obtain copies of arrest records.

Free Arrest Record Search in Barton County

The Barton County Sheriff's Office does not provide free arrest records on its website. However, individuals can submit a request by phone at (620) 793-1876 to ask about possible free access to these records. Alternatively, requesters can retrieve basic arrest information at no cost through third-party databases, though the accuracy of such sources may not match that of the Sheriff's Office. Therefore, users are advised to exercise caution when relying on information from these platforms.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests generally stay on a person's criminal record permanently. However, Barton County District Court permits residents to have their arrest records expunged to restrict them from the public. The Kansas Historical Society (KSHS) has a Retention Schedule portal where individuals can view the timeframe law enforcement agencies can keep their arrest records. For example, arrest records of misdemeanors are kept for five (5) calendar years, while felony records are kept for 20 calendar years.

Expunge Barton County Arrest Records

Individuals who want to expunge their Barton County arrest records must meet the criteria stated in K.S.A. 12-4516, K.S.A. 21-6614, K.S.A. 22-2410, and K.S.A. 38-2312. Eligible petitioners must complete a Criminal Cover Sheet and a Petition for Expungement of Arrest Record and file them with the Barton County District Court. The Clerk of Court charges a docket fee for such filings, but this fee is waived for individuals arrested due to identity theft or whose charges were dismissed. Afterward, the petitioner must complete the Notice of Hearing, make two additional copies, and file them with the District Court. The Clerk will send a copy to the Barton County Attorney and the arresting law enforcement agency. Petitioners must complete the Order of Expungement of Arrest Record Cover Sheet, Order for Expungement of Arrest Record, and Order Denying Expungement of Arrest Record and bring the completed documents to the hearing. If the judge approves the petition, they will sign the Order for Expungement of Arrest Record and mail a certified copy to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI). It takes 2 to 4 weeks for the KBI to process the expungement and update the petitioner's criminal history record. The KBI will notify the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Kansas Secretary of Corrections, and any Kansas law enforcement agency involved with the arrest about the expungement.

Barton County Arrest Warrants

A Barton County arrest warrant is a written order a magistrate directs to any law enforcement officer commanding them to arrest the subject of the warrant (K.S.A. 22-2202). A magistrate will only issue an arrest warrant when they find from a complaint, an affidavit filed with it, or sworn testimony, that there is probable cause to believe that a defendant has committed a crime. According to K.S.A. 22-2302, the magistrate can issue multiple warrants on the same complaint. An arrest warrant must contain the following information (K.S.A. 22-2304):

• The magistrate's signature
• The name of the defendant or a description of the person (if the name is unknown)
• A description of the crime charged in the complaint.
• A command that the person named on the warrant be arrested and brought before a magistrate
• The amount of the appearance bond

Per K.S.A 22-2305, law enforcement officers execute all arrest warrants issued in Barton County. Warrants are usually executed by arresting the defendant, but this execution can occur anywhere in Kansas. Officers do not need an arrest warrant at the time of the arrest, but must inform the defendant of the offense charged against them. However, they must show the warrants to the defendants as soon as possible upon request. After the arrest, the officer must return the warrant to the magistrate before whom the defendant is brought.

Do Barton County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants do not carry expiry dates in Barton County. They become inactive upon the defendant's arrest. However, the prosecuting attorney can request that an issuing magistrate cancel a returned unexecuted arrest warrant (K.S.A. 22-2305).