Franklin County Arrest Records

Franklin County law enforcement officers are permitted by K.S.A. 22-2401 to apprehend and take individuals into custody. Arrests typically occur when warrants have been issued for arrest, officers have probable cause to believe a person has committed a crime, or when crimes (except cigarette or traffic violations) are committed in the officer's presence. After arresting the person, the office creates a record, known as an arrest record, documenting the incident. This record explains why and when the individual was apprehended, the location of the arrest, and the detention facility where the person was held. Other details, such as the arrestee's identifying information, the name of the arresting agency, and booking numbers, are also included within the record.

Further, information and documents found in Franklin County court records, such as bail amount, warrants, and indictments, are considered arrest records. Individuals may approach custodial agencies and officers, including arresting law enforcement authorities and clerks of courts, to view or obtain these arrest records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Franklin County?

Yes. Arrest records are treated as public information in Franklin County. The Kansas Open Records Act states that information and documents created during the official affairs of public agencies, such as police departments, are accessible to members of the public. However, some arrest records cannot be disclosed to the public per the KORA and other federal and state laws; these include:

• Personal identification numbers, like Passport and Social Security Numbers
• Details about confidential witnesses and informants
• Information, the disclosure of which may derail police investigations or expose secret law enforcement tactics
• Juvenile arrest records
• Expunged and sealed arrest information
• Arrest information that may expose trade secrets

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

In Franklin County, public arrest records generally contain the following information about the arrestee and the arrest:

• Date of birth
• Race
• Sex
• Booking date
• Bond type
• Bond amount
• Charges
• Court dates
• Warrant details

Franklin County Arrest Statistics

While the Kansas Bureau of Investigations publishes annual crime reports, it does not specify arrest figures per jurisdiction. However, individuals may contact the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office or a local police department to obtain arrest statistics for the county.

Find Franklin County Arrest Records

Persons seeking arrest records may begin by contacting the arresting agency. The Sheriff's Office executes most arrests in the county and maintains records for each incident. Individuals may contact the office using the following details for inquiries about recent arrestees:

220 S. Beech Street
Suite A
Ottawa, KS 66067
Phone: (785) 229-1200
Fax: (785) 229-1210

If a person was arrested within a municipality like the City of Ottawa, they may visit or call the police for arrest information.

If the individual is detained pending trial, their details are held by the Sheriff's Office’s Detention Division. Interested parties may contact the detention center by phone at (785) 229-1220 or by fax at (785) 229-1221.

The Kansas Department of Corrections holds incarceration-related data concerning state inmates. The department’s offender search tool allows users to locate people in its custody and view details about their incarceration. However, the KDOC does not keep information about arrests that did not result in convictions.

Individuals can contact the arresting agency or the Bureau of Prisons for federal arrests. The BOP houses pretrial and sentenced federal inmates and allows members of the public to locate these detainees using its Federal Inmate Locator.

Free Arrest Record Search in Franklin County

Individuals can visit the local Franklin County district court to look up criminal case records containing arrest information. The court provides freely accessible computer terminals where members of the public can view details like warrant dates, bond type and amount, and other data concerning a person's arrest. However, one must pay to order copies of court documents and certify them.

Apart from public agencies, members of the public can view free arrest records on third-party aggregate websites. These sites are not affiliated with police agencies or courts, but the arrest records they display are sourced from official custodians. Be that as it may, individuals are advised to use these sites for reference and not as authoritative sources.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely, If a person is convicted of a serious offense, such as abuse and offense of a child, aggravated incest, criminal sodomy, manslaughter, and murder, their arrests and convictions cannot be expunged. However, certain individuals whose arrests did not result in convictions can apply for expungement. People who were convicted of misdemeanors and minor felonies generally have to observe specific waiting periods after completing sentences or paying fines before applying for expungement. The arrest and criminal records will be open to the public during those waiting periods.

At the same time, some expunged arrest records can be disclosed to permitted entities, such as criminal justice agencies and private security firms, during employment background checks.

Expunge Franklin County Arrest Records

According to K.S.A. 22-2410, an expungement of an arrest record is the process of purging arrest information from public records so that the subject can be treated as if they were never arrested. This process is only available when a person is found not guilty, charges were filed and dismissed, prosecutors do not intend to file charges after an individual’s arrest, the arrestee was apprehended due to a mistaken or stolen identity, or a court finds that the arrest lacked probable cause. Petitioners are not required to pay a surcharge or fee for this proceeding. Once the expungement order is filed, details of the arrest will no longer appear in background searches for employment and other purposes.

A petition for expungement must contain the following information:

• Petitioner’s full name as at the period of arrest (if they currently go by a different name), date of birth, race, and sex
• The crime or offense of arrest
• Arrest date
• Name of the arresting agency

The court will set a hearing date after the applicant files the petition and serves notices to the involved arresting agency and prosecuting attorney. These agencies and offices can object to or agree to the petition during the hearing.

Certain arrest records tied to convictions can also be expunged under K.S.A. 21-6614 and K.S.A. 12-4516. However, the convictions that qualify for these processes are limited and specific. Also, one must meet other requirements, such as waiting periods, before applying for such expungements.

Courts can sometimes determine that some expunged information should be available to certain employers and agencies, such as elderly care homes and private security outfits.

Franklin County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a document issued by a judge when it is necessary to apprehend an individual accused of breaking the law. It is a court order that can be issued by district or municipal court judges when individuals fail to meet certain court-ordered obligations or police officers accuse named persons of violating state law.

Warrants generally include the name and physical description of warrant subjects, the offenses being alleged, bond requirements and amount, the name of the issuing court, and the signature of the issuing judge.

However, it should be noted that police officers can also make arrests without warrants, per K.S.A. 22-2401. Anyone seeking to verify details about arrest warrants may contact the clerk of the issuing court or sheriff's office.

Do Franklin County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants can only be returned when defendants turn themselves in or are captured by law enforcement agencies. However, municipal and district court judges can recall or cancel warrants if accused persons are found not guilty.