Johnson County Arrest Records

In Johnson County, law enforcement agencies have the authority to arrest individuals when a warrant has been issued or if there is probable cause to believe that a crime is being committed. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, the county’s primary law enforcement agency, is responsible for making these arrests and generating detailed records of each incident. These arrest records, which include official information about arrests and detentions in the county, are accessible to the public at the Sheriff’s Office. Interested persons may also find arrest information through other criminal justice records, such as Johnson County court records, criminal history records, and police reports.

Are Arrest Records Public in Johnson County?

The Kansas Open Records Act grants public access to arrest records in Johnson County. However, the Act exempts certain records from public disclosure, including the following:

• Records of ongoing investigations
• Juvenile records
• Records containing sensitive information
• Records that may infringe on privacy rights
• Sealed or expunged records

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Listed below are typical information found in public arrest records in Johnson County:

• Personal information of the arrested person
• Description of the person
• Arresting authority
• Details of arrest, such as date and place of arrest
• Potential charges
• Booking information
• Bond information

Johnson County Crime Rate

According to the 2023 Kansas Crime Index, Johnson County recorded 1,424 violent crimes and 11,128 property crimes during the year. A breakdown of the data shows that the county recorded 14 murders, 129 rapes, 96 robberies, 1,185 aggravated assaults, 807 burglaries, 8,447 thefts, 1,874 motor vehicle thefts, and 64 arson.

Johnson County Arrest Statistics

The 2023 Annual Report of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office reveals that the office maintains two detention centers: the Central Booking Facility and the New Century Adult Detention Center. During the year, the facilities had an average daily population of 699 inmates, representing a 1.2% increase from the previous year. Also, the Court Security Division of the Sheriff’s Office arrested 222 people on warrants within the same period.

Find Johnson County Arrest Records

Several agencies maintain Johnson County arrest and inmate information at different levels of government. At the local level, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office maintains an online inmate search resource that allows members of the public to find information about current inmates and bookings from the past three years. The office also provides a day-to-day booking and release report containing information about persons arrested, booked, and released in the county. Local police departments also maintain these records and grant public access to them.

At the state level, interested persons can find inmate records maintained by the Kansas Department of Corrections (DOC) using the department’s offender search portal. This database allows users to search people incarcerated in state detention facilities by name and KDOC number. Users can streamline their search using advanced options like social security number, gender, race, and state ID.

Similarly, at the federal level, the Federal Bureau of Prisons maintains records of persons incarcerated in federal prisons. Anyone can search these records on the Bureau’s Find an Inmate portal using inmates’ names or registration numbers.

Free Arrest Record Search in Johnson County

Record seekers can access Johnson County arrest records for free using government-managed online resources such as the following:

• The Johnson County Sheriff’s inmate search and booking/release report portals
• The Kansas Department of Corrections offender search
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Find an Inmate portal

Third-party websites can also be used to search arrest records and many other public records in Johnson County. However, there may be concerns about the accuracy of information obtained from these sites because they are independent of official sources.

Get Johnson County Criminal Records

A Johnson County criminal record is the compilation of official records about a person’s crime-related issues, including all arrests, charges, trials, convictions, incarceration, and probations. In other words, a criminal record covers all information on a person’s involvement with the criminal justice system. These records can be used for several purposes, including examining the criminal histories of potential employees, tenants, contractors, and business partners.

Interested persons can obtain Johnson County criminal records by making a walk-in request at the Johnson County Sheriff’s Central Record Division located at:

Sheriff’s Operations Center
27747 West 159th Street
New Century, KS 66031

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) also offers comprehensive criminal history records for all parts of the state, including Johnson County. Anyone can search these records by name and date of birth using the Kansas Criminal History Search website. This service costs $30. Alternatively, requesters may conduct a fingerprint-based search by mailing an FBI Applicant Fingerprint Card or Personal Identification Fingerprint Card to:

Kansas Bureau of Investigation
Attn: Criminal History Records Section
1620 SW Tyler
Topeka, KS 66612–1837

The appropriate fingerprint cards can be obtained at the Johnson County Sheriff's Office or local police departments. Applicants can also obtain these cards by mailing a request containing the following information to the KBI:

• Name and mailing address
• The type of card required
• Number of people fingerprinting
• The purpose for requesting the cards

Furthermore, applicants may request certified criminal records by mailing a completed Certified Record Check Request Form to the KBI criminal history records section. However, to conduct a complete criminal record check, which includes non-convictions, diversions, expungements, and juvenile offender data, mail a request letter, personal identification fingerprint, and a check or money order for $45 to the KBI.

Johnson County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Johnson County, both arrest and criminal records contain crucial information about the activities of criminal justice agencies. However, criminal records are broader in scope. Arrest records provide information about a person’s arrest, detention, and release by law enforcement agencies but do not include details of subsequent events, such as whether the charges resulted in a conviction or sentence. Details of arraignment, trial, sentencing, jail terms, parole, or any other aspects of a person’s criminal history are included in Johnson County criminal records. In essence, arrest records are limited to arrests, bookings, and detentions, while criminal records document an individual’s involvement in the criminal justice system, from arrest through post-conviction processes like probation, parole, and supervision.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Johnson County, arrest records stay on a person’s record indefinitely and remain accessible to the public unless expunged.

Expunge Johnson County Arrest Records

Chapter 22-2410 of the Kansas Statutes allows for the expungement of arrest records in the state, including Johnson County. Under this law, individuals can request the expungement of their arrest records by filing a petition with the Johnson County District Court. In certain cases, a prosecuting authority or judicial officer may also file a petition on behalf of the individual if the case was dismissed or not prosecuted. All petitions must include the individual’s full name, sex, race, date of birth, date of arrest, charges, and the arresting authority.

After reviewing the petition, the court may order the expungement of the arrest record if any of the following conditions are met:

• The arrest was based on a mistaken identity
• There was no probable cause for the arrest
• The petitioner was found not guilty
• The expungement serves the interests of justice
• The charges have been dismissed
• No charges were filed

Upon a successful expungement, the arrest records are removed from the petitioner’s record and restricted from public disclosure.

Johnson County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a court document that orders law enforcement agencies to apprehend an individual facing criminal allegations. In Johnson County, a district or municipal court judge may issue a warrant once a prosecuting authority provides sufficient evidence showing probable cause for the arrest. Chapter 12-4208 of the Kansas Statutes outlines the information that a warrant must contain, which includes the following:

• The name of the accused or a sufficient description
• The nature of the criminal allegations
• The name of the court
• The signature of the issuing judge
• The amount of the appearance bond
• Directions to law enforcement to apprehend the individual

Johnson County Arrest Warrant Search

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office receives around 7,000 and 8,000 arrest warrants each year. Anyone can find information on active arrest warrants in the county using the Sheriff’s Office Warrant Search webpage. This site allows users to search Johnson County arrest warrants by name or city.

Johnson County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Johnson County arrest warrants remain active unless any of the following occurs:

• The person named in the warrant is arrested
• The person voluntarily surrenders to law enforcement
• The issuing court recalls the warrant