Labette County Arrest Records

In Labette County, Kansas, law enforcement officers are authorized to arrest an individual when a warrant has been issued or there is probable cause to believe that the individual has committed a crime. To determine probable cause, the law enforcement officer may observe a crime in progress, adopt witness testimonies, or analyze evidence obtained from crime scenes.

Upon arrest, offenders are held in the Labette County Jail, and details of the arrest are compiled into arrest records. These arrest records are maintained by the Labette County Sheriff’s Office and can be reviewed upon request. Labette County arrest records also provide detailed information about an individual’s offenses and arrest conditions, which is necessary in the creation of Labette County Court Records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Labette County?

Yes, arrest records are public in Labette County under the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA); however, there are some exceptions. Pursuant to the Open Records Act, certain arrest records are exempt from public access to protect the safety of victims, juveniles, and the integrity of ongoing investigations. Such records include:

• Juvenile offenders information
• Victim medical records
• Records of cases undergoing investigations

All arrest records, both public and restricted, are created and maintained by the Labette County Sheriff’s Office; they are the primary custodians of all arrest records generated within the county. Therefore, one can visit their physical location to request and review Labette arrest records. They are located at:

Labette County Sheriff’s Office
78, 5th Street,
Oswego, KS 6756

Notably, one may be required to complete the appropriate forms and provide details of the arrest before obtaining the desired records.

Labette County Arrest Statistics

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Uniform Crime Report, law enforcement officials in Labette County reported up to 20,618 arrests in 2024. According to the report, the Parsons Police Department made the highest number of arrests in that year, with a total of 12,212 arrests. Notably, violent crimes accounted for the majority of arrests.

Find Labette County Arrest Records

In Labette County, one can adopt either of these measures to obtain arrest records and inmate information:

• Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator to obtain records of federal inmates.
• Use the state’s Registered Offenders Search portal to access details of all convicted offenders held in state prisons.
• Review the Sheriff’s Inmate Roster to find arrestees held in county jails.

Regardless of the preferred measures, record seekers are required to provide details such as the inmate’s name, booking number, or date of arrest to facilitate an effective search.

Labette County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

While some individuals may use the terms 'arrest records' and 'criminal records' interchangeably, they differ in several ways.

Labette County arrest records are generated by the Labette County Sheriff’s Office during booking. They contain details of the arrestee, including the reasons for arrest, date and time of arrest, and other identifying information. However, they do not provide information on the events that occur after arrest.

Criminal records, on the other hand, give details of all encounters an individual has had with law enforcement or judicial authorities, including arrests. Therefore, they contain details of arrests and the subsequent events, including court hearings, judgments, probation terms, and any subsequent arrests.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. According to the Kansas Revised Statutes, an arrest will remain on an individual’s record indefinitely unless it is sealed, dismissed, or expunged. Expungement involves the complete deletion of a record, making it inaccessible to anyone. Kansas Courts grant expungement upon petition; however, the record holder is required to complete all terms of their sentence before sending a petition. They may also need to maintain a clean record for a specified period before expungement is granted.

Labette County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are legal documents issued by judicial officials to authorize peace officers to apprehend an individual. In Labette County, arrest warrants are issued by judges and magistrates of the municipal courts when there is probable cause to believe that the defendant is guilty. This involves a three-step process that begins when a peace officer files an indictment against an individual. The judicial official on duty reviews the indictment filed to determine if the individual is possibly guilty of the offense. If they are, the judicial official approves the indictment and issues an arrest warrant.

Regardless of the offense, all valid warrants in Labette County must contain the following information under the Kansas Revised Statutes (Chapter 22):

• The defendant’s identifying information (name, sex, race, etc).
• A description of the offense or charges.
• Facts that show probable cause.
• The name and signature of the issuing judge or magistrate.
• The bond amount, if already set.

Do Labette County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Like arrest records, Labette County arrest warrants do not expire. Rather, they remain active until the individual dies or the warrant is resolved formally through the county’s court system. Labette County courts can resolve a warrant by dismissing it, recalling it, or apprehending the defendant. Without any of this, a warrant remains in an individual’s database and can be discovered during routine checks, such as airport screenings, traffic stops, and background checks for employment.

While arrest warrants do not expire, the Kansas Revised Statutes provides Statutes of Limitations for different crimes. This statute of limitations indicates that prosecution for the concerned crimes must commence at specific periods, or else they become invalid in the county courts. In such cases, the defendant may be apprehended, but they cannot be prosecuted in court. Notably, most property crimes and fraud have a statute of limitations of two (2) years, while in assault/battery cases, offenders must be prosecuted within one (1) year.

Expunge Labette County Arrest Records

Expungement is an effective means of removing arrest records from one’s criminal record database. When arrest records are expunged, they are deleted and treated as though they never happened. Regardless of the several benefits of expungement, one can only petition for it if they are eligible. Here is a list of eligibility requirements for arrest records expungement in Labette County:

• There was no conviction due to mistaken identity, lack of probable cause, or dismissal of charges.
• The individual has completed all the required fines and penalties following conviction.
• The individual has maintained good conduct during the compulsory waiting period following completion of the sentence, fines, or probation. The waiting periods vary among offenses: most misdemeanors attract a 3-year period, while felony offenders are required to wait for 5 years.
• There are no outstanding charges or warrants.

Notably, some sex offenses and violent crimes like murder are not eligible for expungement under the Kansas Revised Statutes. Before applying for record expungement, offenders are advised to review their criminal history records. This will inform them of the specific charges to be expunged and other relevant details of the case. To obtain criminal history records in Labette County, one can do either of these:

• Request court records from the Labette County District Court where the conviction occurred.
• Conduct a case search on the Kansas Judicial Branch Public Access Portal.
• Perform a Record Check using the Kansas Bureau of Investigation Criminal History Check.

After reviewing criminal history records, interested persons can petition the court for expungement through the following steps:

• Submit a Criminal Cover Sheet and the required copies of Petition for Expungement of Arrest Records to the Labette County Clerk of the Court.
• Pay the required docket fee or request a waiver if they cannot afford it.
• Attend the court hearing, where the judge determines if expungement is beneficial to the record holder and society.
• Receive an approval. Notably, the court will send a certified copy of the order to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI).

Details of the court hearing and other proceedings are highlighted in the Instructions for Expungement of Arrests page of the Kansas Judicial Council.