What are Douglas County Public Records?
As defined by the Open Records Act, KSA 45-215, Douglas County public records are documents generated in the course of official government functions. They are kept and maintained by the local authorities. According to KORA, residents have a right to:
- View or obtain copies of records that are not sealed, expunged, or exempted from disclosure
- Receive formal responses to their application within three working days.
- Submit complaints to the state's Attorney General if responses are unjustly denied.
The KORA (Kansas Open Records Act) acknowledges that some records include confidential or sensitive information. As such, an agency with these records is not obligated to make those records available to the public. Several exemptions contained in the Act are listed in KSA §45-221(a). Examples are:
- Records of ongoing or active investigations
- Records sealed under the law of evidence
- Personal records of public officials
- Records of an individual's medical treatments
- Records containing personal opinions or action proposals of public officials
- Records that would be an unjustified breach of personal privacy if they were made public.
- Information about a company that is only available to a select few people.
- Documents protected by attorney-client confidentiality
Douglas County Crime Statistics
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) publishes crime statistics in Douglas County and other areas in the state. According to the 2020 crime report, law enforcement agencies in Douglas County reported a total of 1,031 criminal offenses. The report showed that 600 people were arrested for simple assaults, 150 people arrested for larceny, 151 arrests for aggravated assault, 25 arrests for rape, 50 arrests for robbery, and 38 people were arrested for kidnapping. In 2019, the total crime index was 1,132 showing that crime in Douglas County reduced by 9.7% in the space of one year.
Are Douglas County Criminal Records Public?
Yes, anyone can obtain criminal records in Douglas County pursuant to the Kansas Open Records Act. Record custodians of Douglas County criminal records are often the law enforcement agencies like the county sheriff and police departments. However, available records at the sheriff's department only contain names of arrested persons. Criminal history files of convicted persons in Douglas County can be obtained via the central repository maintained by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI).
The Criminal History Record Search provided by the KBI is open to all interested persons and employees. However, interested applicants must first register on the platform. Afterwards, they can perform a background check for either a name-based search which costs $20, or a fingerprint-based search for $35.
Interested parties may also fill out and send a criminal record search request form to the KBI. Applications for certified copies of name-based searches cost $30.00. Requesters may also apply for certified fingerprint-based criminal history searches. To use this option, applicants must first get fingerprint cards from the Bureau. The card can be filled out at the Douglas County Sheriff's Office or a licensed fingerprinting agency. Requesters must then put together the application packet and include the service charge of $45. Mail requests should be sent to:
Kansas Bureau of Investigation
Attn: Criminal History Records Section
1620 SouthWest Tyler
Topeka, KS 66612-1837
How to Obtain Douglas County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
In Douglas County, the Sheriff's Office is tasked with creating and disseminating all types of police reports, including offense reports and accident reports. Interested parties can obtain these reports by completing the online web form. Other records are obtainable by calling the Sheriff's Office Records Custodian at (785) 832-5211. An alternative way to obtain arrest records and police reports in Douglas County is to visit the police department in person. Major Douglas County police departments include:
Baldwin City Police Department
811 Eighth Street
Baldwin, KS
Clinton State Park Ranger Station
798 North 1415 Road
Lawrence, KS
Eudora Police Department
840 Main Street
Eudora, KS
Kansas Highway Patrol
1035 North 3rd Street
Lawrence, KS
Lawrence Police Department
4820 Bob Billings Parkway
Lawrence, KS
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Douglas County
Douglas County sex offender information is available to the public to create awareness about former convicts living in the community. Generally, the county sheriff is responsible for registry sex offenders in the area. However, interested persons can also use the Kansas Public Offender Registry to find former sex offenders in Douglas County. On the registry, individuals can perform a name search provided they have the offender's names. The geographical search option is available to record seekers who know the offender's street, city, or zip code. Alternatively, requesters can search the registry using the telephone number of the offender or social media names. County residents may also sign up to receive alerts on new offenders who register in Douglas County.
How to Find Douglas County Inmate Records
Inmate records in Douglas County are available on the county sheriff's website. Interested persons can access these records after registering on the website with their names, passwords, and emails. Douglas County inmate records contain details of individuals arrested by local law enforcement agencies. Note that this record does not include the names of prisoners in the state correctional center. The Kansas Department of Corrections maintains an online repository for locating an inmate booked into any of the state prisons.
How Do I Visit an Inmates in Douglas County Jail?
The Sheriff's Corrections Division is responsible for overseeing activities in the county jail. Relatives and family members of inmates are allowed to visit the county jail in person or remotely. However, it is important to schedule visits 24 hours before coming to the facility located at:
Douglas County Correctional Facility
3601 East 25th Street
Lawrence, KS 66046
Phone: (785) 830-1000
Fax: (785) 830-1085
Intending local visitors should call the Inmate Services on (785) 830-1000 to obtain approval.
Remote visitors are required to register online through the third-party agency provided on the county sheriff's website. Video visits are available at the correctional facility or the visitor's home.
Douglas County Court Records
Douglas County court records refer to the documents created and maintained by the court clerks of different local courts. The Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) allows individuals to request and receive various court records in Douglas County. Examples of these records include criminal, civil, traffic, child support, small claims, and domestic relations records.
The Kansas Office of Judicial Administration serves as the state's repository for all court records in Douglas County and other parts of the state. Case filings/analytics, professional resources, press releases, plenary arguments, recently published decisions, and self-help material are all available via the Office of Judicial Administration.
Locations of Courts in Douglas County
The following are the addresses and contact information of all courts in Douglas County:
Douglas County District Court
111 East 11th Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 832-5256
Fax: (785) 832-5174
Baldwin City Municipal Court
803 8th street
P.O. Box 86
Baldwin City, KS 66006
Phone: (785) 594-6821
Fax: (785) 594-6586
Eudora Municipal Court
Eudora Public Safety Building
930 Main Street
Eudora, KS 66025
Phone: (785) 542-2153
Fax: (785) 542-2804
Lawrence Municipal Court
1 Riverfront Plaza
Suite 310
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 832-6190
Fax: (785) 832-6199
Are Douglas County Court Records Public?
Yes, Douglas County court records are regarded as public documents according to the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA). Interested persons can contact the clerks of the courts where the case was resolved to obtain copies of court records. Note that court clerks may refuse disclosure of court records. Examples of court records that are not public include:
- Records of sealed, expunged, or active criminal investigation.
- Several CINC (Child In Need of Care) related records
- Juvenile records
- Adoption records
- Coroner inquests
- Records of cases filed under the Kansas Parentage Act.
- Records related to grand jury proceedings.
How to Obtain Douglas County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court case records in Douglas County are available at the clerk's office located in every local courthouse. Douglas County civil records reveal lawsuits involving probate, small claims, state tax, statutory lien, domestic/family law, etc. Interested parties can send a written request to the Douglas County district court clerk to obtain civil records created by the district court.
Douglas County District Court
ATTN: Court Records
111 E. 11th Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 832-5141
Fax: (785) 832-5174
Interested parties may also use the online application form to request copies of civil court records. The court clerk charges certain fees for civil court records requested, including an access fee of $12 per hour. Civil court case records are also accessible online using the District Courts Record Search tool. This central repository maintained by the Office of Judicial Administration is available to requesters at $1.50 per search. Requesters can obtain civil court records at the clerk's office of different municipal courts in Douglas County.
How to Obtain Douglas County Criminal Court Records
Douglas County criminal records contain information on criminal trials resolved at the local courts. These records are available at the clerk's office located in every local courthouse. The Douglas County, district court clerk provides an online application form for interested persons seeking criminal court records.
Ultimately, the process for obtaining these records is similar to obtaining civil court records, as outlined below.
What are Douglas County Vital Records?
Douglas County's vital records include death, birth, marriage, and divorce documents. Essentially, all records that contain information on major life events of each resident in Douglas County are also known as vital records. In Douglas County, vital records are not available to the public according to the state's Open Records Act. Eligible applicants that obtain vital records in Douglas County include:
- The person whose name is on the record, i.e., the record holder
- An immediate family i.e., father, mother, spouse, children, etc.
- Attorney of the record holder
- Individuals with a direct stake in the individual whose record is being sought, such as a designated beneficiary or anyone who shares the property with the record holder.
Douglas County vital records are only available at the statewide repository maintained by the Office of Vital Statistics. Record seekers often need vital records for getting passports or enrolling in schools.
Where and How to Obtain Douglas County Divorce Records
Divorce certificates in Douglas County are government-issued records that detail the formal termination of marriages. Divorce documents recorded at the Vital Statistics bureau are not publicly available by law. Eligible applicants must be any former couples, their children (over 18), their grandparents, parents/guardians, siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins, and other direct relatives. Interested parties requesting Douglas County divorce records must complete and send Divorce Application forms via mail to:
Office of Vital Statistics
1000 SW Jackson
Suite 120
Topeka, KS 66612-2221
Phone: (785) 296-1400
Email: kdhe.VitalRecords@ks.gov
Mail requests should include copies of their legal photo IDs of requesters. Generally, requesters are expected to enclose the front and back sides of the photo ID. Apart from using a state-issued ID or driver's license, requesters may use an employment authorization card, permanent resident card, or re-entry permit.
Applications for divorce certificates should also include the required fees. The record custodian charges $15 for each signed document of a divorce certificate. Note that this payment covers a 5-year inquiry of the requested divorce record. As such, requesters can either specify a 5-year period to be searched consecutively or allow the record custodian to search the year selected, including two years before and after. The record custodian accepts only checks and money orders payable to the 'Kansas Vital Statistics'.
Record seekers may also obtain divorce records online through the approved third-party agency. Online requests through private vendors require extra payments using credit or debit cards.
Requesters should keep in mind that Douglas County divorce certificates available at the Kansas Vital Statistics department are from July 1, 1951, till date. Divorce records between 1861 and 1951 may be public at the district court clerk's office.
Where and How to Get Public Douglas County Marriage Records
Douglas County marriage certificates reveal the time, date, and location of marriages that took place in the county. According to state laws, marriage records in Douglas County and other parts of Kansas are not open to the public. Those who are eligible most have direct relationships with the record holder. These include relatives and legal representatives of the record holder.
To obtain recent marriage records from the central database, requesting parties must complete and send Marriage Application forms via mail to the office of vital statistics.
Requesters should include copies of legal photo IDs in their mail requests. Note that the department accepts mainly state-issued IDs or driver's licenses. However, requesters can use an employment authorization card, permanent resident card, or re-entry permit.
Each copy of the requested certified marriage record costs $15. Money orders or checks should be written to the Kansas Vital Statistics. Requesters should include the search fee specifying the year when the record was created. Note that the Vital Statistics department will only carry out a 5-year search for the fee. As such, requesters must indicate the consecutive 5-year period you want to search or allow the department to search the year indicated plus two years before and two years after. Record seekers may also obtain divorce records online through the approved third-party agency. Online requests through private vendors require extra payments using credit or debit cards.
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Douglas County
Marriage records are only open to certain individuals according to the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA). Interested parties may visit the district court clerk to obtain access to confidential marriage records.
Where and How to Find Douglas County Birth Records
Birth records in Douglas County contain information on individuals' birth date, time, and location. The Kansas Vital Statistics offer interested persons who must be more than 18 years old access to their birth records and their relatives. Legal representatives of the record holder may also have access to birth records according to state law. Requesters can obtain birth records by mail, in person, online, or by phone.
To obtain records by mail, interested parties must complete and send Birth Application forms via mail to the office of vital statistics.
Where and How to Find Douglas County Death Records
Douglas County marriage certificates reveal the time, date, and location of marriages that took place in the county. By State law, marriage records filed with the Vital Statistics office are not open for public inspection, and the requestor must meet eligibility requirements. Eligible applicants include the current spouse, children (above 18 years), grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nephews, and nieces. Interested parties requesting Douglas County divorce records must complete and send Death Application forms via mail to the office of vital statistics.
The correct fee must be submitted with the request. The fee for certified copies of divorce certificates is $15.00 for each certified copy. This fee allows a 5-year search of the records, including the year indicated plus two years before and two years after, or you may indicate the consecutive 5-year period you want to be searched. Make checks or money orders payable to Kansas Vital Statistics. Record seekers may also obtain divorce records online through the approved third-party agency. Online requests through private vendors require extra payments using credit or debit cards. Requesters should keep in mind that Douglas County divorce certificates available at the Kansas Vital Statistics department are from July 1, 1911 till date.
