What are Lawrence Public Records?
Pursuant to the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), Lawrence's public records include handwritten or computerized documents on the actions and conducts of public bodies within the city. The public records do not include documents that are confidential, have statutory restrictions on their disclosure to the public, or have been sealed by a court. Examples of documents that are exempted from public disclosure include:
- Internal letters or memoranda relating to a public governmental body comprising advice, opinions, and recommendations in connection with a decision-making process, unless the record is retained by the body or presented at a public meeting;
- Records concerning an ongoing criminal investigation by a law enforcement agency;
- Personal information, the disclosure of which will be an infringement of personal privacy;
- Records which are made unavailable by the rules of evidence;
- Information about pending litigation;
- Confidential information;
- Other documents exempted by a court ruling, court order, or law
Lawrence Crime Statistics
According to the 2019 crime index report provided by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Lawrence City Police Department recorded 3,054 offenses and a crime rate of 30.9 per 1,000 residents. 326 violent crimes were reported, and 2,728 property crimes were reported. The violent crimes included one homicide, 66 rapes, 38 robberies, and 221 aggravated assaults. The property crimes included 339 burglaries, 2,218 larcenies, 161 motor vehicle thefts, and ten cases of arson. Compared to the 2018 crime index report, the total recorded crimes fell for six of the eight major crimes reported. Homicides, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, larcenies, and motor vehicle thefts fell by 50%, 39%, 6%, 22%, 8%, and 18% respectively. There was an increase in the recorded rape incidents (14%) and arson cases (233%).
Are Lawrence Criminal Records Public?
Not all Lawrence criminal records are publicly accessible. Some persons, such as individuals, companies, and organizations, can request records on arrest and disposition from local and state-run depositories. However, the information which would be disclosed would depend on the custodian of the records, the requester’s authorization to obtain the records, and the type of search the requester conducts.
Law enforcement, state agencies, and federal agencies can obtain records of criminal history on citywide convictions from the Lawrence City Police Department (LKPD). All other persons should make a request with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI). Searches by the KBI usually include statewide felony and misdemeanor convictions, and statewide arrests within the past year. Criminal records that are not publicly available include records of juvenile offenders, records on arrests that took place over a year earlier, records on arrests with dismissed charges, and expunged records. Persons interested in the records can request either name-based or fingerprint checks. The copies of the records that would be provided may be either certified or abstract rap sheets.
The requests for certified name-based and fingerprint-based record checks with the KBI cost $30 and $45 respectively. The costs for regular name-based and fingerprint-based checks are $20 and $35 respectively. Name-based checks can be done online by any individual or organization in the state. Interested persons can use the Criminal History Record Search. Users are required to have an account and can create one before making the search. Fingerprint checks are more accurate than name-based checks. Fingerprint checks can be done by recording a fingerprint on the FBI’s Applicant Fingerprint Card, FD Form 258. The fingerprint card should be submitted in person or by mail to:
Kansas Bureau of Investigation
Attn: Criminal History Records Section
1620 Southwest Tyler
Topeka, KS 66612-1837
Individuals interested in their own records should check the general information portal.
How to Obtain Lawrence Police Reports and Arrest Records?
The Lawrence City Police Department (LKPD) generates and maintains police reports for incidents that occur within the city. Interested persons can obtain Lawrence arrest records, accident reports, incident reports, and related information by making a request. To obtain the record, the interested person should first contact the Records Division to ascertain that the record is available. The request would be reviewed and responded to within three working days. The response may indicate that more time would be needed to process the request. If the requested record is available, it may be obtained in person, by mail, or by email. In-person requests should be made at the Lawrence Police Department Records Division. Mail requests should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Mail requests should also include the requester’s mailing address, phone number, email address, and any other information necessary to review the request. The office is open from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Requests can be made at:
Lawrence Police Department Records Division
111 East 11th Street – 2nd Floor
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 832-7501
Fax: (785) 832-7577
recordrequest@lkpd.org
Records that contain sensitive or personal data are not accessible. This may include personnel information, criminal investigation records, incident report narratives, witness statements, medical treatment records, photographs, audio files, and videos. There is no charge for open records, but there is a charge for all other items. The custodian of the records will inform the requester of the charge, and the payment should be made when the request is being made.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office also maintains police reports and arrest records in Douglas County, including Lawrence City. These open records are available to the public. Interested persons can make a request to the Sheriff’s Office Records Custodian to confirm that the particular record is available. A response should be given within three business days. If the request is delayed or denied, a written explanation would be provided. The Sheriff’s Office will inform the requester of the relevant fees. The request can be made at:
111 East 11th Street
2nd Floor
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 841-0007
Fax: (785) 841-5168
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Lawrence?
The Kansas Bureau of Investigations maintains a public offender registry that includes records of convicted sex offenders residing in Lawrence City. Interested persons can search for sex offenders with the online registry. The search can be done by obtaining a listing of sex offenders in the city through a location-based search or by using the name search tool. Phone numbers and online identities (email address or Facebook name) may also be used to conduct a search. The search would show the sex offender’s full name, aliases, date of birth, gender, offense(s) description, and other information. For more information, contact:
Kansas Bureau of Investigation
Offender Registration Unit
1620 South West Tyler
Topeka, KS 66612
(785) 296-2841
How to Find Lawrence Inmate Records?
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office maintains records of past and current inmates in the Douglas County Correctional Facility. Interested persons can access the records of past and present inmates by using the inmates in the custody portal. The user would need to first register and log in. For additional information, contact the Sheriff’s Office at:
Douglas County Correctional Facility
3601 East 25th Street
Lawrence, KS 66046
Phone: (785) 830-1000
Fax: (785) 830-1085
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Lawrence Jail?
Persons who wish to visit an inmate in the Douglas County Correctional Facility for the first time must pre-register at least 24 hours before the visit. The registration can either be done in person or over the phone. Persons registering over the phone will be required to provide their full name, date of birth, and a unique identification number such as their social security number. The lobby officers will confirm that the information provided is correct through a photo ID when the visitor arrives. Visits should be in accordance with the inmate visitation schedule. The visitors can be of any age. However, children below 18 years old should be accompanied by a guardian.
Visitation dates and times can be changed or canceled if circumstances arise that threaten safety or security. Also, the inmate visitation time is a maximum of 30 minutes per visit. Cellular telephones, cameras, and other electronic devices are prohibited during visits. The visitation may be canceled or suspended for several reasons, including the visitor’s intoxication, violation of facility rules, or use of profane language. For further information, contact:
Douglas County Correctional Facility
3601 East 25th Street
Lawrence, KS 66046
Phone: (785) 830-1000
Fax: (785) 830-1085
Court Records
Lawrence court records are documents containing details of judicial proceedings and administrative procedures of courts within the city. The records may be either handwritten or typewritten. They include photographs, audio files, video files, and other documents that are available to or issued by the court to provide information on probate, juvenile, traffic, criminal, and civil cases filed in the court. Examples of the records are affidavits, decrees, dockets, and written transcripts.
Location of Courts in Lawrence
Below are the locations and contact information of the courts in Douglas County:
Douglas County District Court
Douglas County District Court
111 East 11th Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 832-5256
Fax: (785) 832-5174
Douglas County Municipal Courts
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
One Riverfront Plaza
Suite 310
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 832-6190
Fax: (785) 832-6199
Are Lawrence Court Records Public?
Some Lawrence court records are public, while some others are not. While the Kansas Open Records Act makes court records available to the public, there are limitations. There is a restriction on juvenile records, sealed or expunged records, grand jury proceedings, adoption records, and other files that are confidential.
Can you look up a Lawrence Court Case Online?
Interested persons can look up a Lawrence court case online with the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal or the Record Search Application. Users can search for cases with the name of the parties or the record number. They can also filter the results by citation number, case number, location, attorney bar number, business name, and other details of the parties. However, the information provided online is not an official record. Also, the content is limited to what can be displayed through a public access portal. Interested persons would need to make requests by mail or in-person to obtain the full and official records.
How to Obtain Lawrence Civil Court Case Records?
Lawrence civil court case records are available on the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal and the Record Search Application. Interested persons can check for cases on the search portals with either the name of the parties or the record number. Results can also be filtered by citation number, case number, location, attorney number, and other party details. However, the information available online is limited to what the law allows people to check over the internet. Obtaining official records will require making a request to the clerk of the court that handled the case. Interested persons would complete the Court Records Request Form. The custodian of the records would inform the requester of the relevant fees to be paid. The requests can be made in person or by mail to:
Douglas County District Court
111 East 11th Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 832-5256
Fax: (785) 832-5174
How to Obtain Lawrence Criminal Court Records?
Lawrence criminal court records are accessible online through the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal and the Record Search Application. Members of the public can search for criminal court cases with the record number or the name of the prosecuted party. They can filter the results with the case number, citation number, and other party information. However, the records available online are not official records. To get official records, requesters have to submit requests to the Clerk of the Douglas County District Court by filling out the Court Records Request Form. The Clerk will let the requester know the relevant fees to be paid. Requesters can submit their requests in person or by mail to:
Douglas County District Court
111 East 11th Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 832-5256
Fax: (785) 832-5174
What are Lawrence Vital Records?
Lawrence vital records are official documents that show certain life events that occurred within Lawrence City. These include records of births, marriages, adoptions, divorces, and deaths in Lawrence. The Clerk of the Douglas County District Court maintains copies of divorce and marriage records. The Vital Statistics Office of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is the state custodian of vital records, including birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. Most vital records in Lawrence are not publicly accessible, as they are not considered public records. The requester should be eligible to obtain a copy of the record for the custodian to provide the information.
Where and How to Obtain Lawrence Divorce Records?
The Clerk of the Douglas County District Court maintains records of divorces and annulments granted by the Court. Interested persons can obtain copies of the records by making a request. The request should include a description of the record, a valid photo ID, and applicable fees. The request can be made in person or by mail to:
Douglas County District Court
111 East 11th Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 832-5256
Fax: (785) 832-5174
The Vital Statistics Office of the KDHE also maintains Lawrence divorce records from July 1951. Interested persons can obtain certified copies of Lawrence divorce certificates by submitting the Application for Certified Copy of Divorce Certificate form. The request can be made in person, by mail, by telephone, using the iKAN app service. The cost for obtaining each copy of the record is $15. Requests made within the app service attract an additional $5 to process the request for all requested copies. The app request takes between seven to ten business days. Phone requests for Lawrence's divorce records can be made by calling (877) 305-8315. Phone requests are processed within three to five business days. Requesters would pay $13.95, in addition to the $15 per copy, for expedited service for phone requests. Payments for app and phone requests can be made by credit card.
The requester should fill out and submit the Application for Certified Copy of Kansas Divorce Certificate for mail and in-person requests. Mail requests should include the fees, a copy of a photo ID, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Payment for mail requests can be made through a check or money order. Requests should be made to:
Kansas Office of Vital Statistics
1000 Southwest Jackson
Suite 120
Topeka, KS 66612-2221
Divorce records are not available to all members of the public. This is because the information is sensitive. The persons eligible to make requests are the divorce parties, their close relatives, children, and other authorized persons.
Where and How to Get Public Lawrence Marriage Records?
The Clerk of the Douglas County District Court maintains records of all marriage licenses issued by the Douglas County District Court. Interested persons who are eligible can obtain copies of Lawrence marriage certificates by making a request. The request should include a description of the record, a valid photo ID, and applicable fees. The request can be made in person or by mail to:
Douglas County District Court
111 East 11th Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 832-5256
Fax: (785) 832-5174
The Vital Statistics Office of the KDHE maintains Lawrence marriage records from May 1, 1913. The records are available to the spouses, their close relatives, and others with a legitimate interest or claim. Obtaining the records costs $15 for each copy, and the requests can be made in person, by mail, or by telephone.
Interested parties will need to submit a completed Application for Certified Copy of Kansas Marriage Certificate. Mail requests should include the fees, a copy of a photo ID, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Payment for mail requests should be made either through check or a money order. Requests should be made to:
Kansas Office of Vital Statistics
1000 Southwest Jackson
Suite 120
Topeka, KS 66612-2221
Where and How to Find Lawrence Birth Records?
The Vital Statistics Office of the KDHE maintains Lawrence birth records from 1860. Eligible persons can obtain copies of Lawrence birth certificates. The request can be made in person, by mail, by telephone, or through the iKAN app service. The request costs $15 for each copy of the records. Requests made through the app service take seven to ten days to be processed. There is an additional $5 processing fee, and payments can be made with credit cards. Telephone requests can be made by calling (877) 305-8315, and they take three to five days to process. Requesters will pay an additional $13.95 for an expedited service, and payments should be made with credit cards.
The Application for Certified Copy of Kansas Birth Certificate should be completed and submitted for in person and mail requests. Mail requests should include the fees, a copy of a photo ID, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope.The payment can be made either through a check or a money order. Requests should be made to:
Kansas Office of Vital Statistics
1000 SW Jackson
Suite 120
Topeka, KS 66612-2221
Persons eligible to make requests for birth records are the adult registrant, a close relative of the registrant, and other persons with legitimate interests or claims.
Where and How to Find Lawrence Death Records?
The Vital Statistics Office of the KDHE maintains Lawrence death records from July 1, 1911. The certified copies of the records are available to individuals with a tangible claim or interest, such as the deceased’s spouse, close relatives, and other authorized persons. The request can be made in person, by mail, by telephone, or through the iKAN app service. Each copy of the records costs $15. Requests made through the app take seven to ten days to be processed and require an additional processing fee of $5. The Application for Certified Copy of Kansas Death Certificate should be filled and submitted for mail and in-person requests. Mail requests should include the fees, a copy of a photo ID, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Requests should be made to:
Kansas Office of Vital Statistics
1000 Southwest Jackson
Suite 120
Topeka, KS 66612-2221
