Shawnee County, established in 1855, covers an area of 556 square miles, making it the third-largest county in Kansas. It is situated in northeastern Kansas and has a population of over 179,000 residents. Shawnee County is named after the Shawnee Native American tribe and has its county seat in Topeka City, which is also the state capital.

Courts in Shawnee County

The trial court system in Shawnee County consists of District and Municipal Courts. The 3rd Judicial District Court presides over criminal and civil cases, including felonies and civil claims for monetary compensation. The District Court has Civil, Criminal, Domestic Relations, Probate, Juvenile, and Limited Actions Divisions.

The Criminal Division handles felonies and misdemeanors such as drug trafficking, murder, manslaughter, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct. The Civil Division presides over civil matters, such as contact breaches, property disputes, and personal injury claims. The Probate Division deals with the administration of estates, wills, guardianships, and trusts. The Juvenile division presides over cases involving minors, including delinquencies and child abuse lawsuits. The Limited Actions Division handles small claims and traffic-related cases.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Shawnee County

Public court records are papers and documents containing information on legal proceedings open to the general public. The Clerk of the District Court provides digital access to court records through the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal. The Clerk of Court also grants access to court records through self-service terminals at the courthouse. The Clerk's Office accepts mail requests for public court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Shawnee County

Access to court records helps ensure that legal proceedings in the county are conducted fairly, as the records are open to scrutiny by the public. The following types of court documents are accessible to the general public in Shawnee County:

• Civil Court Records: Personal injury claims, contract disputes, boundary disputes, business litigations, and foreclosures
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors, including Money laundering, grand theft, simple assaults, and loitering
• Family Law Records: Divorce, annulment, legal separation, child custody, and child support
• Probate Records: Guardianships, conservatorships, trusts, and wills
• Traffic Records: Driving without insurance, failure to signal, reckless driving, and speeding violations

Confidential Court Records in Shawnee County

Confidential court records are legal documents that are inaccessible to the public. Confidential court records contain sensitive information restricted from the public to protect privacy, ensure safety, and maintain the integrity of ongoing investigations. Confidential court records in Shawnee County include:

• Adoption records
• Medical and mental health records
• Juvenile court records
• Witness protection records
• Grand jury proceedings

Similarly, personal information on court documents is confidential and excluded from public access. Personal identifiers are redacted from court documents to avoid misuse of personal data and safeguard individuals from potential harm. Personal information removed from court records includes:

• Vehicle identification numbers
• Health insurance identification numbers
• Social Security numbers
• Financial account information
• Driver’s license numbers

Juvenile Delinquency in Shawnee, KS

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Shawnee County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Kansas often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 246 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Shawnee County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 246 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Shawnee County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Shawnee County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Shawnee County, KS

https://kansas.gov/

County Seat:	Topeka
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1855
Total Square Miles:	556
2019 Population:	178,187
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	200 Se 7Th St County Courthouse Topeka , KS 66603-3922 http://www.co.shawnee.ks.us/

Shawnee County, KS Courts