Criminal History Record Search

Questions

  1. What is Criminal History Record Information (CHRI)?
  2. Are all Kansas criminal history records fully automated and on-line?
  3. If the record I want is only partially automated, how can I get the rap sheet?
  4. How long does it take to have a partially automated record completed and ready for release?
  5. When I run that record check again after receiving the e-mail notification that the automation process is complete, is it possible that I get a "no-record" search result?
  6. What kinds of CHRI can be received by the general public?
  7. Does it matter if I use only upper case letters or only lower case letters?
  8. How should I enter the first name if the subject is known as both Robert and Robbie?
  9. How should I safeguard the record of criminal history?
  10. Must the subject of the record check consent to the record check?
  11. Does the record check "expire"?
  12. How do I correct my Kansas criminal history record?
  13. How far back does the Kansas criminal history database go?
  14. The subject of my record check has used alias names during his lifetime. To get his criminal history record must I search on every alias name he's ever used?
  15. Will my employer accept a print-out of my record from this web site ?
  16. Why can't I get my own juvenile criminal history record on-line?
  17. I received a 'no record found' response. What exactly does that mean?
  18. I requested an offline search, but never received the results. How can I get my results?
  19. Can I give the subject of the record a copy of the record check?
  20. How do I get to the Kansas Registered Offender's website?
  21. If I check on the Kansas Registered Offender website will that have the same information that I would get by running a record check?
  22. How do I print the result of the record check I just requested?
  23. How long can I view the results in the “dashboard”?
  24. I did a record check and never received the results. How can I get the results now?

Answers

What is Criminal History Record Information (CHRI)?

A. CHRI is the summary of arrests and prosecutions for criminal charges. Each state has a single central repository that is responsible for maintaining that state's CHRI. These central repositories also provide copies of portions of their records to the FBI for inclusion in the national criminal history record database. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) operates the Kansas Central Repository for CHRI. Kansas CHRI consists of summary information about:

  • Violations of Kansas law that are felonies or misdemeanors. Juvenile offender data for the same violations of Kansas law is also included in the CHRI.
  • Violations of municipal ordinances or county resolutions that are equivalent to a misdemeanor under state statute, when that violation results in a court conviction.
  • Disposition of the violations as reported by the prosecuting attorney.
  • Dispositions in Kansas municipal and district courts.
  • Incarcerations by Kansas Department of Corrections.

These records are filed by individual so that all offenses committed by an individual are organized chronologically within that individual's file. The CHRI is associated with the subject of the record based upon fingerprint identification. When CHRI is released, it is printed in an abstract of record commonly referred to as a "rap sheet."

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Are all Kansas criminal history records fully automated and on-line?

A. Not all are fully automated. A substantial portion of the criminal history record database is fully automated and available for immediate release on this web site. When the record you seek is fully automated, the rap sheet will be displayed immediately so that you may read the contents and print it for your records.

However, there are many records in the database that are only partially automated. If the record you are searching for is one of these partially automated records, the rap sheet won't be shown to you on this website. That is because the partially automated records are incomplete; there is information that is on file as paper records in the Central Repository that has not been data-entered into the criminal history database. Until that missing data is entered, the record can't be properly identified as the record being searched, and the content of partially automated records can't be released until the missing information is added to the database.

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If the record I want is only partially automated, how can I get the rap sheet?

A. If you search for a record on-line and there is a possible matching record that is partially automated, you will be asked if you want the Central Repository staff to manually search the database and automate any matching records found.

When the Central Repository staff completes this work and any partially automated records that match your search criteria (name, DOB, etc.) are brought to full automated status, you will be sent an e-mail advising you to return to this web site. When you do, you will be given the results of the manual search.

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How long does it take to have a partially automated record completed and ready for release?

A. That automation process should only take one or two business days

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When I run that record check again after receiving the e-mail notification that the automation process is complete, is it possible that I get a "no-record" search result?

A. Yes. It is quite possible that the partially automated records that might have matched your search criteria no longer match after they are fully automated. Names, dates of birth and other demographic identifiers may be changed or corrected during the automation process. Also, records may be entirely removed from the database during the automation process. These are reasons why we can't positively match your search criteria to the partially automated records, and why the record must be automated before it is matched and released.

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What kinds of CHRI can be received by the general public?

A. Any person or organization may obtain adult conviction CHRI upon request. That means that the CHRI released will be limited to data obtained from incidents in which the subject was found guilty in court, is currently undergoing diversion or is pending court disposition. Types of CHRI that will NOT be released under these "general" requests are successfully completed diversions, dismissals, acquittals, expungements and all juvenile offender data.

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Does it matter if I use only upper case letters or only lower case letters?

A. It doesn't matter; the search is not "case specific." The search will return the same results whether you enter BROWN, brown or Brown.

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How should I enter the first name if the subject is known as both Robert and Robbie?

A. The best strategy is to enter Rob. That will match either Robert or Robbie. Using the same logic, if you are searching for a subject whose first name is Alan, but you aren't certain of how the name is spelled (Allan, Allen, Al), the best entry to use is Al, because that combination of letters is common to all the possible spellings.

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How should I safeguard the record of criminal history?

A. The results of the record check, whether or not any criminal history is found, should be released only to persons with a "need-to-know" for actions directly associated with the purpose for the record check. The "rap sheet" and other documents from the KBI should be retained only as historical reference in support of the decision for which you requested the CHRI.

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Must the subject of the record check consent to the record check?

A. There is no legal requirement in Kansas that the subject of the record check sign a release to authorize the record check. However, if a record check is being done for employment purposes advising the person that you are going to run a record check and obtaining their consent is generally a good idea

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Does the record check "expire"?

A. Yes, a record check has a very limited useful life. If you use the results of the record check, then find that a subsequent decision is to be made at a later time, a new record check should be made to obtain current criminal history information. Criminal histories change over time; not only are new arrests recorded, but often there are court orders and appeals that remove an existing criminal event from a person's file.

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How do I correct my Kansas criminal history record?

A. If you have documents that contradict the information recorded in your CHRI, contact the KBI Criminal Records Unit at (785) 296-2454 for instructions on submitting those documents. The Criminal Records Unit staff will help correct or complete your record.

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How far back does the Kansas criminal history database go?

A. The oldest records date back to 1939.

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The subject of my record check has used alias names during his lifetime. To get his criminal history record must I search on every alias name he's ever used?

A. Not necessarily. Every name by which the subject has been known to law enforcement is included in the name search program associated with fingerprints. If you locate a criminal history record for any one of the names, the rap sheet will list all the other names by which the subject has been known. So as soon as you find a record, your search is over.

But since the subject may not have arrested under all of his/her aliases, you may search an alias name that you are aware of but that is not part of the subject's criminal history record. When that happens, you will get a "no record" response.

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Will my employer accept a print-out of my record from this web site ?

A. It is prohibited by Kansas law for your employer to require you to obtain your own Kansas criminal history record. Go to K.S.A. 22-4710 for the exact wording of the law.

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Why can't I get my own juvenile criminal history record on-line?

A. Juvenile records are strictly protected in Kansas. The only means to obtain your own juvenile history is to positively identify yourself by fingerprint submission to the Central Repository at the KBI. Click here to go to the page of explanation and instruction for obtaining your complete record, which will include both adult and juvenile arrests, dispositions and incarcerations.

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I received a 'no record found' response. What exactly does that mean?

A. 'No record found' means the person has no criminal history records in our files or the person does not have a releasable record. We do NOT release juvenile offender data, successfully completed diversions, dismissals, acquittals or expunged records.
‘No record found’ will occur when:

  • The arrest didn't result in an adult conviction.
  • You misspelled the subject's name or have an incorrect date of birth.
  • The subject was arrested under a different name.
  • The offense wasn't reportable to the Kansas Central Repository because it wasn't a felony or misdemeanor offense.
  • The offense may have been an arrest in another state or an arrest by a federal agency; neither of those are events that are included in the Kansas Central Repository.
  • The reporting agency failed to report of the offense to the Central Repository.
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I requested an offline search, but never received the results. How can I get my results?

A. Results will be available on the website in your dashboard for up to 7 days. You will not be charged to view your transactions again.

After 7 days you must contact the KBI Criminal Records Unit at (785) 296-2454 to have the results mailed to you. Requests over 60 days old must be re-requested.

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Can I give the subject of the record a copy of the record check?

A. Yes, you can give the subject of the record a copy of the record check.

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How do I get to the Kansas Registered Offender's website?

A. Click here for the Registered Offender website.

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If I check on the Kansas Registered Offender website will that have the same information that I would get by running a record check?

A. No, a record check will provide you with convictions for all felonies and misdemeanors that occurred in Kansas. The Kansas Registered Offender website will only provide you with information on individuals that require registration in the State of Kansas.

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How do I print the result of the record check I just requested?

A. You can print your results by pressing the print icon on your web browser.

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How long can I view the results in the “dashboard”?

A. You can view the results of your record check for up to 7 calendar days. The results are no longer available after 7 calendar days because criminal history records are updated daily and the results could potentially be inaccurate in a very short time period.

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I did a record check and never received the results. How can I get the results now?

A.If it has been less than 7 calendar days, you can view the results in the “dashboard”. In the column titled “Search Name” find the name you requested and press the name. The link will take you immediately to the results. You can print your results by pressing the print icon on your web browser. If it has been longer than 7 calendar days, you will need to call the KBI Criminal Records Unit at (785) 296-2454 or email Record_Check@kbi.state.ks.us. Please include the date the search was conducted and the name that was searched. The results will then be mailed to you through the US Postal Service. Requests over 60 days old must be re-requested.

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