Warrants are public records in Harvey County, Kansas, pursuant to the Kansas Open Records Act (K.S.A. § 45-215 et seq.). This legislation establishes that most governmental records, including warrant information, shall be accessible to members of the public to ensure transparency in governmental operations. The Harvey County Sheriff's Office maintains these records in accordance with state law.
The public accessibility of warrant records serves multiple governmental and civic purposes. Citizens may verify the existence of warrants issued by the courts within the county jurisdiction. Law enforcement agencies utilize this transparency to maintain public safety and foster community trust in judicial processes. K.S.A. § 45-218 specifically provides that public records shall be open for inspection by any person during regular office hours of the public agency.
Certain exemptions may apply to warrant information in specific circumstances. Pursuant to K.S.A. § 45-221, records pertaining to ongoing investigations or those that would jeopardize prospective law enforcement actions may be temporarily restricted. Additionally, warrants related to juvenile offenders or certain sensitive cases may have limited public accessibility as prescribed by statute.
Warrant records maintained by the Harvey County Sheriff's Office and District Court typically contain the following official information:
The Harvey County District Court, in compliance with Kansas Supreme Court Administrative Order 2022-CC-036, maintains these records in standardized formats to ensure consistency across jurisdictions. Warrant information is entered into the Kansas Criminal Justice Information System (KCJIS) as required by K.S.A. § 22-2304.
Members of the public may access warrant information in Harvey County through several no-cost methods established by county authorities:
Individuals seeking warrant information must provide proper identification when making in-person inquiries. Pursuant to K.S.A. § 45-220, agencies may require written certification that the requester will not use names or addresses obtained from public records for commercial purposes.
The Harvey County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for executing warrants within county jurisdiction. Sheriff Chad Gay and his deputies maintain and process several categories of warrants:
The Sheriff's Office, operating under authority granted by K.S.A. § 19-805, coordinates warrant execution with municipal police departments within Harvey County, including the Newton Police Department. Interagency cooperation is facilitated through the Kansas Criminal Justice Information System as mandated by K.S.A. § 22-2304.
Harvey County Sheriff's Office
120 E 7th St
Newton, KS 67114
(316) 284-6960
Harvey County Sheriff
Individuals seeking to determine if warrants exist in their name in Harvey County may utilize several official channels established by county authorities:
Pursuant to K.S.A. § 22-2305, individuals with active warrants are encouraged to address these matters promptly through proper legal channels. The Harvey County Attorney's Office can provide guidance on resolving outstanding warrants through established court procedures.
When making inquiries, members of the public should be prepared to provide full legal name, date of birth, and government-issued identification. The Sheriff's Office processes these requests in accordance with K.S.A. § 45-218, which establishes procedures for public records access.
Harvey County maintains multiple access points for outstanding warrant verification in compliance with Kansas Open Records statutes:
Pursuant to K.S.A. § 45-220, agencies may establish reasonable fees for providing copies of public records. The current fee schedule for Harvey County warrant record copies is $0.25 per page for standard documents and $5.00 for certified copies as established by county resolution #2023-14.
For warrants related to child support enforcement, additional information may be obtained through the Kansas Department for Children and Families at their Newton office located at 411 S Kansas Ave, Newton, KS 67114.