Pursuant to Kansas Open Records Act (K.S.A. § 45-215 et seq.), warrant records in Ottawa County are classified as public records and are generally accessible to members of the public. The Kansas Legislature has established this statutory framework to promote governmental transparency and accountability in law enforcement operations.
Warrant records maintained by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office and the District Court are subject to public disclosure with certain statutory exceptions. These exceptions primarily relate to ongoing investigations, juvenile matters, and cases where disclosure might compromise public safety or individual privacy rights as outlined in K.S.A. § 45-221.
Members of the public seeking warrant information may submit requests to the appropriate custodial agency. The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office maintains active warrant records, while the District Court maintains judicial records pertaining to warrant issuance and execution.
Access to these records serves multiple public interests, including:
Warrant records maintained by Ottawa County law enforcement and judicial authorities typically contain the following standardized information pursuant to Kansas statutory requirements:
The level of detail contained in warrant records may vary according to the type of warrant issued. Arrest warrants for felony offenses typically contain more comprehensive information than bench warrants issued for failure to appear at scheduled court proceedings.
All warrant information is entered into the Kansas Criminal Justice Information System (KCJIS) pursuant to K.S.A. § 22-2304, which establishes uniform standards for warrant documentation throughout Kansas jurisdictions.
Ottawa County residents and other interested parties may verify warrant status through several no-cost methods established pursuant to Kansas public records statutes:
In-person inquiry at the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office 312 N Concord Street Minneapolis, KS 67467 Phone: (785) 392-2157
Direct inquiry at the Ottawa County District Court 307 N Concord Street Minneapolis, KS 67467 Phone: (785) 392-2279 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Telephone verification through the Ottawa County Sheriff's warrant division during regular business hours
Requestors should be prepared to provide identifying information including full name, date of birth, and other relevant details to facilitate accurate record searches. Pursuant to K.S.A. § 45-218, agencies may require written requests for certain types of record searches, though basic warrant status inquiries are typically accommodated without formal documentation.
For tax warrants specifically, the Kansas Department of Revenue's online system provides a searchable database of outstanding tax warrants throughout the state, including those issued in Ottawa County.
The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office serves as the primary law enforcement agency responsible for executing warrants within county jurisdiction pursuant to K.S.A. § 22-2305. The Sheriff maintains a dedicated warrant division that processes and executes several categories of warrants:
The Sheriff's warrant division maintains regular coordination with:
Warrant execution procedures adhere to constitutional standards established under the Fourth Amendment and corresponding Kansas statutory provisions. The Sheriff's Office prioritizes warrant service based on severity of alleged offenses, public safety considerations, and available departmental resources.
Individuals with knowledge of active warrants may voluntarily surrender at the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office during regular business hours, which may be viewed favorably by the court during subsequent proceedings.
As of 2025, Ottawa County has implemented several methods through which individuals may verify their warrant status in compliance with Kansas public records laws:
Direct verification through the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office warrant division 312 N Concord Street Minneapolis, KS 67467 Phone: (785) 392-2157 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Online verification through the Ottawa County Sheriff's website (warrant search function)
Inquiry through the Ottawa County District Court clerk's office 307 N Concord Street Minneapolis, KS 67467 Phone: (785) 392-2279 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Consultation with private legal counsel who can access court records
Individuals seeking warrant information should be prepared to provide proper identification. For third-party inquiries, certain limitations may apply pursuant to privacy provisions in K.S.A. § 45-221.
The Kansas Adult Supervised Population Electronic Repository (KASPER) provides additional information regarding individuals currently under supervision of the Kansas Department of Corrections, which may include those with outstanding warrants.
Ottawa County maintains multiple channels through which members of the public may verify outstanding warrant status pursuant to K.S.A. § 45-215 et seq.:
In-person verification at the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office 312 N Concord Street Minneapolis, KS 67467 Phone: (785) 392-2157
Direct inquiry at the Ottawa County District Court clerk's office 307 N Concord Street Minneapolis, KS 67467 Phone: (785) 392-2279
Telephone verification through the Sheriff's warrant division during regular business hours
Written request submitted to the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office Records Division
For comprehensive searches, requestors should provide:
Pursuant to K.S.A. § 45-219, agencies may assess reasonable fees for extensive record searches or document reproduction. However, basic warrant status verification is typically provided without charge as a public service.
For specialized warrant categories, additional resources include the Kansas Bureau of Investigation's Registered Offender website which provides information about registered offenders who may have outstanding warrants.