Arrest records are public documents in Cloud County, Kansas, pursuant to the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), K.S.A. 45-215 et seq. This legislation establishes the presumption that all government records shall be open for public inspection unless specifically exempted by law. The Kansas Legislature has determined that public access to arrest records serves the public interest by promoting transparency in the criminal justice system and enabling citizens to monitor law enforcement activities.
Members of the public may access these records regardless of their purpose or relationship to the arrested individual. The Cloud County Sheriff's Office maintains these records as part of their statutory record-keeping responsibilities. While certain information within arrest records may be redacted to protect privacy interests in specific circumstances, the core arrest information remains accessible to any requesting party.
The public nature of these records is further supported by Kansas Attorney General Opinion No. 87-25, which affirms that arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies constitute public records under state law. Individuals seeking access to arrest records in Cloud County should note that while the records are public, reasonable fees may be assessed for search, retrieval, and copying services as permitted under K.S.A. 45-219.
Cloud County arrest records are available through several online platforms, though the comprehensiveness of digital access varies. The Cloud County Sheriff's Office maintains a limited online database of current inmate information and recent arrests through their official website. This resource provides basic information about individuals currently in custody or recently processed through the county jail system.
For more comprehensive online access, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) offers a central repository of criminal history information that includes arrest data from Cloud County and other jurisdictions throughout Kansas. Access to the KBI database requires registration and payment of statutory fees as outlined in K.S.A. 22-4707.
Third-party aggregator websites also compile and publish Cloud County arrest information. However, users of these non-governmental services should be aware that:
The Kansas Supreme Court's public access portal provides another online resource for tracking case progression following arrests, though this system focuses on court records rather than the initial arrest documentation.
Multiple methods exist for obtaining arrest records in Cloud County as of 2025. Interested parties may utilize any of the following official channels:
In-person requests may be submitted at the Cloud County Sheriff's Office Records Division during regular business hours. Requestors should be prepared to provide identifying information about the subject of the search and complete a standard request form.
Cloud County Sheriff's Office
811 Washington Street
Concordia, KS 66901
(785) 243-3636
Cloud County Sheriff's Office
Written requests may be submitted via postal mail to the Sheriff's Office address listed above. All written requests should include:
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation maintains a centralized criminal history repository that includes Cloud County arrest data. Authorized record checks may be requested through:
Kansas Bureau of Investigation
1620 SW Tyler Street
Topeka, KS 66612
(785) 296-8200
Kansas Bureau of Investigation
For court records related to arrests, the Cloud County District Court provides access to case information:
Cloud County District Court
811 Washington Street, Room 206
Concordia, KS 66901
(785) 243-8607
Cloud County District Court
Pursuant to K.S.A. 45-218, agencies must respond to record requests within three business days. Fees for record searches are established in accordance with K.S.A. 45-219 and may include charges for staff time, copying, and certification if requested.
Standard arrest records maintained by Cloud County law enforcement agencies contain specific categories of information as required by Kansas Administrative Regulations and departmental policies. A typical Cloud County arrest record includes:
Biographical information of the arrestee:
Arrest-specific information:
Documentation components:
Procedural notations:
Pursuant to K.S.A. 22-4701 et seq., certain information within arrest records may be restricted from public disclosure, particularly when related to ongoing investigations, juvenile offenders, or victims of specific crimes. Law enforcement agencies in Cloud County redact such protected information prior to releasing records to the public.
The Kansas Criminal Justice Information System (KCJIS) maintains standards for the uniform collection and storage of arrest data across all Kansas jurisdictions, including Cloud County, ensuring consistency in record format and content.
The expungement process in Cloud County provides a legal mechanism for sealing arrest records from public view under specific circumstances. Kansas Statutes Annotated § 22-2410 establishes the framework for expungement eligibility and procedures. Individuals seeking expungement must file a petition with the Cloud County District Court and demonstrate that they meet statutory requirements.
Eligibility criteria for expungement in Cloud County include:
The petition must be filed with the court that handled the original case:
Cloud County District Court
811 Washington Street, Room 206
Concordia, KS 66901
(785) 243-8607
Cloud County District Court
Upon receipt of a properly filed petition, the court schedules a hearing where the petitioner must present evidence supporting their request. The prosecuting attorney and any victims have the right to present evidence in opposition. If granted, the expungement order directs all criminal justice agencies to seal the records related to the arrest and subsequent proceedings.
Pursuant to K.S.A. § 22-2410(e), an expunged arrest record shall not be disclosed except to:
Individuals should note that expungement in Kansas does not physically destroy records but rather seals them from public view. Federal agencies, certain licensing boards, and specific employers may still have statutory authority to access expunged records under limited circumstances.