What is a background check?
A background check is an investigation into an individual’s criminal record, employment history, driving record, education, finances, or other aspects of their personal history.
Background checks are often performed by an organization or company in order to screen a subject before a significant financial or legal agreement. However, individuals regularly perform background checks on themselves to make sure that the public information on them matches their personal records.
For more general information on background checks, consult our Background Checks FAQS page.
How do I run a criminal background check in Kansas?
Kansas.gov hosts a Criminal History Record Check Information Site which the general public may use to find the criminal history information of anyone in the database.
Here’s some important information about the Criminal History Record Check service:
- Using the service requires individuals to create a KanAccess account. Click here for instructions on how to create an account.
- The fee is $20 for one name-based record check.
- First name, last name, and date of birth are required for a name-based record check, but inputting additional information will improve the search results.
- The database includes the following criminal history information: felony and misdemeanor convictions, violations of municipal ordinances, incarceration records, and arrest records from the past 12 months.
- The database does not include: juvenile offender records, records of arrests occurring more than 12 months in the past, completed diversions, or expunged arrests, convictions, and confinements.
How can I get a certified fingerprint-based record check in Kansas?
A certified fingerprint-based record check may be necessary for visa applications or other purposes. The fee for this type of record check is $35.
Follow these steps to request a fingerprint check:
- Mail a request for an FBI Applicant Fingerprint Card, FD Form 258 to:
Kansas Bureau of Investigation
Attn: Criminal History Records Section
1620 SW Tyler
Topeka, KS 66612-1837
2. Once the card arrives, visit a participating local law enforcement office or commercial fingerprinting facility and have your fingerprints taken on the card.
3. Visit the KBI office at the address listed above, submit the card, and pay the fee. Alternatively, you can mail the card, along with a check or money order for $35 payable to “KBI”.
What can I do if my Kansas criminal history record has incomplete or inaccurate information?
If your Kansas criminal history record contains a mistake, you can challenge the record by contacting the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Follow these steps to submit a challenge:
- Highlight or circle the mistake on a copy of the arrest record or criminal history document.
- Write a detailed letter addressed to the KBI explaining the error and include a return address.
- Gather any supporting documents providing proof of the error and supporting the correction.
- Mail the letter, copy of the criminal history document containing the error, and the supporting documents to the following address:
Kansas Bureau of Investigation
Attn: Criminal History Records Section
1620 SW Tyler
Topeka, KS 66612-1837
How do I search for Kansas court records?
The Kansas Judicial Branch is currently in the process of transferring all of its district court records to a searchable centralized online database called the eCourt Public Access Portal with the expectation that the project will be completed in 2021.
While not all Kansas district courts have made their records available online yet, the eCourt Public Access Portal is currently online and contains public records from a number of judicial districts (click here for a list of districts with records currently in the system).
Additionally, Kansas.gov provides a fee-based District Court Records Search that allows users to search for case information but does not give access to court records. One search costs $1.50 and each case retrieved using the search costs $1.50 to view, as well.
If you cannot find the Kansas court record that you are looking for, you can submit a Court Record Request Form to the clerk of court in the county where the case originated. Click here for the contact information of all Kansas district courts.
Where can I find Kansas driving records online?
Kansas.gov allows individuals to search for Driver’s License Records and view them in PDF form.
However, to use the service you must be a Kansas.gov subscriber. Subscribers must pay a $125 initial fee, which covers the first year, and an additional $125 annual fee every year to continue the subscription. Click here for information on how to become a Kansas.gov subscriber.
Alternatively, you can perform a Kansas Driver’s License Status Check free of charge through the Kansas Department of Revenue website. You’ll need to submit your personal information, including driver’s license number, full name, and date of birth.
Click here to check the status of your Kansas driver’s license.
How do I look up Kansas vital records such as birth certificates and marriage licenses?
Vital records are records of important life events such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces that are kept by government agencies and accessible upon request.
Vital records are not public records that can be viewed by anyone, but the subject(s) of the record and authorized family members can view them in-person or order copies through a number of means. Additionally, one or more vital records may be required to complete a background check.
The Kansas Department of Health Office of Vital Statistics enlists the services of the third-party vendor Vital Chek to enable individuals to order copies of vital records online. The government-endorsed service offers vital records from 50 U.S. states and territories.
Available vital records include:
- birth certificates
- death certificates
- marriage records
- divorce records
Click here to place an order with Vital Chek. For more information, contact the Kansas Department of Health Office of Vital Statistics at 785-296-1400.
How do I search for a person’s sex offender status in Kansas?
Those convicted of sex-related crimes or certain crimes against children in Kansas are required by law to register as sex offenders. Additionally, offenders in the registry are required to notify law enforcement as soon as possible in the case of a physical address change or email address change, or they will be labeled “non-compliant”.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation makes the Kansas Public Offender Registry available online to the general public in the interest of public safety. Users may search by name, city, area, or email address/internet name. However, certain low-risk offenders may not be viewable in the online database.
Click here to perform a search of the Kansas Public Offender Registry. It’s important to stay informed about potential threats in your neighborhood in order to take the necessary precautions.
How do I perform a credit history background check in Kansas?
Performing a credit check in Kansas follows the same process as in other states. A federal law known as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) grants every American one free annual credit report each from the three main U.S. credit bureaus:
In order to obtain your free credit report from one of these three bureaus, you must provide the following information:
- Full name
- Address
- Date of birth
- Social security number
