Labette County was established in 1867 in Kansas. It was named after its second-biggest creek, Labette Creek. Popular cities in the county include Parsons and Oswego, which serve as the county seat. About 20,000 people reside in Labette County.

Courts in Labette County

Labette County has two District Courts: Oswego Division and Parsons Division. Criminal proceedings and civil actions requiring jury trials are within the exclusive jurisdiction of both District Courts. The Criminal Division of Labette’s District Courts typically handles criminal trials involving felonies and misdemeanor offenses. Conversely, the Civil Division handles all financial disputes without monetary limits. Other cases handled in both courts include domestic violence, divorces, guardianship, juvenile matters, conservatorship cases, and small claims.

There are six Municipal Courts in Labette County. Municipal Courts typically preside over traffic offenses and ordinance violations that occur within each city jurisdiction. Note that these courts do not conduct jury trials. County residents convicted in Municipal Courts may appeal to the District Courts.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Labette County

Official court clerks in Labette County are generally tasked with keeping and granting access to public court records. Requesters can locate District Court clerks in Labette County to obtain official court documents that are open to the public. After locating the court where the case was filed, record searchers must complete and submit request forms to the official District Court clerk. Generally, Labette District Courts offer onsite computers for accessing public court records online.

However, requesters can use the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal without visiting the courts in person. Requesters must register on the portal before viewing or copying public court records online. Note that case information in court records includes the following:

• Court transcripts
• Case dockets
• Plea deals
• Jury lists
• Names of involved parties
• Notice of rights of involved parties
• Motions and responses
• Warrants and court injunctions
• Court sentencing information

City residents may visit the nearest court in Labette County to obtain Municipal Court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Labette County

Court records available to the public in Labette County include the following:

• Criminal court records
• Civil records
• Family records
• Traffic records
• Probate records
• Small Claims records
• Land and Property records
• Juvenile records (with some restrictions)

Confidential Court Records in Labette County

Kansas Laws define confidential court records as documents that are inaccessible through the public portal. Examples of these records are:

• Adoption records
• Records filed under the Care and Treatment Act for Mentally Ill Persons
• Child custody/support records
• Records filed under the Kansas Code for Care of Children
• Divorce records
• Expunged records
• Coroner inquests/reports
• Grand jury proceedings
• Guardianship and conservatorship case files
• Records filed under the Kansas Protection from Abuse Act
• Marriage license documents.

Juvenile Delinquency in Labette, KS

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Labette County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Kansas often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 45 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Labette County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 45 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Labette County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Labette County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Labette County, KS

https://kansas.gov/

County Seat:	Oswego
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1867
Total Square Miles:	653
2019 Population:	20,145
Persons/Square Mile:	0.03
County Contact:	501 Merchant St County Courthouse Oswego , KS 67356-2127 http://www.labettecounty.com

Labette County, KS Courts