Sedgwick County was created in 1867 in the State of Kansas. With a population of 523,824, the county ranks as the second-most populous in the state. The county seat and the largest city in the state, Wichita, is home to 75% of the county's entire population.
Courts in Sedgwick County
Kansas 18th Judicial District Court and several Municipal Courts serve Sedgwick County. The District Court consists of departments that hear different cases under their jurisdictions. The civil department hears cases involving foreclosures related to mortgages and taxes, recovery of monetary relief, breach of contract disputes, legal name changes, eviction proceedings, and personal injury claims. Likewise, the small claims department has jurisdiction over simple civil matters in which the amount in disputes does not exceed $4,000.
The criminal department of the District Court has authority over felony and misdemeanor cases filed in the county. It also hears fish and game cases and has appellate jurisdiction over Municipal Court matters. District Court judges can issue search warrants and conduct inquisitions.
Family matters must be filed at the Sedgwick County District Court's family law department. Cases assigned to this department include divorce, paternity, visitation rights, protection from abuse, guardianship, stalking, child custody and support, spousal support, and other domestic matters.
The Juvenile Department handles cases involving juvenile offenders and Child In Need of Care (CINC). Juvenile offense cases involve criminal complaints against individuals who were minors between the ages of 10 and 18 at the time of the alleged offense. CINC cases involve minors who are under 18 and subjected to physical, mental, or sexual abuse. It also concerns minors who have psychological or physical disabilities or minors whose parents have abandoned them.
The probate department handles probate actions, such as adoptions, guardianships and conservatorships, administration of estates, and care and treatment of individuals with mental illness or alcoholics. Traffic violations occurring in Sedgwick County, such as DUIs and driving over the speed limit, are brought before the traffic department of the District Court. Municipal Courts in Sedgwick County hear traffic infractions, minor offenses, and other cases involving city ordinance violations within city boundaries.
Where to Find Public Court Records in Sedgwick County
The Sedgwick County District Court Records Department maintains public court records of the District Court. Likewise, Municipal Courts Clerk keep the records generated in the Municipal courthouses within their city limits. Generally, public court records in Sedgwick County are accessible online or at the courthouse where the case was heard. Interested persons can visit the courthouse that handled the case and view records on public access computers. Copies of public court records can be obtained in person or via mail from the Municipal Court Clerks' Offices or District Court Records Department upon request.
Types of Public Court Records in Sedgwick County
The following are types of court records that are available to the public in Sedgwick County:
- Probate Court Records
- Criminal Court Records
- Family Court Records
- Municipal Court Records
- Civil Court Records
Confidential Court Records in Sedgwick County
In Sedgwick County, some court records are confidential to protect the privacy or conceal sensitive information of individuals involved in court cases. The court may seal records to comply with Kansas laws or upon request by a party involved in the proceedings. Unlike publicly available records, access to confidential court records in Sedgwick County is limited to authorized individuals. The following court records are confidential in Sedgwick County:
- Adoption Records
- Guardian/Conservatorship Records
- Care and Treatment Records
- Juvenile Records
- Expunged Arrest Records
- Protection from Abuse Case Records
Juvenile Delinquency in Sedgwick, KS
Unfortunately, in many areas of the Sedgwick County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Kansas often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.
In 2017, a total of 1 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Sedgwick County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.
A lot of counties, including, Sedgwick County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Sedgwick County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.
| Juvenile Cases | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Delinquency | 17 |
| Dependency | 0 |
| Status | 468 |
Government of Sedgwick County, KS
| County Seat: | Wichita |
| Government Type: | County |
| Authority: | Home Rule |
| Year Organized: | 1870 |
| Total Square Miles: | 1,009 |
| 2019 Population: | 513,687 |
| Persons/Square Mile: | 0.00 |
Sedgwick County, KS Courts
-
Sedgwick County District Court
Address: 525 N Main, Wichita, KS 67203
Phone: 316-660-5801 -
Municipal Court of Derby City
Address: 229 N. Baltimore, Derby, KS 67037
Phone: 316-788-1511 -
Municipal Court of Maize City
Address: 10100 W Grady Ave, Maize, KS 67101
Phone: 316.722.8736