Sedgwick County Juvenile Residential Facility Criminal Court Process
Criminal Court Process for Sedgwick County Kansas
Sedgwick County Criminal Courts and Case Lookup
Felony and state misdemeanor cases from Sedgwick County are filed in the 18th Judicial District Court, 525 N. Main, Wichita, KS 67203 (criminal clerk 316-660-5900), the only district in Kansas made up of a single county. The courthouse is downtown, a short walk from the jail on Elm Street. City code violations, from traffic tickets to many first-offense DUI and domestic battery charges, are heard by the municipal court in the arresting city. Public case files can be searched for free on Kansas CaseSearch, which replaced the old district court portal. People held while their case moves along can be found through the sheriff's inmate search, and this how-to for families covers the jail's other lookups.
1. Which court hears a misdemeanor or a felony in Sedgwick County?
- Felonies: always the district court. A first appearance comes soon after booking, then a preliminary hearing, arraignment and trial.
- State misdemeanors: also the district court, filed by the District Attorney.
- City ordinance cases: the city's municipal court. A municipal ruling can be appealed to the district court, whose criminal clerks handle those appeals.
- Juvenile offenders: the Juvenile Courthouse on East Morris Street.
2. Bench warrants from the Wichita courthouse
When a Wichita judge issues a bench warrant, sheriff's deputies serve it. Before calling, try the sheriff's online warrant search; the warrants office also takes questions at 316-660-3960. Kansas runs no statewide warrant search, but district court cases from here appear on Kansas CaseSearch. A defense attorney can arrange for you to walk into the Sedgwick County Detention Facility on West Elm Street, which is usually far easier than being arrested at home or work. Wondering how to reschedule? The court clerk, 525 N. Main, answers at 316-660-5801.
↑ Back to the question list3. Where is the 18th Judicial District criminal clerk?
Sedgwick County Courthouse, 525 N. Main, 7th floor, Wichita, KS 67203. Call 316-660-5900 (fax 316-941-5353). The office is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on federal holidays. It files about 3,000 criminal actions a year, including felony and misdemeanor cases, fish and game cases, search warrants and appeals from city courts. The district's general line is 316-660-5801.
Copies of files come from the Records Department on the 6th floor, same phone, or by email at sg.micro@kscourts.gov.
↑ Back to the question list4. Where do juvenile cases go?
The Juvenile Courthouse is at 1900 E. Morris, Wichita, KS 67211. Probate matters share that building. Youths taken into custody usually start at the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center, 700 S. Hydraulic, 316-660-5350.
↑ Back to the question list5. What city courts are in this county?
- Wichita Municipal Court: City Hall, 455 N. Main, Wichita, KS 67202, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Court dates and fines 316-268-4611; case docketing 316-268-4618; probation 316-268-4582. A walk-in docket handles some warrants.
- Park City Municipal Court: 1941 E. 61st Street N., Park City, KS 67219. Clerk 316-744-6417. Evening dockets start at 6:30 p.m. on set nights.
- Derby Municipal Court: 229 N. Baltimore, Derby, KS 67037. 316-788-1511. Hours: Mon-Thu 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Fri 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m..
- Haysville Municipal Court: 200 W. Grand, Haysville, KS 67060. 316-529-5920. Hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4 p.m..
- Maize Municipal Court: 10100 W. Grady Ave., Maize, KS 67101. 316-722-8736.
- Andale Municipal Court: City Hall, 326 N. Main, Andale, KS 67001. 316-444-2351.
- Bel Aire Municipal Court: 7651 E. Central Park Avenue, Bel Aire, KS 67226. 316-744-2451.
- Bentley Municipal Court: 150 S. Wichita Ave., Bentley, KS 67016. 316-796-1799.
- Cheney Municipal Court: 131 N. Main, Cheney, KS 67025. 316-542-3622.
- Clearwater Municipal Court: 129 E. Ross Ave., Clearwater, KS 67026. 620-584-2311.
- Colwich Municipal Court: 212 W. Wichita Ave., Colwich, KS 67030. 316-796-1025.
- Eastborough Municipal Court: 1 Douglas Ave., Eastborough, KS 67207. 316-682-4111.
- Garden Plain Municipal Court: 505 N. Main, Garden Plain, KS 67050. 316-531-2321.
- Goddard Municipal Court: 118 N. Main, Goddard, KS 67052. 316-794-2441.
- Kechi Municipal Court: 220 W. Kechi Road, Kechi, KS 67067. 316-744-6611.
- Mount Hope Municipal Court: 112 W. Main, Mount Hope, KS 67108. 316-661-2211.
- Mulvane Municipal Court: 211 N. 2nd Ave., Mulvane, KS 67110. 316-777-9515.
- Sedgwick Municipal Court: 505 N. Commercial, Sedgwick, KS 67135. 316-416-4041.
- Valley Center Municipal Court: 314 E. Clay, Valley Center, KS 67147. 316-755-7310 x112.
6. How do I search Sedgwick County cases and warrants?
- Open Kansas CaseSearch and pick Sedgwick County.
- Search by name or case number; no account is needed.
- Read the docket for hearing dates, charges and bond orders.
- For a Wichita city warrant, call 316-268-4611.
- Sheriff Records can confirm county warrants at 316-660-3888.
City court files are kept by each city, not by CaseSearch.
↑ Back to the question list7. What happens at the first court date?
Under K.S.A. 22-2901, a person arrested on a warrant or on probable cause is taken before a magistrate "without unnecessary delay." Many first appearances in the district court happen by two-way video from the jail. The 18th District judge on that screen announces the counts, rules on bond and takes up appointed counsel. For bond rules and how to post, read our bail page. Someone who cannot pay a lawyer may ask for the Sedgwick County Public Defender Office, 604 N. Main, Suite D, Wichita, KS 67203, 316-264-8700.
↑ Back to the question list8. How do federal charges work for people from Wichita?
Federal crimes from this area are tried at the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, 401 N. Market, Room 204, Wichita, KS 67202 (clerk 316-315-4200). The county jail often holds federal defendants for the U.S. Marshals before trial. Pretrial release for Wichita federal defendants is a U.S. magistrate's call. If prison time follows, the case ends with a transfer to the Bureau of Prisons; check status on the BOP inmate locator.
↑ Back to the question list9. Where do people go after a state prison sentence?
The court orders the person into Kansas Department of Corrections custody. They first go to an intake center for testing and classification, before KDOC assigns a facility. Look them up on the KASPER offender search, and see our Kansas state prisons page.
↑ Back to the question list10. How does an immigration hold affect a court case?
The criminal case moves on its own track. If ICE files a detainer, the Elm Street jail can keep them "up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released" (8 CFR 287.7(d)). Missing court because ICE took custody still needs a lawyer's attention right away. Search the ICE detainee locator by A-number or name.
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