If the individual is attempting or at imminent risk of self-harm or a danger to others or property, call your local law enforcement agency/911, and request a Crisis Intervention Team.  Any law enforcement officer who has a reasonable belief formed upon investigation that an individual is a mentally ill person, and because of such is likely to cause harm to self or others if allowed to remain at liberty, may take the person into custody without a warrant. Law enforcement may arrive with a Johnson County Mental Health “co-responder” who can assist with de-escalation and initial assessment. If appropriate, officers will transport the individual to the nearest ER/treatment facility, where they will be evaluated.  See K.S.A. 59-2953 at Information Network of Kansas (INK) statutes page.

If the person in crisis will agree to go with you voluntarily to the nearest emergency room, and you feel that is safe, take them there for assessment. Call the Johnson County Mental Health Center (JCMHC) crisis line if you have questions: 913-268-0156.

No, this is not an option in Johnson County at this time. Please attempt to have your family member assessed by a physician or qualified mental health professional at an emergency room. If there is critical event, call your local law enforcement agency/911 and request a Crisis Intervention Team or call the JCMHC crisis line for additional information: 913-268-0156.

Please provide your contact information to law enforcement and/or the hospital facility so that the JCMHC screener can contact you directly to inquire regarding the patient’s current and historical mental health symptoms, treatment, diagnosis, and other relevant information. This will be important if the patient’s mental state is such that they are not willing or able to participate in the screen. Let the screener know if there is a legal guardianship in place through the Courts. 

You can call the District Attorney’s Office Care and Treatment Paralegal, Jill Cochran, at 913-715-3035, or the main reception line at 913-715-3000, the morning following the individual’s admission to the hospital/treatment facility.  We can update you as to whether we received an approved screen for involuntary commitment and whether our office will file a petition that day.  If we do file a petition for involuntary commitment, the Court will sign an ex parte order, which will result in the patient being detained at the facility until the probable cause hearing. This hearing will occur no later than the end of the second business day after the filing.
 

No, this is not an option in the State of Kansas at this time. Voluntary inpatient resources would need to be identified in the community. 

All court hearings for involuntary commitments are closed to the public. The only individuals who are allowed by law to appear and participate in these hearings are DA’s Office representatives, the patient, the patient’s attorney, the judge, court staff, law enforcement, physicians, and qualified mental health professionals.  If one of these parties needs your participation, they will contact you and let you know. If you would like to observe one of these hearings, you will need the express permission of the patient.  You can contact the patient’s attorney in order to try to obtain that permission.  All involuntary commitment proceedings are currently being held via secure ZOOM video.

Our office cannot provide legal advice in these matters. You may want to consult with an attorney to discuss options under the Probate Code.

Our office covers several forms of consumer fraud. However, the Kansas Consumer Protection Acts prohibits our office from acting on behalf of consumers who have problems in certain areas:

• For lemon law problems, contact the Kansas Attorney General's Office and 1-800-432-2310.
• For landlord-tenant difficulties, contact the Greater Kansas City Housing Information Center at 913-829-4584.
• For shoddy-workmanship, business-to-business complaints, contracts disputes or other areas, you may wish to contact an private attorney with regards to your legal rights.

Our office, through enforcement of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act, identifies and investigates deceptive and unconscionable acts committed by area merchants against consumers within Johnson County. Some areas of fraud that our office will investigate are:

• Automobiles
  • New/Used Car Purchases
  • Car Repairs
  • Odometer Rollback
• Charitable Solicitations
• Door-to-door Sales
• Home Improvement
• Telemarketing
• Slamming/Cramming
• Magazine Sales
• Travel Scams
• Vacation Time Shares
• Investment Scams
• Pyramid Schemes

No, the District Attorney’s Office cannot offer legal advice or act on behalf of individuals. Our office can provide general information and direct you to the appropriate agencies. You may wish to contact a private attorney or Kansas Legal Services of Olathe, which offers free assistance in certain areas, at 913-764-8585.

Yes. According to the Kansas Consumer Protection Act, KSA 50-671 through 50-674, the telemarketing laws in Kansas requires some of the following:

• If a call if placed from an automatic dialing device and the consumer hangs up, the call must be terminated within 25 seconds.
• A telemarketer must identify themselves and the business on whose behalf they are soliciting and the purpose of the call.
• Tell the telemarketer to be taken off their call list.
• Just say “NO.” Upon receiving a negative response the telemarketer is required to immediately discontinue the call.
• If you receive these types of calls and your attempts to terminate the conversation are not successful, you can contact our office at 913-715-3003 or file a formal complaint with us. You can also contact the Kansas Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-432-2310 or the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).

Home improvement repairs are some of the top complaints that our office receives. To avoid being a victim of a home repair scam, you should be aware of the following:

• Get several estimates before deciding which person you want to do business with.
• Get their business name, their name, address and telephone number.
• Check their references.
• Contact our office at 913-715-3003, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau and ask if any complaints have been filed against that business.
• Be extremely cautious of individuals who solicit business door-to-door.
• Make sure you get the agreement in writing and that you are provided a copy. Be sure to require the “start date” and “complete date” to be specifically set out in the contract.
• Never pay for the entire job before the work has started. Most legitimate companies require only a percentage of the cost up front.

If you are buying a new or used car consumers should know the following tips:

• Never purchase a vehicle on impulse or in response to high pressure sales tactics.
• Have the dealer provide you with prior information on the vehicle, such as, title history and Carfax information.
• Ask the dealership if the vehicle has had any prior damage or mechanical problems.
• Determine what the actual miles of the vehicle.
• Get all promises in writing. Fully understand all language contained in any financing statements, such as number of payments, insurance, early termination if it is going to be leased, etc.
• Remember, once you purchase the car, it’s yours. There is no three-day right to cancel.

The Kansas Consumer Protection Act, KSA 50-640, refers to door-to-door sales, cancellation and required disclosures. According to the statute the consumer has the right to cancel a door-to-door sale made within this state until midnight of the third business day after the day on which the consumer signs an agreement or offer to purchase goods or services. Some of the disclosures are:

• Consumers should be provided a fully completed receipt or copy of any contract pertaining to such sale at the time of its execution, and which shows the date of the transaction and contains the name and address of the supplier, and a space for the signature of the consumer.
   
• Merchants are required to advise consumers, orally and in writing, of the consumer’s three-day right to cancel. A statement in substantially the following form should be provided to you by the merchant and state: “You the buyer, may cancel this transaction at any time prior to midnight of the third business day after the date of this transaction, see the attached notice of cancellation form for an explanation of this right.” “Buyer” means “consumer.”

The Direct Marketing Association Consumer Assistance website contains detailed information about their free Mail, Telephone and e-Mail Preference Services which are designed to reduce targeted advertising.

Many charities provide valuable services for people. Unfortunately, there are some solicitors that take advantage of individuals who really want to donate money for a good cause. The following are suggestions by our office that may help you in determining which charity to give to:

• Beware of solicitors that use names of well- known charities and/ or use common pleas for police, firefighter, veteran’s and children’s causes.
• Check out the charity before you make a donation.
• Pay the charity directly instead of going through the solicitor. Remember, solicitors receive a portion of the actual money donated.
• Contact the charity directly to determine how much of your money donated actually goes to the charity. Ask for financial statements. Ask for information on the board of directors and other services that the charity has provided. A legitimate charity will gladly answer your questions.
• Be aware of solicitors who refuse to answer your questions or insist that you donate your money first.
• Ask if the charity is registered in Kansas or check online. Most charities are required to register with their office, although there are some exceptions.
• Remember, what sounds too good to be true, probably is.
• Contact our office at 913-715-3003 to determine if complaints have been filed against a specific organization.
• Contact the National Charities Information Bureau at 212-929-6300.

First, try to resolve it yourself.

• Here's an example complaint to business letter.
• Contact our office at 913-715-3003 or file a formal complaint with us.
• You can also contact the Kansas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Office at 1-800-432-2310 or 913-296-3751.

Enforcing house rules is tough for parents. A parent is allowed, even expected, to provide discipline in the home. However, a child may not be locked out of the house unless other arrangements have been made. This might be to allow the child to stay with a relative, or in another furnished part of the house.

Yes. Kansas law requires that all juveniles appearing in court must be represented by counsel. A parent cannot represent their child in court.

All citizens enjoy the right to be informed of their rights when they are in police custody and are being questioned about suspected criminal acts. If a child is under the age of 14 and in custody, they must have the opportunity to consult with a parent or guardian prior to waiving Miranda rights and giving a statement. In all cases of police questioning of juveniles in custody, the court will look at their age, the presence of parents, and other factors to determine whether any statement was freely and voluntarily given.

The Kansas Child in Need of Care (CINC) code does not have a specific answer. Generally, a parent or guardian must provide supervision and care for their children until they reach 18 years of age. Younger children have a greater need for supervision and care than older children. Obviously, young children under age 10 should not be left without supervision at any time. In most cases, older teenage children may be left alone for short periods of time.

Kansas Statutes allow a juvenile adjudication to be expunged. Recently, the law was also changed to allow Immediate Interventions and uncharged police records to be expunged as well.  A record that has been "expunged" means that to those persons or agencies outside the court system, it can be treated as if it never occurred.  At least two years must have elapsed from discharge from court jurisdiction for a person to be eligible for expungement of a juvenile adjudication. If interested, you should contact your attorney or our office.  If eligible, you may start the process with the Petition For Expungement.

The important thing is to be honest. If the question asks about convictions only, juvenile records (which are adjudications, and not convictions) would not count. If the question calls for convictions and adjudications, then the answer would be different. If a juvenile record is "expunged," it can be honestly treated as if it had never occurred.

Generally, parents are obligated to care for their children until they reach age 18. Emancipation is a term used quite often as a panacea for situations of parent/child conflict. Emancipation simply allows someone under the age of 18 to: hold property; enter into contracts; and to sue and be sued. Emancipation does not necessarily relieve a parent of their obligation to provide for their child until age 18. To be emancipated, a petition is filed in District Court. At hearing, a judge would have to determine that the juvenile has the ability to enter into contracts and is responsible and mature enough to be treated as an adult by the outside world.

If you have additional traffic questions, please email us at: [email protected] or contact a traffic case manager at 913-715-3011.  

DUI Diversion is handled through the Criminal Diversion Unit, 913-715-3114.

Depending on the violation(s) on your citation, it may be required that you have a hearing. For violations that require proof of documentation, ex: No Insurance or Registration violations, you may provide your updated documentation in advance of your court date to [email protected], and the hearing may be cancelled after confirming this with a Traffic Diversion Case Manager.

Likely, documentation is required prior to having the fine set.  For more info and to get your fine amount, call Traffic Trial Assistant at 913-715-3139.

You must appear in Court as directed on your citation and enter your not guilty plea to have a new date set for a trial.

No. It is not a requirement to have an attorney to pay your ticket, enter diversion, or have a trial.  However, you may hire an attorney at any point to represent you or resolve your ticket. 

You have three (3) options: a) You may inquire about Traffic Diversion. Diversion is a six-month program where, if eligible, you pay a Diversion fee plus $109.50 in Court costs. If you complete the six-month unsupervised period without getting a new ticket or violating any other terms of Diversion, the ticket is dismissed and your record will be updated with a dismissal.  b) You can pay the fine noted on your ticket, which updates your driver’s history with a conviction for the offense(s). c) You can request a continuance and set a trial date.

Yes, all Traffic Court hearings are in person.  You may have the option of resolving your citation without coming to the Courthouse.  More information about Traffic Court is available on the District Court website (Click)

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, Johnson County Park Police, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and Alcohol Beverage Control (KDOR).

The following offenses are NOT eligible for Traffic Diversion:

    Speeding Violations
    -    10 - 60 MPH Zone – 21 MPH and over the speed limit
    -    65 - 75 MPH Zone – 100 MPH and greater
    -    Moving Violations in Construction Zones or School Zones
    -    Running a red light causing a crash
    -    Any violation issued to a CDL license holder
    -    Overweight vehicle
    -    Interlock violations

    -    ****Diversion is also NOT allowed if the defendant
              o    Has an active warrant
              o    Is on any active diversion including criminal diversion
              o    Has had a prior traffic diversion with Johnson County District Attorney’s Office within the last
                    6 months from the diversion discharge date to the new ticket date
              o    Has more than 1 traffic case pending in Johnson County District Court

A Motion to Reinstate Prosecution of your diversion will be filed with the Court and the prosecution may be reinstated. You will receive a notice to appear (certified mail) from the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office in the mail advising a date and time to appear.

If you want to plead guilty by phone without appearing in Court first, you may contact the Traffic Trial Assistant at the District Attorney’s Office 913-715-3139 to assist in having a fine set.  Court Costs are assessed on every citation, even if you do not appear in Court.

You can appear in court as directed to enter a plea and have your fine assessed. You will be given 360 days to pay the fine and court costs on the Court website (https://public.jococourts.org ). You can also request a continuance.

You can pay on-line on the Court website (https://public.jococourts.org), or by phone 888-877-0450. There is a $4.95 processing fee for payments online or by phone. You may also mail in your fine and court costs to:  Johnson County District Court, Traffic Clerk, 150 W. Santa Fe, Olathe, KS 66061. 

Yes, and also the court costs. You can request a continuance if you need time to pay the diversion fee and court costs

You can request a Trial when you appear for the Arraignment, noted on your citation.

The request for continuance must be made 48 business hours before the court date by email to [email protected]  
Refer to the District Court website link for more info on requesting a continuance.

Call the DA’s Traffic line to speak to a Traffic Diversion Case Manager at 913-715-3011. You may also send an email; include your name as it appears on the citation (include case number if you know it) to [email protected]

Witnesses may watch the proceedings unless excluded from doing so by the court. In any event, witnesses should not discuss their testimony among themselves.

Victims of sexual assault are guaranteed the right to have an attendant of their choice in court to provide support at both the preliminary hearing and trial. However, this support person must not be a witness in the case.

If you are subpoenaed to appear at a preliminary hearing, the Prosecutor may want you to sit in the witness chair and answer questions about who you are and what you know about the case. Give your answers as truthfully as you can. The judge is there to assist you if you do not understand a question and to see that you are treated respectfully.

It is a scheduled courtroom event held in felony cases with testimony under oath, where the judge, the defendant, the defendant's attorney, the prosecutor from the District Attorney's Office and any victim or witness subpoenaed is present. The purpose of the hearing is to establish that a crime has been committed and that the defendant committed it.

Witnesses are notified by subpoena when and where to appear. On the morning of your scheduled court appearance, you should call the telephone number printed on the subpoena. You will then be told the status of your case. This may save you an unnecessary trip to the courthouse.

You may discuss the case with the defense attorney if you wish, but you should report the contact to the Johnson County District Attorney in charge of the case.

This person is committing a new crime, whether the harassment occurs before the crime is reported, or during the prosecution of the case. Contact the law enforcement officer in charge of the case immediately. A judge may issue a warrant against the person threatening you. They may also revoke the defendant's bail.

Victims of violent crime, including DUIs or their survivors, may be eligible for state compensation to cover medical expenses, psychological counseling, loss of earnings, or funeral expenses which are incurred as a result of their victimization. If you are a resident of Kansas, the crime occurred within the last two years, and you feel that you qualify for such assistance, please contact the Johnson County Victim Assistance Unit or Kansas Crime Victim Compensation Board.

The person accused is called the defendant. They will make their first appearance before a judge shortly after their arrest or after the criminal complaint is filed. Your appearance at this court hearing is not required.

A warrant is an order signed by a judge authorizing the police to arrest a person believed to have committed a crime.

A criminal complaint is a statement of facts about an alleged crime which, when filed in court, formally charges a person. These facts are first submitted by local law enforcement agencies. If the evidence submitted is deemed sufficient, a criminal complaint is filed.

The law provides many rights to those who are victimized by the criminal acts of others.

See the Victim Assistance – Victim Bill of Rights section on this website for more detail.

As a witness for the state, you have an important part in the trial. You may be questioned by the prosecutor about who you are and what you know about the case. The defendant's attorney may cross examine you. You may feel during the questioning that your personal motives are doubted, but the process of cross-examination is not meant as a personal attack against you. It is to ensure that all sides of the case are told, and to establish the truth. If you are concerned about what will happen, contact the Victim Assistance Unit.

In a trial, the prosecutor presents the case for the state, attempting to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant did commit the crime as charged. The defendant may present their side through the use of an attorney. It is the defendant's choice whether the judge or a twelve person jury is deciding the verdict.

If the judge decides that probable cause has not been proven, the court will dismiss the case. This means that all legal action has come to an end, and the defendant is released.