Kansas Criminal Defense Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Kansas criminal defense attorneys who navigate the state’s Sentencing Guidelines grid, the off-grid felony framework, Hard-50 sentences for first-degree murder, and Kansas’s broad expungement statute.

Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
Matched with a Kansas attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Kansas criminal defense case review

A Kansas attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

How we match your Kansas criminal defense case

When you submit a Kansas criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Kansas law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Kansas who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Get started How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Exhibit A

What happens with a criminal defense claim in Kansas

Day 0
Arrest or charge.
Say nothing beyond identifying yourself and ask for a lawyer. Do not consent to searches. Everything after this is built on what you did not say.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A Kansas criminal defense attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Days 1–14
First appearance and bail.
Your attorney addresses release conditions and gets the charging documents. In Kansas, this is where the tone of the case is set.
Weeks to months
Discovery and motions.
Police reports, video, lab work, witness statements. Motions to suppress or dismiss are filed where the evidence was obtained improperly.
Before trial
Negotiation or trial.
Most cases resolve by dismissal or plea; some go to trial. Your attorney advises on the risk of each with the actual evidence in hand.
Resolution
Outcome and record.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for murder, terrorism, rape with biological evidence; 10 years for most violent felonies; 5 years for most other felonies (K.S.A. § 21-5107)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 2 years
2 years for most misdemeanors (K.S.A. § 21-5107(d))
Sentencing Structure: Sentencing Guidelines
Sentencing Guidelines grid system (K.S.A. § 21-6804 nondrug, § 21-6805 drug); off-grid felonies (Murder, Hard-50); criminal history categories A-I; persistent sex offender (§ 21-6804(j))
Expungement / Record Sealing: 5 years
K.S.A. § 21-6614 (expungement) — broad eligibility, most misdemeanors after 3-5 years, many felonies after 5-7 years post-completion of sentence; certain offenses ineligible
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under K.S.A. § 22-2802; constitutional right to bail with exceptions for capital offenses and Hard-50 cases (Kan. Const. Bill of Rights, § 9)
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Kansas uses a Sentencing Guidelines grid system under K.S.A. § 21-6804 (drug offenses) and § 21-6804 (nondrug). Felonies are classified by severity level (1-10 for nondrug; 1-5 for drug) and the defendant’s criminal history category (A through I). The grid produces a presumptive sentence range. Murder First-Degree is an off-grid felony with mandatory minimums — Hard-50 (50-year minimum) under K.S.A. § 21-6620 for premeditated first-degree murder. Kansas retains the death penalty for capital murder under K.S.A. § 21-6624. Kansas is one of the strictest states on marijuana — no medical or recreational; possession of any amount is a Class B misdemeanor first offense (K.S.A. § 21-5706(c)(3)) and may escalate to a Drug Severity Level 5 felony for repeat offenses. Kansas’s expungement statute under K.S.A. § 21-6614 is one of the better statutes in the region — broad eligibility for most misdemeanors after 3-5 years and many felonies after 5-7 years post-completion. Kansas prosecutors (county/district attorneys) plea-bargain extensively; diversion programs are widely available.

Exhibit B

When to call a criminal defense attorney in Kansas

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

Exhibit C

Criminal Defense cases we take in Kansas

Which one is closest to yours?

DUI

Kansas DUI under K.S.A. § 8-1567 (.08 BAC). First offense: 48 hours to 6 months jail, $750-$1,000 fine, 30-day suspension plus IID. Second offense: 90 days minimum (5 days mandatory). Third: 90 days minimum (90 days mandatory) — non-grid felony. Fourth in 10 years: presumptive prison.

Sound like yours? A Kansas attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.

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Exhibit D

How much do Kansas criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Kansas · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in Kansas are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in Kansas work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Kansas Rule of Prof. Conduct 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. The Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services represents indigent defendants.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your Kansas criminal defense compensation can include

A Kansas criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Charge Dismissal

Outright dismissal through motion to suppress, motion to dismiss, speedy trial under K.S.A. § 22-3402 (150 days in-custody, 180 days on-bond), or prosecutor motion to dismiss.

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Exhibit F

Kansas criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Kansas attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. KBI (Kansas Bureau of Investigation), Kansas Highway Patrol, county sheriffs, and city police use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and Sixth Amendment right to counsel under Miranda.

Yes. Kansas Class A misdemeanors carry up to 1 year in jail and $2,500 fines under K.S.A. § 21-6602. Many counties offer Diversion programs through the prosecutor’s office that result in dismissal upon successful completion. DV and DUI convictions trigger collateral consequences.

State cases go through Kansas District Court. Federal cases go to U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas (Wichita, Kansas City, Topeka) under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Federal cases commonly involve drug trafficking on I-70 and I-35, § 922(g) firearm prosecutions, and federal fraud — Kansas is along key Midwestern drug corridors.

Kansas plea agreements under K.S.A. § 22-3210 are negotiated between the County or District Attorney and defense. Pleas can include charge reductions, departure motions from the guidelines grid (departure under K.S.A. § 21-6815), diversion (K.S.A. § 22-2906), drug court entry, and stipulated sentence recommendations. Border-zone counties (Wyandotte/Johnson) interface with federal MO cases.

Yes — K.S.A. § 21-6614 is a relatively broad expungement statute. Most misdemeanors after 3-5 years post-completion. Many felonies eligible after 5 years (some require 7 or 10). Sex offenses, traffic offenses involving fatalities, and certain serious crimes excluded. Diversion completions can result in dismissal that becomes expungement-eligible immediately.

Kansas handles juveniles under 18 in juvenile court under Revised Kansas Juvenile Justice Code (K.S.A. § 38-2301 et seq.). Juvenile records are confidential and expungeable under K.S.A. § 38-2312. Waiver to adult court for juveniles 14+ charged with certain offenses under § 38-2347; presumptive adult prosecution for 16/17-year-olds for certain serious felonies.

Kansas DUI under K.S.A. § 8-1567 uses .08 BAC (.04 commercial, .02 under-21). Implied consent under K.S.A. § 8-1001 — refusal triggers 1-year administrative license suspension. Mandatory IID for second-offense and high-BAC first offenses under K.S.A. § 8-1015. Fourth DUI is a non-grid felony.