What are Lincoln Public Records?
The Nebraska Public Records Law describes public records as documents, records, and data, regardless of physical form, created, preserved, or belonging to any government entity in the city. Lincoln public records also include virtual data or information otherwise stored digitally. According to the public records law, the following records are considered private:
- Medical records
- Trade secrets
- Unpublished academic and scientific research
- Personal information contained in personnel records
- Security procedures, policies, or standards
Lincoln Crime Statistics
The Lincoln Police Department (LPD) provides records of crime statistics in the city. Annually, the LPD publishes statistics on traffic stops, narcotics overdoses, weapon-related offenses, and criminal activity. Crimes are divided into Part 1 and Part 2 crimes. Per the LPD's 2019 report, there were 6,545 recorded larceny/theft cases, the most common Part 1 Crime. Murder was the least common, with 5 cases. Compared to figures from 2018, larceny/theft and murder both fell by 1.9% and 16.7% respectively.
The LPD also reported 3,406 misdemeanor assaults and 270 forgeries, the most and least common Part 2 Crimes in the city. The recorded rate of misdemeanor assaults climbed 0.4% from 2018's figure, and forgeries climbed 26.2%. Overall, Lincoln recorded a total of 18,133 Part 1 Crimes and 8,987 Part 2 Crimes.
Are Lincoln Criminal Records Public?
Lincoln criminal records are public records and are accessible to all requesters. The LPD maintains criminal history records for persons arrested by the agency. Interested persons may request online for arrests since 1980. For older records, requestors must apply to the LPD's Records Unit. Each record costs $10, payable with a card from Discover, Visa, or Mastercard. Use the following information to request records created before 1980:
Lincoln Police Department Records Unit
575 South 10th Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 441-7210
Office Hours: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday
Residents may also request Records of Arrest and Prosecution (RAP sheet) for persons in Lincoln or other parts of the state. Nebraska RAP sheets include arrest information and the resulting dispositions and are requestable from the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP). However, Nebraska law requires the redaction of the following information from these records:
- An arrest where the prosecuting attorney does not file charges one year after the date of arrest
- A record where no charges are filed because of a completed diversion if two years have passed since the arrest date
- A record with filed charges which were later dismissed by the court, following completion of a problem-solving court program, or a motion from the prosecuting attorney
Online requests cost $15.50 while mail and in-person requests cost $12.50 payable by personal check, cashier's check, or money order made out to "Nebraska State Patrol". Mail and in-person requests require completing a criminal history record request form.
How to Obtain Lincoln Police Reports and Arrest Records
Public Lincoln records, such as arrest records and incident reports, are obtainable from the Lincoln Police Department. The LPD provides copies of incident reports via an online case number search. Records available on the online database are for incidents dating back to 1990. Persons interested in earlier incident reports or arrest records must contact the LPD's Records Unit at:
Lincoln Police Department Records Unit
575 South 10th Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 441-7210
Office Hours: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday
Interested persons may also contact the Records Unit for physical copies of these records.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Lincoln
The Nebraska State Patrol provides a free online sex offender registry for registered offenders in Lincoln and other parts of the state. Interested persons may search by name, region, or by location. Use the region search function, select Lancaster on the county drop-down menu, and fill in Lincoln. Requestors may also use the zip code search function. Search results display each offender's full name, known aliases, date of birth, registration duration, physical descriptors, last verified address, vehicles owned and schools attended.
How to Find Lincoln Inmate Records
The Lancaster County Department of Corrections maintains Lincoln inmate records. The Department of Corrections provides an online inmate search where Lincoln city residents may search for inmates by name or by booking date. The search results return each inmate's full name, booking number, age, booking date, sex, and race. Results also include information on each charge, corresponding docket number, and possible bond or fine amounts.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in the Lincoln City Jail?
Inmates receive contact visits only on Saturdays. After approval from the Lincoln City Jail's Programs Department, the inmate will receive a notification of the approved time and date and must notify the visitor. In addition, the facility allows inmates to receive unapproved contact visits from law enforcement officers or attorneys. Each inmate may receive up to five visitors per session, including a maximum of two adults who are 18 years old or older. Each session lasts for 45 minutes.
An inmate must have been in custody for at least 180 consecutive days to qualify for a personal contact visit. All visitors shall register by creating a visitor account with the jail's third-party account provider. Registration is also available in person. For contact visits, visitors may not wear anything suggestive, revealing, or otherwise considered inappropriate. Personal property such as bags and purses will not be allowed into the contact visit room. All visitors must submit for a pat search and a metal detector scan. At the discretion of the facility, visitors may be subject to additional searches. Persons who refuse to submit for the initial or additional searches will be turned away. Visitors who show up with contraband items may lose visiting privileges and may also be prosecuted.
In addition to contact visits, the Lincoln City Jail also allows two to four video visits per week, every day, including holidays. Each inmate's allotted number of visits depends on housing and classification within the facility. Video visits may last up to one hour or stretch further on a case-by-case basis. Visitors interested in video visits must schedule at least one day before the visit, but not more than seven days in advance. Cancellations are allowed up to eight hours in advance. Only three visitors are allowed in the visitation center per visit. Visitors may visit once a day and may visit only one inmate. Visitors must present government-issued IDs for all visits.
Court Records
Lincoln city seats the Lancaster District, County, and Juvenile Courts, which are all part of the Nebraska Judicial Branch. The District Court may exercise general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases and has more authority than other courts. The County Court has limited jurisdiction over some criminal and civil cases, such as misdemeanors, city and village ordinance violations, infractions, domestic relations juvenile, probate, and general civil claims. The County Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the District Court over some domestic relations cases. The Lancaster Juvenile Court may hear all juvenile cases and hear domestic relations matters that involve custody or care of minors.
Location of Lincoln City Courts
Lancaster County District Court
Justice and Law Enforcement Center
575 South 10th Street
3rd Floor
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 441-7328
Fax: (402) 441-6190
Lancaster County Court
Justice and Law Enforcement Center
575 South 10th Street
2nd Floor
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 441-7291
Lancaster County Juvenile Court
Justice and Law Enforcement Center
575 South 10th Street
Room 413
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 441-6928
Fax: (402) 441-6930
Email: juvenilecourt@lancaster.ne.gov
Are Lincoln Court Records Public?
Under Nebraska law, Lincoln court records are public and are available to all requesters. Lincoln courts provide access to all court records except exempted under law or sealed by a court order. However, Juvenile Court records are considered confidential and inaccessible by the general public. Access to Juvenile Court records is restricted to the following:
- Child
- Child's attorney
- Child's parents or legal guardians
- Law enforcement agencies for investigative purposes, after receiving consent from a court or the child
- Social service providers caring for the child or the child's immediate family
Can You Look Up a Lincoln Court Case Online?
Lincoln court cases are available online through the JUSTICE court case search system provided by the Nebraska Judicial Branch. The system provides case information for access to civil, criminal, juvenile, traffic, and probate cases in Lincoln and other parts of Nebraska. The JUSTICE system charges $15 per search and may return up to 30 records. The search fee is non-refundable, even if the system does not return any details. Available case information includes the following:
- Case details including dates, charges, and disposition
- Names of parties and attorneys
- Costs and payments
- Register of actions
Lincoln city residents interested in multiple and frequent searches are advised to create a subscriber account for an annual fee of $100.
How to Obtain Lincoln City Court Case Records
Lincoln court records are available online through the JUSTICE system. Requestors may also obtain court case records by contacting the District or County Court using the following information:
Lancaster County District Court
Justice and Law Enforcement Center
575 South 10th Street
3rd Floor
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 441-7328
Fax: (402) 441-6190
Email: clerkdistct@lancaster.ne.gov
Lancaster County Court
Justice and Law Enforcement Center
575 South 10th Street
2nd Floor
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 441-7291
What are Lincoln Vital Records?
Lincoln vital records detail major life events that take place in the city. Vital records are created and issued by the government and include divorce decrees, death certificates, marriage records, and birth certificates.
Where and How to Obtain Lincoln Divorce Records
Lincoln divorce records are not public information. Under state laws, Lincoln residents may obtain divorce records of themselves or must prove a relationship with the person named on the record. Divorce certificates are obtainable from the Office of Vital Records, a division of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Each certificate costs $16, payable by money order or checks made out to Vital Records. Send the form, payment, self-addressed and stamped business-sized envelope, and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the Office of Vital Records. Alternatively, request in person at:
Physical Address:
Nebraska Vital Records
1033 O Street
Suite 130
Lincoln NE 68508-3621
Mailing Address:
Nebraska Vital Records
P.O. Box 95065
Lincoln, NE 68509-5065
The Office of Vital Records maintains records of divorces since 1909. Persons interested in earlier records, or the court's divorce decree, must contact the Lancaster County District Court:
Lancaster County District Court
Justice and Law Enforcement Center
575 South 10th Street
3rd Floor
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 441-7328
Fax: (402) 441-6190
Email: clerkdistct@lancaster.ne.gov
Where and How to Get Public Lincoln Marriage Records
The Lancaster County Clerk's Office provides access to public Lincoln marriage records via an online marriage license search. Interested persons may search by the applicant's name or marriage date. Search results display both parties' full names, the marriage date and year, and a license number.
Where and How to Get Confidential Lincoln Marriage Records
Certified copies of Lincoln marriage records are obtainable from the Lancaster County Clerk's Office. Only the married parties, immediate family members, and other persons that can prove a relationship with either party may access certified copies. Each certified marriage record costs $9 payable by credit or debit card, or check made out to Lancaster County. To request, complete a certified marriage record request form with details on the married parties. Include card information if paying by credit or debit card. Note that card payments cost an extra service charge of $1 or 2.35%, whichever is larger. Send the completed form, payment information, and a copy of a valid government-issued ID to:
Lancaster County Clerk
555 South 10th Street
Room 108
Lincoln, NE 68508
Certified copies are also available for records of marriages since mid-June 1976. For records created between 1909 and mid-June 1976, contact the Vital Records Office:
Nebraska Vital Records
1033 O Street
Suite 130
Lincoln, NE 68508-3621
For marriage records before 1913, contact the Nebraska State Historical Society.
Where and How to Find Lincoln Birth Records
The Office of Vital Records entertains requests for Lincoln birth records. Access is restricted to the person on the certificate and close family members or other persons that can present proof of a relationship. All birth certificates cost $17 each and are available online, in person, or by mail. For an online request, submit the birth information of the person named on the record. The requestor must also send a clear copy of their current government-issued photo ID by fax to (402) 742-2385 or by email to dhhs.vitalrecords@nebraska.gov.
For a mail request, enclose a completed birth certificate application form with a copy of a current government-issued ID and a check or money order payable to Vital Records. Send the documents to:
Nebraska Vital Records
1033 O Street
Suite 130
Lincoln, NE 68508-3621
Where and How to Find Lincoln Death Records
The Office of Vital Records issues death certificates to eligible persons, such as a spouse, parent, child, a legal representative of the decedent, or other persons that can present proof of a relationship. To obtain a death certificate, complete a death certificate application form. Enclose the completed form, a copy of a valid government-issued ID, and a check or money order for $16 made out to Vital Records. Send the documents with a self-addressed and stamped business-sized envelope to:
Nebraska Vital Records
1033 O Street
Suite 130
Lincoln, NE 68508-3621
