What are Platte County Public Records?
County staff administer Platte County public records under the Nebraska Revised Statute 84-712. Per state rules, a Platte County public record is any document - physical form notwithstanding - which county departments, boards, or commissions may create. These could include audiotapes, typed or handwritten contracts, maps, or emails.
Although most Platte County records are publicly available, Nebraska law names some exceptions to the rules. Some exceptions include:
- Student records
- Medical records
- Trade secrets, academic and scientific research work
- Records under lawyer-client privilege
- Law enforcement records for ongoing investigations
- Private records regarding personnel of public bodies
- Information including elements of physical and cyber assets of critical energy or electric infrastructure
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location including the city, county or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Platte County Crime Statistics
Platte County law enforcement collects crime data in the county and shares it with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This information goes into the FBI’s annual Uniform Crime Reporting program, which is available to the public. Reports between 2015 and 2018 show that Platte County experienced a 37% increase in crime over three years.
In the 2015 report, the highest reported crime in Platte County was larceny with 43 cases. Burglaries came next on the list, with twelve reported cases. By 2018, with 71 reported cases, larceny was still the highest reported crime in Platte County. The number of reported burglaries cases also went up to fifteen in 2018.
Are Platte County Criminal Records Public?
Platte County criminal records are - according to the Nebraska Revised Statute 84-712 - in the public domain.
Anyone interested in obtaining Platte County criminal records can query the Sheriff’s Office in person or by mail. Requesters must provide details on the criminal record that are as accurate as possible, including the offender’s name and ID number. The sheriff’s office is open from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, and requesters can locate it below:
Platte County Sheriff’s Office
2610 14th St.
Columbus, NE 68601
Phone: (402) 564-9077
Email: sheriff@plattene.us
Statewide, the Nebraska State Patrol provides interested individuals with Criminal History Record Requests. Individuals can perform name-based criminal history searches online, for a fee of $15.50. Requesters can also complete a Criminal History Record Request form, attach a check or money order for $12.50, and submit the form in person or by mail to the following address:
Nebraska State Patrol
Criminal Identification Division
1600 Highway 2
P.O. Box 94907
Lincoln, NE 68509-4907
How to Obtain Platte County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
In Platte County, the Sheriff’s Office is responsible for maintaining arrest records and making them available. Typically, an arrest record will contain some or all of the following information:
- The arrestee’s name, mugshot, and physical descriptors
- The arrest warrant, duly signed by a judge
- Details on the arrest - date and time, location, etc
- Information on the arresting officers and agency
- Detention information
- Charges (if any) brought against the arrestee.
Anyone interested in obtaining Platte County arrest records can visit or send a request to the following address:
Platte County Sheriff’s Office
2610 14th St.
Columbus, NE 68601
Phone: (402) 564-9077
Email: sheriff@plattene.us
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Platte County
Anyone who wishes to find Platte County sex offender information can query the statewide Sex Offender Registry, which the Nebraska State Government manages. The registry allows users to search by sex offenders using their names and known aliases. Users can also search for offenders within a county, city, or zip code and locate offenders within a 1-3 mile radius of a given address. Search results provide the offender’s image and physical description and the offender’s address, school (if attending any), and registered vehicles.
How to Find Platte County Inmate Records
The Platte County Detention Facility keeps a roster of inmates housed within its walls but does not make that available online. Individuals looking for inmate information must contact the facility, between 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, at the following address:
Platte County Detention Facility
1125 17th St E,
Columbus, NE 68601
However, statewide, interested individuals can find inmate information using the Inmate Information Locator, provided by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (DCS). The tool allows users to search for inmates located in any Nebraska correctional facility using their full name and DCS ID Number.
Platte County Court Records
Platte County court records refer to the official documents that give a detailed account of court proceedings. Court staff generates records for criminal and civil cases alike, and these records typically contain affidavits, transcripts of testimonies, judgments, and other details necessary in a court case. In Platte County, the District Court Clerk is responsible for maintaining court records and making them available to requesters. Individuals interested in obtaining Platte County court records can visit the District Court Clerk’s office in person or send a written request. The fee for securing court record copies is $15 per document.
The location of courts in Platte County are listed below:
Platte County District Court
2610 14th Street,
P.O. Box 1188,
Columbus, NE 68602
Phone: (402) 563-4906
County Court of Platte County
2610 14th Street,
P.O. Box 538,
Columbus, NE 68601
Phone: (402) 563-4905
Fax: (402) 562-8158
Are Platte County Court Records Public?
Yes. Per the Nebraska Public Records Law, all Platte County citizens and interested parties have permission to request, view, and copy Platte County court records. Anyone can request a Platte County court record as long as it is not legally sealed.
Some court documents, however, are sealed and exempt from public view, including (but not limited to):
- Juvenile court records
- Records of ongoing court cases
How to Obtain Platte County Civil Court Case Records
The Platte County District Court Clerk is responsible for maintaining civil court case records and making them available to requesters. Individuals interested in obtaining Platte County civil court case records can visit the District Court Clerk’s office in person or send a written request. The fee for securing court record copies is $15 per document.
Alternatively, individuals looking to obtain Platte County civil court case records may obtain them via the Nebraska Judicial Branch’s JUSTICE One-Time Court Case Search database. The search costs $15 and returns up to 30 records.
How to Obtain Platte County Criminal Court Records
Criminal records in Platte County are under the County District Court Clerk’s jurisdiction. The district clerk allows the public to request and view criminal court records in person or via written request. The fee for securing criminal court record copies is $15 per document.
Alternatively, individuals looking to obtain Platte County criminal court records may obtain them via the Nebraska Judicial Branch’s JUSTICE One-Time Court Case Search database. The search costs $15 and returns up to 30 records.
What are Platte County Vital Records?
In Platte County, vital records are official documents that mark critical human events. Vital events include (but are not limited to) births, deaths, marriage, and marriage dissolution. In Nebraska, vital records are not in the public domain and are accessible only by the person named on the document, immediate family members of the record holder, or the record holder’s legal representative. In Platte County, eligible individuals can obtain marriage certificates from the County Clerk’s Office and divorce records from the District Court Clerk. Birth and death records are available, statewide, from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Divorce records are the official documents generated during a marriage dissolution proceeding. In Platte County, the District Court is responsible for conducting marriage dissolutions, and the District Court Clerk manages all divorce records. Individuals interested in obtaining Platte County divorce records can query the District Clerk's office in person, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Requesters can also send a written request to the address below:
Platte County District Court Clerk
2610 14th Street,
P.O. Box 1188,
Columbus, NE 68602
Phone: (402) 563-4906
Marriage records show proof of a couple’s union. The Platte County Clerk is responsible for issuing marriage licenses and providing certified copies of marriage certificates to eligible requesters. To obtain a certified marriage certificate, eligible individuals must provide the bride and groom’s names, marriage dates, and $9. Non-certified copies cost $1. Requesters can visit the County Clerk’s office in person or send a written request to the following address:
Platte County Clerk
2610 14th Street
Columbus, NE 68601
Phone: (402) 563-4904
Fax: (402) 564-4164
Email: clerk@plattene.us
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) provides birth certificates to the person named on the certificate or immediate family members. Interested individuals can apply for certificates by completing a request form online and emailing a photo of a valid ID to DHHS.VitalRecords@nebraska.gov within three days.
Interested individuals can also request birth certificates by mailing a request with a $17 fee to the DHHS:
Nebraska Vital Records
P.O. Box 95065,
Lincoln, NE
68509-5065
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) provides death certificates to the immediate family members of the person named on the record. To obtain a Platte County death record, eligible requesters must send a request to the DHHS, a money order or check for $16 and a legible copy of a valid photo ID.
Nebraska Vital Records
P.O. Box 95065,
Lincoln, NE
68509-5065
