Access Kentucky arrest records and criminal records in a matter of seconds through the government repositories seen below or through free web searches.
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) make records available to the public, but searchers must know what and where to look for them because it can differ for each KY county.
For this reason, this resource provides free guides that empower citizens to learn about anyone’s criminal history so they can make informed decisions in personal and professional relationships.
The information below will show readers how to:
- Find recent arrests in Kentucky through their respective county sheriff’s department
- Post bail for individuals arrested in Kentucky
- Check to see if someone has a criminal history or infractions by looking into KY court records
- Obtain and request copies of Kentucky criminal records
- Seal and expunge criminal records that originated in Kentucky
- See if someone is on probation or parole in KY
- Find state and federal prisoners in Kentucky penitentiaries
- Run a Kentucky background check for personal reasons or professional purposes in accordance with the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act)
- Determine if there are sexual predators or offenders in their neighborhood
- Digest and understand laws surrounding public records and anti-discrimination
Are Criminal & Arrest Records Public Information in Kentucky? Which Records Are Not Publicly Accessible?
Kentucky criminal records are covered under KORA (Kentucky Open Records Act) outlined in KRS 61.870 to 61.884. This makes all criminal convictions, pending charges, mugshots and arrest records part of the broader Kentucky public records and accessible to anyone that wants to know — with some limited exceptions.
For example, juvenile records are not public record and cannot be accessed unless specifically ordered released by a judge in good standing, and then only to a restricted audience with a need-to-know status. Additionally, police reports or arrest reports can be restricted until the matter has been disposed of in court to preserve the integrity of the investigation.
Information in police reports or criminal cases pertaining to witnesses and victims can also be removed from the records when released to someone to protect these individuals. These exceptions are covered in 61.878.
Other matters that are confidential and are not considered public record in Kentucky are mental health cases and domestic violence protective order cases.
Additionally, per 61.878, in some cases victims can consent to release of videos or photographs in which they appear in order to help capture wanted persons or to raise awareness, but release of these images must be in compliance with all aspects of the statute.1
Also, criminal court cases that have been expunged or sealed by the court are not considered public record and will be accessible on background checks or other criminal history searches.
What Shows Up on Kentucky Criminal Records Searches vs KY Arrest Records?
The amount of information that appears on Kentucky criminal and arrest records are similar; however, criminal records show even more information after the individual goes to court.
Kentucky Arrest Records
Kentucky arrest records show who’s in jail, a description of the person, how to find out someone’s charges in jail, date and time the person was arrested, the law enforcement agency making the arrest, and where the person is currently in jail.
Arrest records may also include a mugshot if the agency wishes to include this information. Kentucky state laws do not prohibit employers from requesting and using arrest records in the state for hiring decisions, so understanding these records and how to access them is vital.2
Kentucky Criminal Records
Kentucky criminal records contain all the same elements of an arrest record; however, they also include disposition information in the case.
Disposition simply means what happened to the charges in court including dismissal/dropped charges, acquittals, convictions, diversions or deferred programs and sentencing data.
A Kentucky criminal background check includes traffic offenses, misdemeanors, felonies and circuit court information in addition to the other data mentioned.3
How To Find Recent Arrests & Why Someone Is in Jail in KY for Free (Search Kentucky Jails)
There are many ways to find recent arrests in Kentucky. The fastest way to locate a recently arrested individual is to search the local county jail records. However to effectively use this method, it is essential to know the location where the arrest took place.
Most jails are maintained by the county sheriff’s department, or the county jailer. Searching these departments is the quickest way how to find out what someone was arrested for or how to find out if someone was arrested.
The Kentucky government framework has an elected office for both sheriffs and jailers, and these officials may share incarceration duties. Some major cities may also maintain municipal jails for short-term incarceration.
Knowing where to search and how is key to learning who is in jail or who was recently arrested in a certain area. It is also a great way to find out why someone was arrested or is in jail.
How To View County Arrest Records in Kentucky (KY Mugshots & Inmate Rosters)
County jails are the first and best place to start when looking for recent arrest records in Kentucky and we took the liberty to list each county’s inmate search tool below.
Each jail maintains a daily roster of inmates, and many departments offer this roster online or via telephone, but not every department updates daily arrests as they occur, instead updating them at the end of the working day.
Below the table and bulleted list is a series of steps searchers can do to locate an inmate.
The table below lists the county and regional jails in Kentucky that have online search portals available to the public. Regional jails also include the counties or areas served.
Jails typically house inmates awaiting hearing; however, some county jail inmates may have been sentenced to short-term incarceration in the Kansas Department of Corrections and are serving their sentence in the local jail. Each jail below has an online search portal that can be reached by clicking the name of the jail:
*Requires creating a free account to view the current inmate roster.
Counties that do not have online search portals are listed below with the number to call to request arrest data. When calling, the person may be required to provide their full name and reason for requesting an update on an inmate’s status.
The list below is for jails that do not have an online search portal:
- Anderson County Jail (502-839-6040)
- Bath County (Owingsville Police Department) (606-674-6361)
- Bracken County Sheriff’s Office (606-735-3233)
- Breathitt County Sheriff’s Office (606-568-8285)
- Carlisle County Jail (270-445-1022)
- Clinton County Jail (606-387-4395)
- Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office (270-864-4321)
- Edmonson County Sheriff’s Office (270-597-2157)
- Elliott County Jail (606-738-6100)
- Estill County Sheriff’s Office (606-723-2323)
- Fleming County Jail (606-845-8801)
- Floyd County Sheriff’s Office (606-886-6171)
- Gallatin County Jail (859-567-5941)
- Garrard County Sheriff’s Office (859-792-3591)
- Green County Sheriff’s Office (270-932-5641)
- Hancock County Sheriff’s Office (270-927-6247)
- Harrison County Sheriff’s Office (859-234-7135)
- Henry County Jail (502-845-2520)
- Hickman County Jail (270-653-9933)
- Knott County Sheriff’s Office (606-785-5592)
- Lyon County Sheriff’s Office (270-388-2311)
- Marshall County Detention Center (270-527–4760)
- McCreary County Sheriff’s Office (606-376-2322)
- McLean County Sheriff’s Office (270-273-3276)
- Menifee County Jail (606-768-9046)
- Mercer County Jail (859-734-6336)
- Metcalfe County Jail (270-579-1013)
- Monroe County Jail (270-487-6622)
- Morgan County Sheriff’s Office (606-743-3613)
- Nicholas County Jail (859-473-0307)
- Owsley County Sheriff’s Office (606-593-5161)
- Pendleton County Jail (859-654.4444)
- Shelby County Detention Center (502-633-2343)
- Spencer County Sheriff’s Office (502-477-3200)
- Trimble County Jail (502-255-4784)
- Washington County Jail (859-481-3917)
In Kentucky, it is legal for mugshots to be made public; however, not every department includes mugshots in online rosters or searches.
Family and friends want to know if someone they care about is in jail, and they need to know how to search jail rosters and inmate information in Kentucky. In either case, anyone can simply use the information above to conduct a jail search and find mugshots or they can find the inmate roster of any county jail in Kentucky with these simple steps:
- Open the search engine of choice on the computer.
- Key in “[name of the city or county where the person was arrested] Kentucky jail inmate search”.
- Review the top results to look for an official agency website. These are usually .gov or .us; however, local law enforcement sites may be .com, .org, or .net sites. It is important to verify the site is the official webpage for the agency to get the most accurate results.
- Click the link for the official page and look for an internal link that says current inmates or inmate roster.
- Enter the person’s first and last name in the search bar, or look through the roster if the entire one opens to find the subject’s record.
- Click the record where it says view or learn more or some variation of these words to see details.
If a county doesn’t have an online directory to search current inmates, a call to the local jail, sheriff’s office or police department can help locate an arrestee.
Look Up Recent Arrests & Mugshots of City Jail Inmates (Kentucky Arrest Record Search)
Some cities maintain their own jails; however, most utilize the county detention facility for inmates awaiting hearing or release. For example, Louisville, Kentucky that’s located in Jefferson county has its own detention facility with an online search portal.
Information provided shows details about the inmate, charges, and a mugshot when available.
Bowling Green, Kentucky, the second largest city in the state, however, uses Warren County Regional Jail to house inmates arrested within the city.
County facilities should be the first place checked, then move to the city law enforcement departments or local sheriff’s office for information.
People that live in the city police jurisdictions also want to know if family or friends have been taken into custody. To find out if someone is in a city jail, do the following:
- Open the preferred search engine online.
- Type “[name of the city] Kentucky arrest record search.”
- Review the top 1-2 results to find the local agency that would have made the arrest and click that link that takes you to the Kentucky Department of Corrections.
- Click the link for inmate search or current inmates and follow the prompts on the screen to access the inmate roster.
When searching county or city jails for arrest records in Kentucky, using the steps listed above can help searchers find the information quickly; however, there may be occasions where the data is not listed on the roster or available through the search portal.
In those cases, an attorney can be hired to help locate an inmate and help with getting that individual released pre-trial. While some agencies do publish mugshots, there is not a statewide mugshot database.
Statewide Public Arrest Record Search
Unlike any other Correction Department online resource, the State’s Department of Corrections include options to search for inmates in the county jails or detention centers through the Kentucky Online Offender Lookup (KOOL).
In the advanced search options, users can select the location of the inmate from a dropdown menu, which includes state prisons, county jails, and detention centers.
The KOOL system provides search option to help individuals locate offender’s record either by name, location (county of conviction) or offender number.
Another option is through the Kentucky State Police, which is the criminal record public records repository for the state and can be used as a sort of people finder when looking for an individual. While the agency does maintain records regarding current arrests, there is no online portal or roster that can be accessed like that with county or city jails.
Statewide arrest records for employment, housing or personal use can be obtained through KSP by doing the following:
- Go to the Kansas State Police website.
- Click the link to go to the background check form to request arrest records.
- Choose the reason for the request from the options available.
- Complete the form and print it.
- Mail the request to the address below along with the check or money order in the amount of $20.
Address for arrest records through the Kentucky State Police is:
Criminal I&R Branch
Criminal Records Division
1266 Louisville Rd
Frankfort Kentucky 40601
Once the record is located a copy will be mailed to the searcher information listed on the form.
How To Get Ahold of an Inmate in Jail & Help Them Post Bond in Kentucky
The first priority for someone who has been arrested is getting out of jail, and they rely on family and friends to help them get released, and how to do that is discussed here.
The table above provides links to jails that online inmate rosters as well as contact and visitation rules and regulations.
To contact someone who is in jail regarding posting bond, putting money in their jail account, or just checking on them, do the following:
- From the preferred search engine, type “[name of the county] Kentucky inmate information.”
- Click the link for the detention center’s official website.
- Look for a link that says inmate information, inmate telephones, or inmate visitation and click that link.
- Read the information provided on how to contact an inmate and find out about posting bail.
Another method of contacting an inmate or getting the person released or bail set is to hire an attorney that practices criminal law. The attorney may be able to get the person released without having to post money or property to secure their appearance in court at a later date, or can work to get the existing bond to a lower amount.
Additionally, the attorney can advise the family on the best route to take regarding bail.4
Some states allow for bail bondsmen to help secure the release of an inmate; however, Kentucky has made commercial bail bonding services illegal per statute 431-510.
It is not required to hire an attorney to get a person released from jail before their hearing, but these professionals can be of great value when a person is arrested.
The attorney can also start working right away on the arrestee’s defense limiting the impact a future criminal record check can have.
How To Access Criminal Records in KY
There are various methods for looking up and searching criminal records in the state.
The Kentucky Court of Justice serves as the official state agency that generates and maintains criminal records for everyone in the state who has been charged with a crime. Each county has an elected Circuit Clerk that serves a six-year term.5
How To Perform a Criminal Record Search Through the KY County Clerk of Court’s Office
Circuit clerks are responsible for maintaining all court records and receiving fines and fees as part of sentencing in criminal courts in Kentucky.
The steps below provide information on how to search court records and find out what happened with a case, or learn if someone they know was convicted of a crime, complete the following steps:
- In a search engine, type “[name of the county] Kentucky clerk of court criminal records search.”
- Look at the top 1-3 links that appear on the list for the official county circuit clerk office.
- Go to the clerk’s office and use one of the public terminals to review records, or go to the criminal court clerk’s desk to request a hard copy of the record.
- Pay any fees that may be required for printed copies.
Knowing where the case is being held helps the searcher know exactly which clerk’s office to request records from. The table below lists the address for each county circuit clerk of court:
| County Criminal Clerk of Court | Address | Phone Number |
| Adair | 201 Campbellsville St, Ste 101 Columbia, Kentucky 42728 |
270-384-2626 |
| Allen | 200 W Main St Scottsville, Kentucky 42164 |
270-237-3561 |
| Anderson | 151 South Main St Lawrenceburg, Kentucky 40342 |
502-839-3508 |
| Ballard | 132 North 4th St Wickliffe, Kentucky 42087 |
270-335-5123 |
| Barren | 100 Courthouse Sq Glasgow, Kentucky 42141 |
270-651-3763 |
| Bath | 19 East Main St Owingsville, Kentucky 40360 |
606-674-2186 |
| Bell | 101 W Park Ave Pineville, Kentucky 40977 |
606-337-9900 |
| Boone | 6025 Rogers Ln, Rm 141 Burlington, Kentucky 41005 |
859-448-2900 |
| Bourbon | 310 Main St Paris, Kentucky 40361 |
859-987-2624 |
| Boyd | 2805 Louisa St Catlettsburg, Kentucky 41129-0688 |
606-739-4131 |
| Boyle | 321 W Main St Danville, Kentucky 40422 |
859-239-7442 |
| Bracken | 132 W. Miami St Brooksville, Kentucky 41004 |
606-735-3328 |
| Breathitt | 1131 Main St Jackson, Kentucky 41339 |
606-666-5768 |
| Breckenridge | 111 W Second St Hardinsburg, Kentucky 40143 |
270-756-2239 |
| Bullitt | 250 Frank E Simon Ave Shepherdsville, Kentucky 40165 |
502-543-7104 |
| Butler | 110 North Main St Morgantown, Kentucky 42261 |
270-526-5631 |
| Caldwell | 105 W Court Sq Princeton, Kentucky 42445 |
270-365-6884 |
| Calloway | 312 North Fourth St Murray, Kentucky 42071 |
270-753-2773 |
| Campbell | 330 York St Newport, Kentucky 41071 |
859-292-6314 |
| Carlisle | 985 US Hwy 62 Bardwell, Kentucky 42023 |
270-628-5425 |
| Carroll | 802 Clay St Carrollton, Kentucky 41008 |
502-732-4305 |
| Carter | 100 East Main St Grayson, Kentucky 41143 |
606-474-5191 |
| Casey | 231 Courthouse Sq Liberty, Kentucky 42539 |
606-787-6510 |
| Christian | 100 Justice Hopkinsville, Kentucky 42240 |
270-889-6539 |
| Clark | 17 Cleveland Ave Winchester, Kentucky 40392 |
859-737-7264 |
| Clay | 316 Main St, Ste 108 Manchester, Kentucky 40962 |
606-598-3663 |
| Clinton | 100 South Cross St Albany, Kentucky 42602 |
606-387-6424 |
| Crittenden | 107 South Main St, Ste 202 Marion, Kentucky 42064 |
270-965-4200 |
| Cumberland | 112 Courthouse Sq Burkesville, Kentucky 42717-0395 |
270-864-2611 |
| Daviess | 100 East Second St Owensboro, Kentucky 42302-0277 |
270-687-7329 |
| Edmonson | 110 Cross Main St Brownsville, Kentucky 42210-0739 |
270-597-2584 |
| Elliott | 100 Main & Jane Caudill Sts Sandy Hook, Kentucky 41171 |
606-738-5232 |
| Estill | 130 Main St, Ste 207 Irvine, Kentucky 40336 |
606-723-3970 |
| Fayette | 120 North Limestone Lexington, Kentucky 40507 |
304-574-4213 |
| Fleming | 101 North Main Cross St Flemingsburg, Kentucky 41041 |
606-845-7011 |
| Floyd | 127 South Lake Dr Prestonsburg, Kentucky 41653 |
606-889-1658 |
| Franklin | 222 St. Clair St Frankfort, Kentucky 40601 |
502-564-7013 |
| Fulton | 114 East Wellington St Hickman, Kentucky 42050 |
270-236-3944 |
| Gallatin | 100 Main St Warsaw, Kentucky 41095 |
859-567-5241 |
| Garrard | 54 Stanford St Lancaster, Kentucky 40444 |
859-792-2961 |
| Grant | 224 South Main St Williamstown, Kentucky 41097 |
859-824-4467 |
| Graves | 1102 Paris Rd, Ste 21 Mayfield, Kentucky 42066 |
270-247-1733 |
| Grayson | 500 Carroll Gibson Boulevard Leitchfield, Kentucky 42754 |
270-259-3040 |
| Green | 200 W Court St Greensburg, Kentucky 42743 |
270-932-5631 |
| Greenup | 101 Harrison St Greenup, Kentucky 41144 |
606-473-9869 |
| Hancock | 310 Hawesville School Dr Hawesville, Kentucky 42348-0250 |
270-927-8144 |
| Hardin | 120 East Dixie Ave Elizabethtown, Kentucky 42701 |
270-766-5000 |
| Harlan | 129 South First St Harlan, Kentucky 40831 |
606-573-7114 |
| Harrison | 115 Court St Cynthiana, Kentucky 41031 |
859-234-1914 |
| Hart | 117 East South St Munfordville, Kentucky 42765 |
270-524-5181 |
| Henderson | 5 North Main St Henderson, Kentucky 42420 |
270-826-2405 |
| Henry | 30 North Main St New Castle, Kentucky 40050 |
502-845-2868 |
| Hickman | 109 South Washington St Clinton, Kentucky 42031 |
270-653-3901 |
| Hopkins | 120 East Center St Madisonville, Kentucky 42431 |
270-824-7501 |
| Jackson | 100 1st St McKee, Kentucky 40447 |
606-287-7783 |
| Jefferson | 700 W Jefferson St Louisville, Kentucky 40202 |
502-574-5700 |
| Jessamine | 107 North Main St Nicholasville, Kentucky 40356 |
859-885-4531 |
| Johnson | 908 Third St, Ste 109 Paintsville, Kentucky 41240 |
606-297-9567 |
| Kenton | 230 Madison Ave Covington, Kentucky 41011 |
859-292-6521 |
| Knott | 53 W Main St Hindman, Kentucky 41822 |
606-785-5021 |
| Knox | 401 Court Sq Barbourville, Kentucky 40906 |
606-546-3075 |
| LaRue | 209 W High St Hodgenville, Kentucky 42748 |
270-358-3421 |
| Laurel | 305 South Main St London, Kentucky 40741 |
606-330-2078 |
| Lawrence | 29 River Bend Rd Louisa, Kentucky 41230 |
606-638-4215 |
| Lee | 256 Main St Beattyville, Kentucky 41311 |
606-464-8400 |
| Leslie | 22010 Main St, Unit #1, Box #7 Hyden, Kentucky 41749 |
606-672-2505 |
| Letcher | 156 Main St, Ste 201 Whitesburg, Kentucky 41858 |
606-633-7559 |
| Lewis | 94 2nd St Vanceburg, Kentucky 41179 |
606-796-3053 |
| Lincoln | 101 East Main St Stanford, Kentucky 40484 |
606-365-2535 |
| Livingston | 122 W Adair St Smithland, Kentucky 42081 |
270-928-2172 |
| Logan | 329 W Fourth St Russellville, Kentucky 42276 |
270-726-2424 |
| Lyon | 500 W Dale Ave Eddyville, Kentucky 42038 |
270-388-7231 |
| Madison | 116 W Main St Richmond, Kentucky 40475-0813 |
859-624-4713 |
| Magoffin | 100 East Maple St Salyersville, Kentucky 41465 |
606-349-2215 |
| Marion | 121 North Spalding Ave Lebanon, Kentucky 40033 |
270-692-2681 |
| Marshall | 80 Judicial Dr, Unit #101 Benton, Kentucky 42025 |
270-527-3883 |
| Martin | 14 Court St Inez, Kentucky 41224 |
606-298-3508 |
| Mason | 100 W Third St Maysville, Kentucky 41056 |
606-564-4340 |
| McCracken | 300 Clarence Gaines St Paducah, Kentucky 42003 |
270-575-7280 |
| McCreary | 1 North Main St Whitley City, Kentucky 42653 |
606-376-5041 |
| McLean | 210 East Main St Calhoun, Kentucky 42327 |
270-273-3966 |
| Meade | 516 Hillcrest Dr, Ste 4 Brandenburg, Kentucky 40108 |
270-422-4961 |
| Menifee | 12 Main St Frenchburg, Kentucky 40322 |
606-768-2461 |
| Mercer | 224 South Main St Harrodsburg, Kentucky 40330 |
859-734-8452 |
| Metcalfe | 201 East Stockton St Edmonton, Kentucky 42129 |
270-432-3663 |
| Monroe | 300 North Main St Tompkinsville, Kentucky 42167 |
270-487-5480 |
| Montgomery | 1 Court St Mt. Sterling, Kentucky 40353 |
859-498-5966 |
| Morgan | 261 Court St W Liberty, Kentucky 41472 |
606-743-3763 |
| Muhlenberg | 136 South Main St Greenville, Kentucky 42345 |
270-338-4850 |
| Nelson | 200 Nelson County Plz Bardstown, Kentucky 40004 |
502-348-3648 |
| Nicholas | 217 North Broadway St Carlisle, Kentucky 40311 |
859-289-2336 |
| Ohio | 130 East Washington St Hartford, Kentucky 42347 |
270-298-3671 |
| Oldham | 6822 Central Ave Crestwood, Kentucky 40014 |
502-222-9837 |
| Owen | 401 South Main St Owenton, Kentucky 40359 |
502-484-2232 |
| Owsley | 20 Main St Booneville, Kentucky 41314 |
606 593-6226 |
| Pendleton | 120 Ridgeway Ave Falmouth, Kentucky 41040 |
859-654-3347 |
| Perry | 545 Main St Hazard, Kentucky 41702 |
606-435-6000 |
| Pike | 175 Main St Pikeville, Kentucky 41502 |
606-433-7557 |
| Powell | 525 Washington St Stanton, Kentucky 40380 |
606-663-4141 |
| Pulaski | 50 Public Sq Somerset, Kentucky 42502-0664 |
606-677-4029 |
| Robertson | 127 East Walnut St Mt. Olivet, Kentucky 41064 |
606-724-5993 |
| Rockcastle | 205 East Main St, Rm 102 Mt. Vernon, Kentucky 40456 |
606-256-2581 |
| Rowan | 700 W Main St Morehead, Kentucky 40351 |
606-783-8505 |
| Russell | 202 Monument Sq, Ste 106 Jamestown, Kentucky 42629 |
270-343-2185 |
| Scott | 119 North Hamilton St Georgetown, Kentucky 40324 |
502-863-0474 |
| Shelby | 401 Main St, Ste 101 Shelbyville, Kentucky 40065 |
502-633-1287 |
| Simpson | 101 North Court St Franklin, Kentucky 42134 |
270-586-4241 |
| Spencer | 27 East Main St Taylorsville, Kentucky 40071 |
502-477-3220 |
| Taylor | 300 East Main St Campbellsville, Kentucky 42718 |
270-465-6686 |
| Todd | 204 W Main St Elkton, KY 42220 |
270-265-5631 |
| Trigg | 41 Main St Cadiz, Kentucky 42211 |
270-522-6270 |
| Trimble | 30 Hwy 42 E Bedford, Kentucky 40006 |
502-255-3213 |
| Union | 121 South Morgan St Morganfield, Kentucky 42437 |
270-389-1811 |
| Warren | 1001 Center St, Ste 102 Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101 |
270-746-7400 |
| Washington | 100 East Main St, Ste 100 Springfield, Kentucky 40069 |
859-336-3761 |
| Wayne | 100 W Columbia Ave Monticello, Kentucky 42633 |
606-348-5841 |
| Webster | 35 US Hwy 41-A S Dixon, Kentucky 42409 |
270-639-9160 |
| Whitley | 100 Main St Williamsburg, Kentucky 40769 |
606-549-2973 |
| Wolfe | 133 Main St Campton, Kentucky 41301-0296 |
606-668-3736 |
| Woodford | 130 Court St Versailles, Kentucky 40383 |
859-873-3711 |
The circuit clerk of court’s office is the best way to get a criminal record for cases heard in that particular court, but it is also possible to get a statewide record through the Kentucky judicial system.
Performing a Statewide Criminal Record Search via the Kentucky Court of Justice
A statewide criminal record search can be performed through the Kentucky Court of Justice online portal. People often seek a statewide criminal history to find out if a job candidate is suitable for the position, or to check out a potential dating or love interest to make sure they are not a danger to others.
This is how to search Kentucky criminal records through the court system and learn what happened in court broken down into steps listed here:
- Go to Kentucky Court’s official website.
- Click the link for a one-time request for individual searches, and complete the form that appears.
- Enter the information for the person making the request.
- Add the information for the subject of the request (the record the searcher is looking for).
- Click submit request.
- Pay the $25 fee (plus $2 when paying with credit card).
To get electronic copies of the record, the searcher must register. From the one-time request page, click user registration and complete the form to become a registered user.
Criminal records can also be requested via mail or in person. In-person requests can be made at the following address:
AOC Records
1001 Vandalay Dr
Frankfort Kentucky 40601
Mail-in requests must be sent to:
AOC Records
1001 Vandalay Dr
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
When making a mail-in or in-person request, a check or money order for $25 per record must be paid at the time of the request. The courts are one way to get a statewide record check, but the Kentucky State Police is also an option for a background check.
How To Obtain Copies of Kentucky Criminal Records
The steps below provide searchers with the tools and knowledge needed to get an official criminal record. Searchers can request a copy of a person’s criminal history through the Kentucky State Police (KSP) for a number of reasons.
For example, someone may need to have a background check to volunteer at their child’s school to be sure they don’t have criminal or arrest records in Kentucky. To request a KSP background check, do the following:
- Navigate to the Kentucky State Police official page.
- Click on the background checks link under name-based search.
- Choose the reason for the search and complete and download the form that opens. There are different forms for each specific background check reason.
- Submit the request form along with a check or money order to the address listed on the form.
A criminal history check can show a great deal of information regarding a person’s dealings with law enforcement, the courts and the community. Individuals can also go through the Kentucky State Police to obtain a fingerprint-based FBI rap sheet for positions that require a nation-wide background check.
How To Find Out if Someone Is on Probation or Parole in Kentucky
Kentucky is divided into 20 probation and parole regions where individuals who are placed on supervision in the community are monitored. Probation can include those who were released from jail on diversion programs or following a conviction for a minor offense or first time offense.
Parole is early release of a prison inmate who has become eligible for parole and meets the criteria for early release.
Probationers are placed on supervision by a judge in good standing in any of the circuit courts in Kentucky. Parolees must go before the Kentucky parole board for a hearing before being released, but the board itself does not have a public parolee database.
Probation and parolee are the community supervision components of the Kentucky Department of Corrections.
To determine if someone is on probation or check who is serving parole in the state, individuals can utilize the Kentucky Online Offender Lookup (KOOL).
To obtain offender information access the KOOL system and search for individual by name, KDOC no., alias, location, or county of conviction. Then click on the offender’s name to view more information and identify if the offender is currently under supervision (on parole or probation).
Alternatively, individuals can also conduct a probation or parole search by contacting the district probation and parole office or by reaching out to the clerk of court in the county where the case was tried.
Finding out someone is on probation or parole can help employers schedule shifts that won’t interfere with curfews or other probation or parole requirements. To locate the nearest probation and parole office in Kentucky, do the following:
- Open a search engine on the computer.
- Type “[county name] Kentucky probation and parole office.”
- Look at the top results and click on the official government link or in this case, navigate to the the official Department of Corrections’ site.
- Call the office listed for that county and provide the person’s first and last name to learn if they are on probation or parole and who their probation or parole officer is.
The table below lists all 20 districts with the counties they serve:
| Probation& Parole District/Counties | Counties Covered | Main Office Phone Number |
| District 1 |
|
270-575-7235 |
| District 2 |
|
270-889-6530 |
| District 3 |
|
270-746-7420 |
| District 4 |
|
502-595-4035 |
| District 5 |
|
270-766-5073/ |
| District 6 |
|
859-239-7614/ |
| District 7 |
|
859-292-6555 |
| District 8 |
|
859-623-3297 |
| District 9 |
|
859-246-2177 |
| District 10 |
|
606-330-2073 |
| District 11 |
|
606-889-1694 |
| District 12 |
|
502-732-6396/ |
| District 13 |
|
270-687-7245/ |
| District 14 |
|
859-873-5549/ |
| District 15 |
|
606-739-5833 |
| District 16 |
|
502-896-1775 |
| District 17 |
|
502-896-1775 |
| District 18 |
|
502-896-1775 |
| District 19 |
|
502-969-9001 |
| District 20 |
|
606-677-4024 |
Since probationers and parolees are able to move from location to location in most cases, starting with the county where the conviction occurred or the last known address of the offender is the best way to find out if the person is on probation or parole.
How To Seal or Expunge a Criminal Record in Kentucky (Process To Remove Charges From Your Permanent Record)
As mentioned earlier, unless a matter has been sealed or expunged, it is considered public record and is available for search by anyone, and below are detailed instructions on how to do this.
To clear a person’s record, it’s important to know how to seal or expunge a Kentucky criminal or arrest record. Since a criminal conviction can hinder a person’s ability to find work or housing.
To permanently remove charges from a record, do the following:
- Navigate to the Kentucky Court of Justice website.
- Open one of the types of expungements by clicking on “+” and then register an account on the website.
- Fill out the required document online after registering and logging into the account.
- Pay the $40 fee by check, money order, credit or debit card.
- Keep an eye on the email address listed on the registration form. An email will be sent when the certification packet is ready to be accessed online.
- Log back into the registration site and download the certification packet.
- Take the packet to the circuit clerk of court’s office where the case was heard and file the packet at this location.
Individuals who do not wish to start the process online can download an Expungement Certification Request Form from the website and mail it, along with a check or money order for $40 made out to the Kentucky State Treasurer at the address below:
AOC Records Division
1001 Vandalay Dr
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Kentucky allows for automatic expungement 30 days after a matter is dismissed with prejudice (meaning the district attorney is dismissing the matter entirely with no intent to reintroduce the charges) or the defendant is acquitted. The defendant does not have to take any action, the court automatically erases the record. Documentation of the expungement is forwarded to the following individuals:
- Defendant’s lawyer,
- District attorney/county attorney,
- Kentucky State Police Agency,
- The law enforcement agency that made the arrest, and
- The local jail where the defendant was in custody.
There are some Class D felonies that are also eligible for expungement, mainly those that are considered property offenses as opposed to violent crimes. The waiting period before a petition to file for expungement is five years, and the filing fee is $300.
Additionally, felony charges that do not result in an indictment or are dismissed can be eligible for a petition to expunge six months from the date the matter is disposed of. Filing fees in these cases are waived by the court as with other non-convictions.6
Defendants who are granted a full pardon can also petition the court to expunge their record regardless of the charges that were pardoned. An attorney can help individuals in Kentucky file for an expungement, and are especially helpful in complicated matters.
How To See if Someone Is in a State Prison in Kentucky or Was Sent to Federal Prison
Defendants who plead guilty or are found guilty by a judge or jury can be sentenced to a period of incarceration in the Kentucky State prison system and below are steps to finding out who is in custody in the state.
Family and friends want to know how they can keep in touch with someone in prison, send mail to their loved one, or add money to their accounts.
To find out if someone is in prison in Kentucky:
- Go to the Kentucky Department of Corrections (KDOC) website.
- Click the link for the Kentucky Offender Online Lookup (KOOL).
- Enter the offenders first and last name to see if that person is in KDOC custody.
Kentucky prison inmates can also be searched using VINELink. VINELink provides online search access to victims and witnesses with notifications when an inmate is being transferred from one facility to another, is being released at the end of a sentence or parole, or any other movements that the victims or witnesses need to know; however, the general public can also use VINELink to search for offenders in the state.7
People want to know if there are any federal inmates in their area. Kentucky is also home to five federal correctional facilities and to search for a federal inmate in the state, do the following:
- Go to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) website.
- Click the link for inmate locators for a name or BOP number search.
- Enter a first and last name (minimum) to search.
- Review the list of inmates to find individuals with that name incarcerated in Kentucky (displayed in the location column of the search results).
How To Run a Warrant Search in Kentucky (See Who Is Wanted by Law Enforcement)
A warrant in Kentucky is usually issued when the crime a person is accused of is so heinous they are a threat to the public, the person is a flight risk and law enforcement wants to make sure they are secured for court, or the person has failed to appear in court and a judge has issued a bench warrant for the person’s arrest.
When running a warrant search in Kentucky, knowing the individual’s full name, date of birth and last known address is important. Kentucky does not have a central database or search tool specifically for warrant searches.
Thus, to obtain warrant information in Kentucky, interested individuals can use the online search tools detailed above to look for criminal records, such as the KOOL System, the State Police’s Background Check, or the Judicial Branch’s Public Records Search.
Another option is through the local law enforcement agencies including the sheriff’s office and local police departments. To search for warrants, an individual must know where the offense occurred. The county sheriff’s office usually hosts a warrant search portal or provides list of individuals with warrants. However, if that online search is not available, contact the sheriff’s office directly to inquire about individual warrant status.
Additionally, individuals can also call the circuit clerk of court in the county where the subject resides to see if there is an active warrant out for their arrest. In a number of cases, warrants are not made public until they are served on the subject.
An Overview of Kentucky Background Checks by Agency
There are a number of agencies that provide or require Kentucky criminal records checks screened. The table below lists these agencies and what each covers regarding criminal background screenings:
| Agency That Performs or Requires Background Checks | Screening Reasons |
| Kentucky State Police |
|
| Kentucky Court of Justice |
|
| Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet |
|
| Department of Professional Licensure |
|
| Kentucky Board of Nursing |
|
| Kentucky Board of Medicine |
|
When doing searches for these agencies, employers are looking for disqualifying offenses that would prevent the person from doing the job such as conviction for a violent felony or sex offense.
Kentucky Sex Offender Registry (Search for Sexual Predators Nearby)
Persons convicted of sex offenses in Kentucky are required to place their name and address on the state’s sex offender registry or sex offender felony registry. Sex offender registry information is quite often used by real estate agents when showing a home to prospective buyers.
To search the registry and see if someone has been convicted of a sex crime, do the following:
- Go to the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry.
- Under the search the registry section, enter at minimum the last name of the subject.
- Look for the person’s mugshot on the list that populates.
- To see more information click the view details button under the mugshot.
The sex offender registry provides the following data about the subject: name, date of birth, gender, how long they are required to register, if they are compliant or wanted, if they are on supervised release (typically probation or parole), description of offender, last known address, charges and known aliases.
Individuals can also search for Kentucky sex offenders through the National Sex Offender Registry maintained by the United States Department of Justice. This may be an option for individuals who were convicted in Kentucky but have since moved to a new state and are required to register in that state due to the Full Faith and Credit Clause in the United States Constitution.8
An Overview of Kentucky Laws on Criminal & Arrest Records
Finally, it’s vital to understand the laws that govern release of public records and how those records can be used by employers, landlords, licensing boards or the general public.
Kentucky Statute Chapter 335B makes it unlawful to automatically disqualify a person from employment or licensure based on a conviction. The conviction must be weighed to see if it would impact the person’s ability to perform the job duties or pose an imminent threat to the health and safety of others.
The law also requires written notice to the applicant if they are denied based on the background check information.
While Kentucky doesn’t have a statewide ban the box law for the general public, the city of Louisville has an executive order, the Fair Chance at Employment Initiative, making it unlawful for city agencies or vendors or contractors doing business with the city from inquiring about criminal history on the employment application or before the initial interview.
Kentucky does have a ban the box executive order making inquiries about criminal history unlawful in the application process for executive branch position and can only ask about criminal history when the person is contacted for an interview.9
A criminal records disclosure is outlined in KORA (Kentucky Open Records Act) under state statute 61.870 to 61.884. Mainly, all adult convictions that have not been expunged or sealed are considered public record and can be included in a background check.
Federal laws that protect workers from unlawful use of background checks include the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) guidance which limits credit checks and non-conviction records to a seven year look-back period; however, a background check through the Kentucky Court of Justice only spans the previous five years.
FCRA guidance also requires a written notice to the applicant if adverse action is taken because of the background check, and governs commercial records screenings.
Applicants are also protected from discrimination through federal statutes that are enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). EEOC provides guidance to agencies and businesses on the use of criminal history in hiring processes.
This helps employers know how to use criminal and arrest records when making hiring decisions.
Navigating records checks in the state can be daunting if the person searching doesn’t know where or how to look for criminal or arrest records in Kentucky, or doesn’t understand the laws surrounding screenings. Luckily, this brief resource can help individuals learn how to access Kentucky criminal records quickly and efficiently.
References
161.878 Certain public records exempted from inspection except on order of court — Restriction of state employees to inspect p. (n.d.). Legislative Research Commission. Retrieved December 23, 2022, from <https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=54126>
2Wessels, H. D. (2018, February 20). How Can Kentucky Employers Use Arrest and Conviction Records? Hemmer DeFrank Wessels. Retrieved December 23, 2022, from <https://www.hemmerlaw.com/blog/how-can-kentucky-employers-use-arrest-and-conviction-records/>
3Background Checks. (n.d.). Kentucky Court of Justice. Retrieved December 23, 2022, from <https://kycourts.gov/AOC/Information-and-Technology/Pages/Background-Checks.aspx>
4Russell, K. (2016, October 3). Understanding Bond and Pretrial Release in Kentucky. Russell & Ireland Law Group, LLC. Retrieved December 23, 2022, from <https://www.russellattorney.com/articles/understanding-bond-and-pretrial-release-in-kentucky/>
5Circuit Court Clerks. (n.d.). Kentucky Court of Justice. Retrieved December 23, 2022, from <https://kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/default.aspx>
6Expungement Certification Process. (n.d.). Kentucky Court of Justice. Retrieved December 23, 2022, from <https://kycourts.gov/AOC/Information-and-Technology/Pages/Expungement.aspx>
7VINELink – Mobile App Development, Google Apps – IT Consulting. (n.d.). VINELink. Retrieved December 23, 2022, from <https://vinelink.vineapps.com/state/KY/ENGLISH>
8Sex Offender Registration and Notification in the United States: Case Law Summary, July 2022. (n.d.). Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Retrieved December 23, 2022, from <https://smart.ojp.gov/doc/sorna-case-law-summary-july-2022.pdf>
9Kentucky Ban the Box EO. (2017, February 1). EO Ban the Box. Retrieved December 23, 2022, from <https://www.nelp.org/wp-content/uploads/Kentucky-Executive-Order.pdf>
10Archonix XJail Public. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://mugshots.louisvilleky.gov/Default.aspx>
11McCracken County Jail Inmates.” the McCracken County Jail. Accessed 3 May 2023. <http://www.mccrackencountyjailky.com/McCrackencounty_inmatelist.html>
12Corrections | LouisvilleKY.gov.” LouisvilleKy.gov. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://louisvilleky.gov/government/corrections>
13Inmate Search | LouisvilleKY.gov.” LouisvilleKy.gov. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://louisvilleky.gov/government/corrections/inmate-search>
14Inmate information | City of Lexington.” Lexingtonky.gov. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://www.lexingtonky.gov/inmate-information>
15Criminal Record Request.” Kentucky Court of Justice. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://kcoj.kycourts.net/fastcheck_individual/>
16Background Checks.” Kentucky Court of Justice. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://kycourts.gov/aoc/Information-and-Technology/Pages/Background-Checks.aspx>
17Kentucky State Police. Accessed 3 May 2023. <http://kentuckystatepolice.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/commercial_guide_rev_11_10.pdf>
18Background Checks – kentuckystatepolice.org.” Kentucky State Police. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://www.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov/background-check-forms>
19District 3 – Department of Corrections.” Department of Corrections. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://corrections.ky.gov/Probation-and-Parole/western/Pages/District-3.aspx>
20Kentucky Court of Justice – Kentucky Court of Justice. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://kycourts.gov/Pages/index.aspx>
21In support of this Petition, the Defendant states as follows: (check all that apply) At least sixty (60) days prior to filin.” Kentucky Court of Justice. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Legal%20Forms/497.2.pdf>
22KOOL – Department of Corrections.” Department of Corrections. Accessed 3 May 2023. <http://kool.corrections.ky.gov/>
23KY Sex Offender Registry. Accessed 3 May 2023. <http://kspsor.state.ky.us/>