Run a Free Kentucky Inmate Search (Incarceration Details)

Conduct a free Kentucky inmate search right away to gain insight into anyone currently incarcerated.

Inmates are people incarcerated in a prison, jail or other correctional facility as a result of criminal activity. They have been charged with or convicted of a crime and are typically serving a sentence as imposed by a court of law.

This resource sheds light on common misconceptions about incarceration and empowers searchers to efficiently find information on Kentucky inmates at both state and local levels.

What’s the Difference Between Prison & Jail Inmates?

The terms “prison” and “jail” are often used interchangeably, but there are distinct differences when it comes to the types of individuals housed, and the purpose and length of stay. With regard to an inmate search, the difference between a jail and a prison matters if you want to contact the person or entity who oversees the operations of each type of facility.

Jails: These short-term detention facilities are used to hold individuals awaiting trial, serving short sentences for misdemeanors or waiting to be transferred to prison. Sentences to jails typically range from a few days to 1 year. Inmates may be held here until their trial or until they can post bail.

As a general rule, there are four types of jails:

• Juvenile Detention Centers: Specifically designed for temporary confinement of minors accused of delinquent acts. The state’s juvenile justice department oversees the rehabilitation and care of young offenders.
• City Jails: Operated by local police departments and municipal law enforcement officials, these hold individuals arrested for local offenses. Management structure varies depending upon the facility’s organizational setup.
• County Jails: These are operated by the sheriff, an elected individual who manages law enforcement and correctional activities within the county. They can house inmates arrested by a county official or other police departments within the given county.

Prisons: These long-term correctional facilities house individuals who are serving sentences of more than 1 year. Inmates have typically been convicted of felonies, which are more serious crimes. They have gone through a trial and been found guilty.

Their sentences are longer, and the facilities are equipped to accommodate inmates for these extended periods of time.

• State Prisons: These are typically overseen by the Kentucky Department of Corrections (DOC) or a similar agency.¹ Each state has its own department responsible for the custody, care and rehabilitation of the inmates sentenced here.
• Federal Prisons: The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is responsible for the oversight and management of all prisons in the federal system of the United States. These hold individuals serving sentences imposed by the federal courts.

Both state and federal prisons can be categorized into four different types of facilities based on the types of inmates housed there.

• Minimum security: These are for offenders with nonviolent behavior and offer more relaxed conditions.
• Medium security: Striking a balance between rehabilitation and security, these house inmates with less severe offenses.
• Maximum security: These house the inmates who pose a distinct threat to society.
• Supermax: These feature extremely high-security facilities designed for the most violent and disruptive inmates.

The terminology and specific functions of these facilities can vary by jurisdiction. In both jails and prisons, administrators, wardens and superintendents are responsible for day-to-day operations. They oversee staff, security, inmate programs and other aspects of the facility’s functioning.

Regulatory bodies, inspection agencies and ombudsman programs may provide external oversight to ensure compliance with established laws and to address concerns related to inmate rights, safety and well-being.

How To Conduct a Free Kentucky Inmate Search for Jail Prisoners

The Commonwealth of Kentucky is divided into 120 counties, with Jefferson County being the most populous. Fayette and Kenton counties round out the top three.

Conduct a free online inmate search for inmates housed in a Jefferson County jail through the Louisville Metropolitan DOC database.² Anyone under the age of 18 doesn’t appear in any search results due to privacy regulations.

Any searches for inmates should respect the privacy of the inmate and follow the Fair Credit Reporting Act guidelines.

When conducting an inmate search, find an individual by knowing any of the following:

• First & Last Name (middle name helpful if inmate name is common)
• Date of Birth (DOB) or Age
• Inmate ID

Alternatively, click on any of the letter squares below the search fields to produce a list of inmates sorted alphabetically by last name, with 10, 20 or 50 results displayed at one time. The results will provide the inmate’s full name, inmate number, booking number, booking date, race, gender, height and weight as recorded in the system.

Information on inmates is updated regularly, but the status can change frequently, so the most current results might not appear. To stay up to date on any incarcerated individual, register with VINELink for notifications on specific inmates.

Information on inmates in Lexington, Kentucky’s second-largest city, is available on the city website. Search for current inmates using the online form provided by the Lexington-Fayette Detention Center.³ Search the current jail population in Lexington using:

• First Name
• Last Name
• Inmate ID
• Recent listing of inmates booked within the last 48 hours

Criminal and arrest records for inmates in Kentucky provide additional information, such as background checks, warrants and court records. These resources also contain the contact information for every county jail and a link to the online search portal, when one is available.

How To Perform a Kentucky State Prisoner Search

Records at the state level in Kentucky typically show the path an offender took through the justice system. They can include police reports, charges, sentencing and jail records. Those wishing to obtain information pertaining to an inmate in Kentucky must contact the recordkeeper at the facility where the inmate is being held.

The Kentucky Department of Corrections (KDOC) maintains all state inmate records, including records for all federal, state, county and city facilities. Some individual jurisdictions may also have their own records and searchable databases. Interested individuals conducting an inmate search can access the online offender lookup tool to get results.⁴

The search form asks for the inmate’s name. Those searching can also input any of the following:

• DOC Number
• Date Crime Was Committed
• Age, Race & Gender
• Conviction Date & County
• Supervision Status

If starting with a basic search, it’s best to provide at least two names, such as first and last or first and middle names. If first, middle and last are known, include all three. Both the basic and advanced searches provide:

• Inmate Name
• Location
• Prison ID Number or DOC Number
• Offense Counts

Additional details are available by clicking on any given name in the results. For any questions or specific inquiries, contact the Kentucky Department of Correction online or in-person at:

Kentucky Department of Corrections
275 E. Main St.
Frankfort, KY 40601

Phone: 502-564-4360

Help is available 24/7 for probationers and parolees, but victims also have access to services if they feel threatened or have been harmed. Individuals can find a list of probation and parole offices for information on inmates not available through online searches and can also make an online public records request or print and complete a form to inspect public records.⁵

Once an inmate’s information is found, more details about the correctional facilities in Kentucky where the inmate may be housed are available by viewing a map of correctional facilities or an alphabetical list of facilities with links. Instructions on how to send mail to an inmate or utilizing payment services are also available as needed.

How To Review Information on Any Federal Prisoner

When searching for inmates in federal facilities, utilize the lookup tool at the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to search by name or ID number.⁶ The search results display the name of the prisoner, along with the BOP register number, location and release date. Options exist to input an inmate’s age, race and sex, so those details are also included in the results.

The BOP shows all federal prisoners from 1982 to the present, incarcerated at any of its 130 BOP facilities. Inquiries related to a specific facility should be directed to that location. For other comments or questions related to information on the BOP website, reach out to them directly via email using their online form or by writing or calling them:

Federal Bureau of Prisons
320 First St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20534

Phone: 202-307-3198

Records for federal prisoners incarcerated before 1982 can be found through the National Archives & Records Administration (NARA) and Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER).⁷

Procedures and resources available for inmate searches are constantly evolving; utilize this streamlined resource to explore all the information needed for any Kentucky inmate search.