Kentucky Arrest Records Search

Thanks for coming here for your Kentucky Arrest Records Search. We work hard to give you the facts you need. We will help guide you through this search process.

If you want to start a Kentucky Arrest Records Search now, go to: https://kentuckyofficialrecords.com/arrest-records/. This site allows you to search records. Users can start a search right away. It can be a fast way to look for info. Provide the name and location if you know them. This may help start your search.

Understanding Kentucky Arrest Records

What is an arrest record? It shows when police take a person into custody. It is not proof the person did the crime. Guilt is decided in court. An arrest record often holds key details. This includes the person's name and date of birth. It lists the charges or alleged crimes. The date and place of the arrest are noted. The name of the police agency is usually there. You might also find a mugshot photo. Arrest logs are often kept by the police agency that made the arrest. These differ from court files or prison logs. Court files show case steps like trials or pleas. Prison logs track people found guilty and sent to state sites. Knowing the type of record helps you look in the right place for the facts you need to find. Arrest details come first, before court dates.

Accessing Arrest Records via Kentucky State Police (KSP)

The Kentucky State Police make arrests across the state. They keep records of their actions. You can ask KSP for copies of public records. This includes some arrest information. The Kentucky Open Records Act guides this process. KSP must follow this state law. Some data may not be released. Records tied to open cases are often kept private. This protects the case work. Files sealed by a court order are also restricted. You need to ask for the specific records you seek. KSP has a form you can use. But using their form is not required by law.

How to Request KSP Records

You can send your request in many ways. Mail it. Fax it. Hand deliver it. Or use their online portal. Address mail requests carefully.

Send to: Kentucky State Police Public Records Branch Attn: Stephanie Dawson, Records Custodian 1266 Louisville Road Frankfort, KY 40601  

The phone number for questions is 502-782-1873. The fax number is 855-592-7656. Mark faxes for the Official Custodian of Records. You can also submit requests online. Go to the KSP website. Look for the Open Records Request page. There is a link there to submit a request. Be clear about the records you want. Give names, dates, and case numbers if you have them. This helps them find the files faster. KSP might charge a small fee for copies. This fee is usually for paper and ink costs. Staff time is not part of the fee for non-work use. Ask about costs when you make your request. KSP should reply to your request in five work days. They will say if they have the records. Or they will tell you why they cannot share them.

Finding Records from Local Police and Sheriff Departments

Most arrests are made by local police. City police officers handle calls in town. County sheriff deputies work across the county. Each local agency keeps its own arrest logs. These logs hold details of arrests they make. If you need a record from a city or county arrest, contact that specific agency. For example, an arrest in Lexington needs a request to the Lexington Police. An arrest in rural Boone County may involve the Boone County Sheriff. There is no single place to get all local arrest records. You must go to the source agency.

How do you find the right local office? Use the web. Search for the city police department name. Or search for the county sheriff office name. Most have websites with contact data. Look for a "Records Unit" or "Open Records" link. Websites often list phone numbers, addresses, and maybe email contacts. Some may have their own online request forms. Call them if you are not sure how to ask. Ask about their steps for records requests. Find out their office hours for walk-in requests. Ask about copy fees. Each place may have its own rules and costs. Be ready to give details like the person's name and the date of the arrest. This makes it easy for them to look up the event for you.

Checking County Jails and Detention Centers

When someone is arrested, they are often taken to a local jail. This might be a city jail or a county detention center. Jails keep booking records. Booking is the process when an arrested person is first brought in. The record usually has:

• The person's name and photo (mugshot).

• Physical details like height and weight.

• The charges filed at the time of arrest.

• Date and time of booking into the jail.

• Bail or bond amount, if set.

These records show who is currently in the jail. They also show who was recently held there. Many Kentucky county jails now have online inmate lookups. You can search by name. Search the web for "[County Name] Kentucky jail inmate search". Not all jails have online tools. For those that do not, you must call the jail. Ask them how to get booking or inmate information. Find the jail's phone number online. Search for "[County Name] Detention Center contact". Some jails only give data over the phone or in person. Their rules may limit what info they share with the public. Jail records mainly cover the time right after arrest. They do not show court results or state prison time.

Kentucky Department of Corrections (DOC) Inmate Search

The Kentucky Department of Corrections (DOC) manages state prisons. DOC records are for people found guilty of crimes. These are not arrest records. They show who is serving time in a state facility. The DOC offers an online search tool. It is called the Kentucky Online Offender Lookup (KOOL). Anyone can use KOOL for free. You can search using a name. You can also use the person's DOC number if known.

The KOOL search results show:

• Inmate's name and any known aliases.

• A photo or mugshot.

• Current location (which prison).

• Date of birth, race, and gender.

• List of crimes they were sentenced for.

• Sentence length and possible release dates.

This tool is useful for finding people in state custody. It does not list people in county jails. It does not show past arrests that did not lead to state prison time. To find the tool, search for "Kentucky Online Offender Lookup KOOL". For official DOC records beyond the KOOL tool, you must file an Open Records request with the DOC. Send requests by email, mail, or fax.

• Email: [email address removed]

• Mail: Department of Corrections, Offender Information Services, RE: Open Records Request, P.O. Box 2400, Frankfort, KY 40202  

• 
  

• Fax: (502) 564-9836

Include the inmate's full name and date of birth. State clearly what records you seek. The DOC charges 10 cents per page for copies. They handle requests under the Kentucky Open Records Act.

Kentucky Court Records Search

Arrest records show the start of a case. Court records show what happens next. Kentucky court records are managed by the judicial branch. This includes Circuit Courts and District Courts. The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) helps manage these records. Court files have data on charges, hearings, pleas, and case outcomes. They are different from police arrest logs. You can search court records in a few ways. Some information is online. More details are found at the courthouse.

CourtNet 2.0 Online Portal

The Kentucky Court of Justice website has a tool called CourtNet 2.0. It lets you search some court case information online. You can search by case number or name. You can filter by county and case type (like criminal). This tool shows basic case details. It lists case events and dates. It covers recent misdemeanor cases (last five years). It also covers felony cases going back to 1978. But CourtNet 2.0 access gives limited case data. It does not provide full copies of all documents filed in a case. It is good for checking case status or finding case numbers.

Circuit Court Clerks

For full court records, contact the Circuit Court Clerk. Each Kentucky county has one elected Circuit Court Clerk. They manage records for both Circuit and District Courts in their county. Find the right clerk using the Kentucky Judicial Directory. This lists clerks by county with addresses and phone numbers. Clerk offices have public computer terminals. You can view detailed court records there for free. These terminals show more than CourtNet 2.0 online. You can also ask the clerk's staff for paper copies. Call ahead to ask about the records you need. Ask about copy fees and office hours. Some records might be old and stored off site. Calling first helps them prepare the files for you. The clerk maintains the official case file. This includes all motions, orders, and judgments.

AOC Criminal History Reports

The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) offers state criminal record reports. These reports cost $25 each. They pull data from the CourtNet system. They show court conviction information. They do not include arrest records where charges were dropped. They also do not include federal cases or records from other states. Businesses often use these for background checks. You can request a report online, by mail, or in person.

Visit the AOC drive-thru window for in-person requests: Administrative Office of the Courts Records Unit 1001 Vandalay Drive Frankfort, KY 40601

Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pay with cash, card, check, or money order. Make checks payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer. For questions, call the AOC Records Unit. The numbers are 502-573-1682 or 800-928-6381. Their email is [email address removed]. Remember, this report is based on court data, not just arrests.

Kentucky Open Records Act (KORA)

Access to public records in Kentucky is governed by law. The Kentucky Open Records Act, or KORA, gives people the right to see government records. This law is found in the Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 61, sections 870 to 884. KORA aims to make government open. It covers state and local agencies. This includes police departments, sheriff offices, KSP, DOC, and the courts' administrative side. The law states that public records are open for view by any person.

KORA Basics

What is a public record? The law defines it broadly. It includes books, papers, photos, tapes, discs, and electronic files. If a public agency prepared, owns, uses, or keeps it, it is likely a public record. Any person can request records. You do not need to be a Kentucky resident. You usually do not have to state why you want the records. But there is an exception for commercial use. If you want records for business sales or marketing, you must say so. Using records for commercial aims is limited. Agencies must reply to requests within five business days (excluding weekends and holidays). They must let you see the records, provide copies, or explain in writing why the request is denied.

Requesting Records and Fees

You should make your request in writing. Send it to the official records custodian of the agency. Agencies have guides or forms, like KSP does. Using their form can help but is not required. Be specific about the records you seek. Clear requests get faster results. For non-commercial use, agencies can charge for copy costs. This means the cost of paper, toner, or discs. They cannot charge for the staff time used to find or copy the records. Fees must be reasonable. Ask about costs beforehand. If you only want to view records in person, there is usually no fee.

Exemptions and Denials

Not all government records are public. KORA lists specific exemptions. These allow agencies to withhold certain records. Common exemptions include:

• Records related to ongoing police investigations.

• Preliminary notes, drafts, and recommendations.

• Personal information that invades privacy.

• Records sealed by a court order.

• Information that could risk security.

If an agency denies your request, they must cite the specific law (KRS section) that allows the denial. They must provide a written explanation. If you believe a denial is wrong, you can appeal. First, ask the Kentucky Attorney General's Office to review the denial. You must send the AG your request and the agency's denial letter. The AG will issue an opinion. If you disagree with the AG's opinion, you can then appeal to the local Circuit Court. You have 30 days to file a court appeal after the AG decision. More details are on the Attorney General's Open Records page.

Limitations on Record Access

Not all arrest records are public forever. Some records can be removed from public view. This process is called expungement. Kentucky law allows expungement for certain types of arrests and convictions. If charges were dismissed or the person was found not guilty, the arrest record might qualify for expungement. Some misdemeanor and even some felony convictions can be expunged after a waiting period.

Once a record is expunged, it is sealed. The public cannot see it. Law enforcement might still access it for specific needs. An expunged arrest should not show up in most background checks. If you are searching for old records, they might not appear if they were expunged. Expungement laws are complex. Getting a record expunged requires filing a petition with the court. There are specific rules and steps to follow. This page does not give legal advice on expungement. It just notes that some records may not be found because they are legally sealed from public view.

More Resources

Kentucky Court Records | Kentucky Criminal Records | Kentucky Warrant Search