Kentucky Arrest Records

Kentucky arrest records provide official details of the circumstances surrounding arrests within the state. Following an arrest in Kentucky, the arresting officer typically transports the arrestee to the closest jail to be booked. During the booking process, the detainee's details are compiled with related information to create an arrest record, which is subsequently included in the arrestee's criminal record.

Kentucky arrest records are essential because they provide insight into an arrest, such as:

• The reason for the arrest (the offense committed by the arrestee)
• Arrest date
• The arrestee's basic information
• Other pertinent details

State and local law enforcement agencies, such as the Fayette County Sheriff's Office or the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, typically generate these documents after apprehending and deterring offenders within the state limits. Prosecutors may also use arrest records to bolster and initiate a criminal court procedure. Arrests are generally a precursor to creating arrest records in Kentucky and other U.S. states.

Are Arrest Records Public in Kentucky?

Yes, arrest records are public in Kentucky. Public access to records is authorized by the Kentucky Open Records Act (KRS 61.870 to 61.884).

However, the Kentucky Open Records Act (KORA) provides exemptions that limit public access to specific records. When an exemption applies, the document is treated as confidential. Depending on their content, these records may not be entirely or partially available to the public. The public may only access these personal records for specific reasons or if eligible parties and entities request them. KRS 61.878 outlines the following exemptions to KORA:

• Records containing personal information whose disclosure may infringe personal privacy
• Law enforcement records whose disclosure would jeopardize informants or undercover officers
• Juvenile records (per KRS 610.320).

Per Kentucky Statute 431.005, a peace officer may arrest without issuing a warrant. Peace officers may also execute arrests if they witness crimes.

Kentucky Arrest Statistics

According to the Kentucky State Police Crime in Kentucky 2024 Arrest Report, there were 348,083 arrests within the state in 2024. This total represents a 1.7% decrease from the 2023 figure of 354,145 arrests.

The report provides a breakdown of Kentucky arrests for 2024 as follows:

• Group A offenses - 153,088 arrests
• Group B crimes - 194,995 arrests.

Additionally, the statistics show that 98.2% (341,652) of those arrested were adults, while 1.8% (6,431) were minors. Of the individuals taken into custody, 74.3% (258,485) were males, and 25.7% (89,322) were females.

Find Public Arrest Records in Kentucky

Kentucky public arrest records are accessible through the Kentucky state police and local agencies like county sheriff's offices and municipal police departments. Although the method of requesting arrest records may differ among law enforcement agencies, the overall process is as follows:

• Determine the custodian of the desired record: Law enforcement agencies only maintain arrest records for arrests within their jurisdiction. Therefore, to appropriately target their query, record seekers should first ascertain which agency holds the desired arrest record (typically, the law enforcement agency that made the arrest)
• Find out the agency record request procedures and fees: Most law enforcement agencies offer information on the procedures and fees for making a public records request for arrest records in their custody on their websites. Some examples include the Kenton County Sheriff's Office Open Records Request page and the Kentucky State Police Open Records Request page. If such information is unavailable on an agency's website, it may be obtained by contacting the agency's office
• Submit the request: Depending on what a law enforcement agency permits, records in their custody may be viewed or requested online, in person, or by mail. For mailed requests, a record seeker may draft a written request or complete a Standardized Open Records Request Form and mail it to the appropriate agency. Requesters should be as specific as possible when describing the sought-after record (i.e., include the arrest date, location, and the arrestee's full name). Along with providing contact details (such as name, address, and phone number), requesters are also required to sign the request. For in-person requests, requesters may submit their drafted written request or a completed Standardized Open Records Request Form in person at the arresting agency during regular office hours. Alternatively, some agencies maintain online portals that requesters may use to submit requests. These portals are usually hosted on the agency website. For instance, the Kentucky State Police public record request portal.

Requesters are typically charged a fee per page of records they requested. These fees, as well as their method of payment, vary across agencies. In cases where the arrest record being sought after is restricted or non-public, it may be possible to subpoena the record from its custodian.

According to Kentucky Rules of Criminal Procedure (RCR) Rule 7.02, a subpoena is a court order that directs a named party to perform a specific task. In the context of restricted arrest records, a subpoena directs the record custodian to release an otherwise restricted arrest record to the party named in the subpoena. To obtain a subpoena, interested persons may complete and submit Subpoena Request Forms to the clerk's office of a court with appropriate jurisdiction and pay the necessary fees. Thereafter, the approved subpoena may be forwarded to the record's custodian agency.

How to Look Up Arrest Records Online in Kentucky

In Kentucky, interested parties may search for arrest records online using third-party websites and online tools maintained by various law enforcement agencies. Many law enforcement agencies maintain online tools that provide information about arrestees currently in custody or those who have been released. Typically, these tools do not provide detailed information regarding an individual's arrest. Basic information such as:

• Arrest date
• Names of the arresting officer and agency, offenses
• Booking dates.

Some examples include Louisville's inmate search and Lexington's Inmate Information portals.

Certain third-party websites offer comprehensive Kentucky arrest records online for a fee. Users may discover these websites through popular search engines by making related queries. On such websites, individuals may conduct searches using an arrestee's full name and the applicable state. However, these websites typically have no affiliation with any government agency, so the accuracy and completeness of records obtained through these channels are usually not guaranteed.

What is Included in Kentucky Arrest Records?

Kentucky Arrest Records typically contain the following information:

• Place, date, and time of the arrest
• Name of the arresting agency
• The arresting officer's name and badge number
• Personal details of the arrestee, including:
  • Name
  • Address
  • Gender
  • Race
  • Height
  • Weight
  • Mugshots
  • Charges
  • Booking details.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Kentucky

Kentucky state statutes do not specify a timeframe for retaining an arrest record on an individual's record. According to the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, arrest records remain on a subject's criminal history unless the individual requests expungement.

Expunge an Arrest Record in Kentucky

According to KRS 431.079, individuals who want to have their arrest record expunged typically must apply for an expungement certification to determine their eligibility. The Kentucky State Police, in conjunction with the Administrative Office of the Courts, oversees the expungement certification application process. There are three main ways to request an expungement certification: online, in person, and by mail.

Interested persons should register for online requests at the Kentucky Court of Justice registration site. During registration, users need to provide a valid email address. The site provides access to online request forms for expungement certifications. Users are required to complete and submit the online form. They are also required to pay a $40 request fee. Applicants may check their email for a notification about when the certification packet will be available online after registration. Once available, users may log back into the registration site to download the certification packet.

For in-person requests, interested persons need to complete Expungement Certification Request Forms and submit them with a $40 request fee payment at the drive-thru window of the Administrative Office of the Courts at:

1001 Vandalay Drive,
Frankfort,
KY 40601.

After approval, the Kentucky Court of Justice sends expungement certification packets to applicants via U.S. Mail at the address provided on their request form. Similarly, applicants are required to complete an Expungement Certification Request Form for mail-service requests. Applicants should mail the completed form, along with the $40 request fee payment, to:

Records Unit - Administrative Office of the Courts
1001 Vandalay Drive,
Frankfort,
KY 4060.

After their request has been processed and approved, the applicant will receive their expungement certification packet by U.S. mail at the address they provided on their request form.

As soon as the petitioner obtains an expungement certification, they may request expungement of their desired arrest record. This entails filing an expungement petition alongside the expungement certification with the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where officials filed the original charge. Depending on the specifics of their arrest, petitioners may file an expungement petition under KRS 431.073, KRS 431.076, or KRS 431.078.

Expunging an arrest record under KRS 431.073

For arrests that resulted in felony convictions, owners may petition to have the arrest information expunged under KRS 431.073. To do this, the petitioner needs to complete Form 496.3 and file it alongside their expungement certification at the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the conviction occurred. Additionally, the petitioner is required to pay a $50 non-refundable filing fee. Prosecutors are allowed 60 days to object to the expungement petition. If the prosecutor objects, the court will schedule a hearing and send notice of the hearing. However, if the prosecutor does not object, the court will issue an order granting the petition without a hearing. Thereafter, the petitioner is required to pay an additional $250 expungement fee to complete the expungement process.

Expunging an arrest record under KRS 431.076

Arrest records that fall under any of the following categories may qualify for expungement under KRS 431.076:

• Arrests that resulted in acquittals (where charges were dismissed but not in exchange for a guilty plea to another charge)
• Arrests that led to felony charges that did not result in indictment

To expunge arrest records under KRS 431.076, interested persons typically must complete Form 497.2. The completed form and the petitioner's expungement certification may be filed at the court with appropriate jurisdiction over the case.

Expunging an arrest record under KRS 431.078

Arrest and other pertinent records may be expunged under KRS 431.078 using Form 496.2 if an arrest results in a conviction for certain misdemeanors, violations, or traffic infractions. Some of the eligibility criteria a petitioner is required to fulfill for a court to approve the expungement of qualifying records under KRS 431.078 include:

• The arrest does not result from a sexual offense or an offense against a minor
• The petitioner did not have a felony or misdemeanor conviction in the previous five (5) years before filing for expungement.
• The petitioner has no pending felony or misdemeanor trial.
• The offense cannot be enhanced for a second or subsequent offense, or the time limit for such an enhancement has passed.

Individuals who fulfill the aforementioned eligibility criteria may file completed Forms 496.2, their expungement certifications, and pay the necessary fees to request the expungement of their records through the courts.

After completing the necessary processes, the court will order the expungement of the petitioned records and issue orders to the relevant entities, including law enforcement agencies and courts, to remove the arrest information from their publicly accessible databases. The records will no longer be accessible through background checks.

How Do I Find Recent Arrests in Kentucky?

In Kentucky, interested persons may obtain information on recent arrests by submitting an open records request to law enforcement agencies, such as county sheriff's offices and local police departments. Most local jails and detention centers also provide online inmate search tools that individuals may use to find information about recently arrested and booked individuals. These online tools are typically found on the official websites of most Kentucky municipalities and counties. Some examples include the Boone County Jail Inmate List Page, the Lexington Detention Center Inmate Information Page, and the Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections Inmate Search tools.

Are Kentucky Arrest Records Free?

In Kentucky, the easiest way for individuals to access arrest information for free is through online inmate search tools. Local jails and detention centers maintain these tools, which provide basic arrest information for individuals booked into or released from their facilities. More detailed arrest records typically require a fee and are accessible through local law enforcement agencies. Third-party websites also provide access to detailed arrest records for a fee.