Where to Find Kentucky Inmate Records

Records of Inmates in Kentucky comprise personal and official data about incarcerated individuals in county jails or prisons across Kentucky state. These records incorporate personal data such as inmate’s names, date of birth, race, gender, mug shots, and physical descriptions. Official data includes arrest and booking information, bail or bond amount, charges (both primary and secondary), and court information. The Kentucky Department of Corrections preserves inmate records and supervises correctional facilities and county-run jails in Kentucky.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in Kentucky?

Yes, as defined under KY Rev Stat § 61.870 to 61.884, Kentucky citizens can access all documents generated by any public office during designated service operation unless the files are restricted from view by a court mandate. Inmate records are also a part of the information accessible to any citizen.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

What Information is Contained in a Kentucky Inmate Record?

A Kentucky inmate record contains all information on an individual committed to a correctional facility by the judicial authorities. The content of the inmate file includes identifying information such as the full name of the convict, aliases, physical description, and a booking photo (mugshot). Other data in a Kentucky inmate record is the official information generated during an individual’s encounter with the judicial and correctional authorities. The official information comprises details of the incarcerated person’s arrest, the primary and secondary charges brought against the individual, the bail or bond set after the arrest, and other information related to the judicial process.

Where do I Look Up an Inmate in Kentucky?

The Kentucky Department of Corrections (DOC) maintains all inmate records from county jails, prisons, and juvenile detention centers. The DOC provides an electronic system called the Kentucky Online Offender Lookup (KOOL), which grants access to inmates from all correctional facilities and holding cells in the state.

The Kentucky Department of Corrections also offers an additional inmate lookup system called the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE). VINE is an automated system that provides regular notifications to the victim of a crime and all other concerned citizens about any change in an offender’s status. VINE gives updates about an offender through email or phone call to alert individuals if the violator is still in jail, is out on parole or probation, or has escaped from custody.

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in Kentucky?

The Kentucky Department of Corrections allows the online offender locator service, KOOL (Kentucky Online Offender Lookup), to conduct an inmate search. Interested parties can search on the system using identifiers such as the offender’s first, middle, or last name. Other attributes inquirers can use include the offender type, the county of supervision, and the location. The search results provide information about an incarcerated offender, such as the DOC/PID number of the individual, aliases, the offender’s current location, booking photo (if one exists), and parole eligibility.

The Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) service deliver information about inmates to registered individuals in an email or through a phone call. The system will alert the registered person of any changes in the status of an incarcerated individual.

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in Kentucky?

Interested persons can acquire information on inmates via a request to the correctional facility that retained the inmate. However, there are other means of finding inmates for free in Kentucky;

​Kentucky Offender Online Lookup (KOOL): Using KOOL, interested persons can search for inmates using first and last name or a known alias. Upon search, requestors will see information on the inmate such as their offense, current location, inmate’s DOC/PID number, the county, the risk assessment rating, and any new update.

The Victim Identification and Notification Everyday (VINE) is an automated system created so that past victims can follow up on an offender by signing up. Subscribers are alerted as soon as an offender is transferred, released, or about to be on parole.

How to Find Old Inmate Records in Kentucky

The Archives Research Room at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) is in charge of old inmate records in the state. The department stores all original copies (hard and soft) and microfilm images of every court case. The general public can access most data and make copies of the criminal circuit, civil, and criminal district records.

Interested persons must submit a request by mail and make payment through credit card on the website to obtain a record or make copies. The KDLA address is:

Archives and Records Department

Office of Circuit Court Clerk

Old Jail Building, Room 100

514 W. Liberty St.

Louisville, KY 40202

Phone: (502) 595–3034

How do I Find Inmate Death Records in Kentucky?

Death records in Kentucky are readily available to the public and do not require further documentation to access. The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics has records of every death, including inmates, from 1911 to the present day. Interested persons can obtain inmate death records by sending a written request indicating the particular document in question or go a different route to download and complete the Kentucky Death Record Form. The form requires applicants to pay a certain fee and include a valid identification, and mailed to:

Office of Vital Statistics

275 E. Main St. 1E-A

Frankfort, KY 40621

How do I Conduct a Federal Prison Inmate Search?

Conducting a federal prison inmate search can be easier if the researcher already has the BOP Register number/DCDC number/INS number or FBI number. If any of the numbers are known, visit the Federal Bureau of Prisons, navigate to the Locate a Federal Inmate tab, select ‘find by number’ and input the number. On a successful search, the database will provide all information available on that inmate.

However, if the numbers are unknown, navigate to the Locate a Federal Inmate tab, click on ‘find by name,’ type in the inmate’s first, middle, and last names, race, age, and sex, details about the inmate.

How Long Does it Take For An Inmate’s Information to Be Published in Kentucky Inmate Locator?

The Kentucky Department of Correction makes sure to provide the general public with information on inmates using the KOOL system. The system updates daily so the public can have recent data on inmates. However, it takes about 120 days to publish finalized inmate information. Data less than 120 days might be on the system but is probably not finalized.