What are Kentucky Juvenile Court Records?

In Kentucky, the juvenile court system is a section of the family court, under the circuit court, which handles legal matters involving individuals below 18 years. The Department of Juvenile Justice, together with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, oversees legal disciplinary actions against juvenile offenders in Kentucky. Also, the Kentucky Unified Juvenile Code (Title LI of the 2019 Kentucky Revised Statutes) regulates the operations of the juvenile court system and all other juvenile-related governmental agencies. The Office of the Circuit Court Clerk maintains juvenile records.

What Information is Contained in a Kentucky Juvenile Record?

A juvenile court record contains relevant details of the legal procedures or disciplinary action involving persons below 18. Such records typically include the processes from the arrest to the filing of petitions, the transfer hearing, the trial, and the disposition. Juvenile court records are confidential information under Kentucky’s Public Record Act, and unless exempted by law, no section of a juvenile file is obtainable except by authorized persons. Eligible parties include the juvenile addressed in the record, the parents or guardians of the juvenile, and individuals with a court order. Qualified requesters  may access court records in person, typically after presenting a form of valid identification. Under Section 320 of Chapter 610 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes, so far the juvenile’s identity and parents are not revealed, court proceedings of juvenile cases may be open for viewing.

What Cases are Heard by Kentucky Juvenile Courts?

The juvenile court has jurisdiction over lawsuits involving individuals under the age of 18, according to KY Rev Stat § 610.010. The cases heard by the juvenile court include cases of dependency, neglect or abuse, truancy, beyond control juveniles, paternity, and juvenile criminal cases.

Who is Eligible to View Juvenile Records in Kentucky?

Juvenile records are confidential information and protected from public view by the Kentucky Public Records Act. Persons authorized to view a juvenile records typically are::

• The individual involved in the case detailed in a document.
• The parents or guardians of the juvenile.
• The staff of the Cabinet for Health Family Services and the Department of Juvenile Justice, carrying out an official duty.
• Parties with a court order.

Juvenile court records may only be accessed in person, and identification is required to prove eligibility.

The provisions of KY Rev Stats § 610.320 give the public partial access to juvenile records in which the juvenile offender is 14 years or older when committing an offense, and the crime will be considered a capital crime or a Class A, B, or C felony if an adult commits such or the crime involved the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon. For juvenile cases of this type, the court clerk typically creates a special record that contains limited information on the issue, such as the petitions in the case, the adjudication order, and the disposition of the case.

How to Find Juvenile Records in Kentucky

Juvenile court records in Kentucky maintained by the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk are obtainable only through a physical visit to the office. Requestors for juvenile court records must be one of the persons authorized by law to view the files. These include the juvenile in question, the parents or guardians of the juvenile, employees of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the Department of Juvenile Justice on an official business, and other persons authorized by the court. Identification is required to verify eligibility.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites.  Operating independently of any federal, state or local agency, such websites may simplify the search process as they are not limited by geographic location. In addition, third-party sites typically have search engines that can be used for filtering specific or multiple record(s). To use third-party or government websites, interested parties may need to 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 the person resides in or was accused in

However, third-party sites are independent of government sources and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Therefore, the record results, availability, or accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

Can You Look Up Kentucky Juvenile Records Online?

No, Kentucky juvenile records are only accessible through a physical visit to the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk. This is due to the confidentiality imposed on juvenile records under the Kentucky Public Records Act.

Do Kentucky Juvenile Records Show up on Background Checks?

No, juvenile records are not public information and will not show up in a background check. The information on persons guilty of delinquent offenses is protected under the Kentucky Public Records Act. If certain circumstances surround a case, courts may create a special record containing limited information on the legal action. The special record is generally public and will appear in a background check.

How Long are Juvenile Records Kept in Kentucky?

Juvenile files in Kentucky are maintained for many years, even if the juvenile in the case has reached adulthood until a motion for expungement is filed. According to KY Rev Stat § 610.330, the court does not allow expungement for juvenile records with sex offenses or violent crime convictions. To file for expungement at the court, petitioners may either be the child, the probation officer, a staff of the Department of Juvenile Justice, or a representative of the Cabinet for Health Family Services. If the court accepts the expungement application, then the record will be expunged, and all traces of it deleted. Petitions for expungement are typically filed no sooner than two years after completing the sentence or the termination of the court’s jurisdiction over the juvenile offender.