Lexington-Fayette Arrest Records

An arrest may become necessary when a person is implicated in a criminal investigation, is named on an arrest warrant, or the police have probable cause because the offense was committed in view. An arrest does not prove guilt; only a conviction can certify guilt. Upon arrest, offenders may be booked in the county jail to begin the legal process for release or be held until a court hearing.

Arrest records are an essential portion of a person's criminal history, detailing the offender's identity, the arresting law enforcement agency, and the arrest circumstances. Lexington-Fayette arrest records are generated by the Lexington Police Department (LPD), a division under the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG). The LPD is responsible for transferring booking information, such as mugshots, fingerprints, and charges compiled from city arrest incidents, into database systems maintained by the Kentucky State Police (KSP). Data from city arrests also feeds into prosecution case files, court dockets, and the Fayette County arrest records.

Are Lexington-Fayette Arrests Public Record?

Yes. Lexington-Fayette arrest records are publicly released per the Kentucky Open Records Law (KRS 61.870 - 61.884). This law allows citizens to inspect and make copies of public records unless the law states otherwise.

A court order or state/federal laws may restrict public access to a record if it:

• has been sealed or expunged
• identifies a juvenile
• contains an individual's medical history
• discloses confidential information about an offender, witness, or other parties involved in a case
• compromises the integrity of an ongoing investigation

Basic arrest information, such as an offender's identity (name, date of birth), date/location of arrest, object involved in the arrest, and the identity of the arresting agency/peace officer, is generally accessible for public review. Nonpublic or confidential arrest information may be viewed on demand by specific individuals or government bodies upon approval by the official custodians.

Lexington-Fayette Crime Rate

From January to March 2025, Lexington-Fayette (urban county) reported a year-to-date (YTD) total of 5,211 Group A and B offenses, marking a 10.3% decrease compared to the same period in 2024.

Larceny/theft was the most prevalent property crime, accounting for 1,323 offenses, roughly 25% of the total crimes for the period. Among violent crimes, assault offenses were more frequent, totaling 853 incidents, but showing an 8.5% decrease from the previous year. Other crimes, such as murder & non-negligent manslaughter (5), arson (3), human trafficking (4), pocket-picking (1), and purse-snatching (3), occurred at significantly lower rates.

A five-year trend, based on the March 2025 publication from the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), indicates an average of 1,891.6 Group A offenses and 480.4 Group B offenses in Lexington-Fayette.

(Source: LPD Crime Data)

Find Lexington-Fayette Arrest Records

Interested persons may search for the Lexington-Fayette arrest records through the LPD by submitting a written public records request in person, via mail, or by fax to:

In-Person: Lexington Police Department, 150 East Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507

By Mail: Open Records Unit, Lexington Police Department, 150 East Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507

By Fax: (859) 425-2270

Each request should state the requester's name and contact information, as well as sufficient information to allow staff to identify the correct document or record easily (e.g., the arrestee's name and date of birth or the arrest date).

A request can also be made to the Community Corrections, which operates the Fayette County Detention Center. The agency maintains an Inmate Information portal to assist remote lookups. Individuals can also review court case records held by the clerk of the court that heard a criminal case or proceeding, as these documents may contain arrest data.

Free Arrest Record Search In Lexington-Fayette

Individuals may perform a free arrest records search in Lexington-Fayette using various channels:

• Fayette County Detention Center's Online Inmate Search: The Detention Center's Inmate Information portal has a comprehensive list of individuals arrested and booked into the local jail. This database provides information like the arrestee's name, booking date, charges, bond amount, and resident location within the facility.
• The Lexington Police Department: The LPD is a reliable source to obtain free arrest information in Lexington-Fayette. Requesters may not be charged fees to view arrest information. Inquiries can be made to the LPD's Public Information Office for open information about arrest or other incidents handled by police officers across the urban county area. An open records request can also be made to the LPD at the addresses in the previous heading.
• Public terminals: Public terminals available at the local courthouses are invaluable sources for accessing arrest information for free.
• Third-party websites: Third-party aggregators often provide remote access to arrest records. However, because these platforms are privately owned, they may have limitations such as outdated information and paywalls that restrict access to detailed information. Therefore, it is crucial to cross-reference data from these sources with information from official custodians to verify its accuracy.

Criminal Background Check In Kentucky

A criminal background check provides a more comprehensive overview of an individual's criminal history than a basic arrest record search. Hence, it is essential for official purposes like licensing, housing, and employment. Kentucky criminal background checks, which include reported Lexington-Fayette data, are requested from the statewide official sources responsible for maintaining individuals' criminal history within the state: the Kentucky State Police and the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) of the Kentucky Court of Justice.

AOC provides different options for accessing a Kentucky Background Check, which only reveals court case information on file for District and Circuit Courts in the 120 Kentucky counties. Interested persons can make a one-time online request for a single report to be mailed to them, or they can register for an AOC FastCheck account to retrieve records directly online. Additionally, walk-in and mail-service requests are available at the AOC's office at:

Administrative Office of the Courts
Records Unit
1001 Vandalay Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601

To initiate search through the Kentucky State Police, interested persons can submit the criminal background search request form for a name-based check. This search option is accessible to members of the public upon the subject's approval and payment of the $20 service fee to the Ketuncky State Treasurer. The average processing time is 10 days for mail-in requests.

For a more thorough criminal history search, including statewide and national (FBI) criminal checks, the KSP provides fingerprinting services at various locations statewide. A separate fee typically applies for these background checks. More information is available on the KSP's Background Checks page.

Lexington Inmate Search

To search for inmates in Lexington-Fayette County, individuals have two primary resources, depending on where someone is being detained:

• Fayette County Community Corrections: This agency provides an Inmate Search tool to find locally incarcerated inmates.
• Kentucky Department of Corrections: Where the individual was transferred to state custody, one can access the Kentucky Online Offender Lookup (KOOL) system to look up details about their incarceration. This system provides comprehensive information for individuals who are incarcerated, on probation/parole, or under any form of supervision in state prisons or correctional facilities across Kentucky. KOOL includes details about an offender's current status, location, and other commitment information. Users can perform searches using the offender's last name or other filters.

Lexington Police Record Lookup

The Lexington Police Department maintains arrest affidavits, accident/incident reports, CAD calls, and other police records, which can be obtained by submitting an Open Records Request to the agency in person, via mail, or by fax. Fees apply to receive hard copies, including 10 cents per page, $1 per CD, $5 for a collision report, and postage, where applicable.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record In Lexington-Fayette?

Forever. Unless an arrest is sealed or expunged by court order, it remains on file indefinitely and may be accessible to members of the public. Kentucky law does not permit the automatic removal of arrest records, especially if the arrest led to a conviction. However, KRS 431.076 allows cases dismissed with prejudice or acquitted on or after July 15, 2020, (excluding traffic cases) to be automatically expunged after 30 days (i.e., without any action from the defendant).

How Can I Get My Record Expunged for Free In Lexington-Fayette?

While an expungement form may be obtained at no cost, the expungement process in Lexington-Fayette is not entirely free. A filing fee may be required to initiate the petition process, as well as statutory fees necessary to obtain an expungement certificate from the Administration Office of the Courts (AOC).

However, indigent parties may receive fee waivers or have a portion of the filing fee refunded where expungement requests are denied. The approach to expunge a record depends on the outcome of the case and can be gleaned from the Guide to Expungement in Kentucky or the AOC's Expungement page (also includes steps to obtain an expungement certificate).

Lexington Fayette Warrant Search

An arrest warrant is a court order that authorizes the arrest of an individual. A criminal arrest warrant is issued on grounds of probable cause that a person has committed a crime, while a bench warrant (a type of arrest warrant) may be issued upon an individual's failure to appear in court or obey a court order.

A Lexington-Fayette warrant search, which reveals the name of a warrant subject, the warrant issuance date, the charge(s), and bond amount (where applicable), can be conducted by querying local police agencies. One can also visit or contact the circuit clerk's office to obtain court records that may indicate an arrest warrant. However, individuals risk immediate arrest if they appear in person and a warrant is discovered.

Do Lexington-Fayette Warrants Expire?

No. Lexington-Fayette arrest warrants do not expire but remain valid until executed, i.e., until the bearer is arrested. However, the issuing judge can quash or recall such writs if a sufficient basis exists.