Hardin County Arrest Records

In Hardin County, arrest records are legal records that detail the circumstances surrounding an arrest. They are produced following arrests within the county by law enforcement agents. Under Kentucky Statute 431. 005, an officer can arrest an individual after a warrant has been issued. In some circumstances, for example, where the office witnessed a crime, an arrest can be made without a warrant. The County Sheriff's Office is the primary agency responsible for maintaining order. Following the Kentucky Open Records Act (KORA), the office must grant the public access to Hardin County court records upon request.

Following an arrest in Hardin County, the arresting officer typically transports the arrestee to the closest jail to be booked. During the booking process, the arrestee’s information is compiled with related information to create an arrest record, which is subsequently included in the arrestee's criminal record.

Arrest records are vital because they offer information about an arrest, such as the reason for the arrest (the crime committed by the arrestee), the arrest date, and the arrestee's basic information. Prosecutors may also utilize arrest records to support and launch a criminal court case.

Are Arrest Records Public in Hardin County?

Yes. The Kentucky Open Records Act defines public records as those generated, possessed, controlled, maintained, or preserved by a public body. These include state and municipal government offices, legislative institutions, and county governing bodies.

The Kentucky Open Records Act provides the public the right to access documents created by public agencies. Since law enforcement agencies are responsible for generating and maintaining arrest records, most are accessible to the public.

The Kentucky Open Records Act (KORA), however, includes exemptions that either partially or wholly preclude the public from access to certain records. In such cases, the document is deemed to be confidential. In this regard, such records may not be fully disclosed to the public or partially disclose the information they contain. These personal records are restricted for particular purposes or only available to specific individuals and organizations.

The following records are exempted from public access:

• Records containing personal information whose disclosure would constitute an invasion of the record holder's privacy
• Records of law enforcement agencies whose disclosure would jeopardize informants or undercover officers
• Juvenile records (per KRS 610.320).

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

In Hardin County, a culture of open and participative leadership ensures that public officials are responsive and communicative with the citizens and that the public is actively involved in issues around security. Hardin County Arrest Records typically contain the following information:

• Place, date, and time of the arrest
• The arresting agency's name
• The arresting officer's name and badge number
• The arrestee's basic information and physical description, such as their
• Name of the arrestee
• The arrestee's Mugshot
• The arrestee's offense and charges
• Booking details

Hardin County Crime Rate

According to a 2018 Kentucky State Police report, there were 1,138 crimes in Hardin County, a 20.2% increase from the previous year. The county's clearance rate was 26.4%.

The index crime report reveals that Hardin County recorded three murders, two robberies, 36 sexual assaults, 146 aggravated assaults, 60 burglaries, 76 larceny thefts, and 21 motor vehicle thefts with no report of arson. Hence, the index crime count was around 344 in 2018. The indices of this crime data represent a 6.26% drop from the previous year.

Hardin County's total crime rate in 2018 was 1031.9 crimes per 100,000 persons, an 18.7% increase from the previous year. Its index crime rate was 311.9 crimes per 100,000 people, representing an 8% decline from the prior year.

Hardin County Arrest Statistics

According to a 2020 report by the Kentucky State Police Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), Hardin County had 3,446 criminal arrests in 2020. This is a lower arrest rate than the state average of 3,844 per 100,000 people.

The five most common crimes in Hardin County in 2020 were drug abuse violations, with 844 arrests; larceny-theft, with 541 arrests; disorderly conduct, with 345 arrests; assault, with 264 arrests; and driving under the influence, with 234 arrests. According to 2020 statistics, the daily average number of persons detained in Hardin County Detention Center is 444.

Find Hardin County Arrest Records

There are several avenues to get arrest reports in Hardin County. Requesters can submit a request to the County Sheriff’s office. The office lists the most wanted individuals on its website. The report includes their names, photographs, charges against them, and vital statistics. In addition, the police departments within the county also keep records of arrests. The county clerk of court also maintains records of arrests that have gone to trial.

Requesters must identify the custodian of the record or the agency that arrested the individual to obtain arrest records. Law enforcement agencies only maintain arrest records for arrests made within their jurisdiction. They should also determine the record request procedures and pay the associated fees. Record requests can be submitted online, in person, or by mail. Individuals may draft a written request with a description of the record they seek for mailed requests.

Along with providing contact details (such as name, address, and phone number), requesters must also sign the request. For in-person requests, requesters can submit their written request to the arresting agency during regular office hours. Alternatively, some agencies maintain an online portal requesters can use to submit a request for a sought-after record. Requesters are typically charged a fee per released page of records they requested.

There are restricted or non-public records under the Kentucky Open Records Act (KORA). To obtain them, individuals would need to subpoena the records from their 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 can complete and submit a subpoena request form to the clerk's office of a court with appropriate jurisdiction and pay the necessary fees. Thereafter, the approved subpoena can be forwarded to the custodian of the sought-after restricted record.

Free Arrest Record Search in Hardin County

Various avenues can be used to access free arrest record searches in Hardin County. The Hardin County Sheriff's Office provides a free online inmate search tool on its website, allowing members of the public to search for current inmates by name or booking number.

The Kentucky Judicial Branch provides free access to court records, including arrest and other criminal case information. While these are limited in information, they might serve as a good starting point for checking arrest records. Similarly, the County Clerk keeps the county's official records. Individuals who want help should contact the Public Records Department. However, access to some confidential documents may be limited.

Third-party websites also offer free arrest record searches, but users must know that these sites may not always be up-to-date or accurate and may require payment for more detailed information.

Get Hardin County Criminal Records

Criminal records are official documents detailing an individual's criminal history. These records typically include arrests, convictions, and sentences. Law enforcement agencies and courts maintain these records to track criminal behavior, provide information for background checks, and assist in employment screenings.

The Hardin County Sheriff's Office has a section dedicated to investigative reports, criminal history investigations, served warrants, and traffic citations. Residents may access particular offender records by filing a written request to the Sheriff's office or via their online portal. However, some criminal records may be restricted or limited, mainly if they include sensitive or confidential information.

To obtain a criminal background check, individuals may need to appear in person at the record division, provide a government-issued photo identification, and provide their name, date of birth, sex, race, and Social Security Number. Record availability from each of these agencies may vary as each agency follows its retention procedures and schedules.

Hardin County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Hardin County, the law enforcement agency that made the arrest is fully responsible for keeping the arrest record. A criminal record means an individual has been arrested and charged for a crime. It does not necessarily imply guilt or conviction. On the other hand, the court system maintains records of criminals or criminal cases. These records are more comprehensive and accurate.

A criminal record is a formal report detailing an individual’s criminal history and any convictions a court might have made. Usually, the record states the actions that led to the subject's conviction, the imposed sentences, and possible probation terms.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records do not expire. They remain permanently on record. Ideally, these records are kept as part of criminal history unless when sealed or expunged by the court. Individuals may be eligible for sealing or expungement if they were arrested due to mistaken identity, were found not guilty during the proceedings, or the court determined the police lacked a probable cause of arrest.

Expunge Hardin County Arrest Records

According to KRS 431. 079, any individual desiring their arrest record to be expunged must apply for an expungement certification to determine eligibility. The form is maintained by the Kentucky State Police and is done in collaboration with the administrative section of the courts. Individuals requesting an expungement certification have three options: online, in-person, or by mail.

Interested individuals must register at the Kentucky Court of Justice registration site to make an online request. For proper identification, they must provide a valid e-mail address during registration. Upon logging into the site, users could access an online request form for an expungement certification. The form must be appropriately filled out online and then electronically submitted. Users must also make a mandatory payment of $40 for the request. Subsequently, applicants can check their email for a notification when the certification packet is available. Once available, users can log in to the registration site to download the certification information packet.

For in-person requests, applicants must complete an Expungement Certification Request Form and pay a $40 request fee. After their application is approved, applicants will receive their expungement certification pack through the U.S. Mail at the address indicated on the request form. Likewise, applicants must complete an Expungement Certification Request Form for mail-service requests. The completed form, along with the $40 request fee payment, should be mailed to:

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

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.

Once the individual has obtained an expungement certification, they can file for the expungement of the desired arrest record. This involves filing an expungement petition with the expungement certification at the Circuit Court Clerk in the county. This is done based on the fulfillment of the aforementioned eligibility criteria. Subsequently, they can file a completed form with the expungement certification and the required charges before a court with jurisdiction to expunge the record.

At the end of any expungement process, the court will issue an order for the expungement of the petitioned records. According to this order, all records on or relating to the expunged record, including all records of any of the government agencies, such as law enforcement agencies and the courts, shall be erased or removed from the records. In addition, government agencies will reply that no such record exists when queried about such records.

Hardin County Arrest Warrants

A court issues an arrest warrant, authorizing law enforcement agents to take a person into custody. It is issued when there is probable cause to believe that an individual has committed a crime. Arrest warrants are based on the Fourth Amendment. They are intended to protect innocent persons from wrongful arrests by ensuring that arrests are judicially approved and that law enforcement is not acting alone.

To get a warrant, a law enforcement agent presents corroborating evidence to a prosecutor, demonstrating reasonable suspicion of criminal activity and establishing probable cause. The prosecutor evaluates the proof, exercising discretion. If they are convinced probable cause exists, they submit an affidavit to the court requesting a warrant. The judge reviews the evidence, and if they agree that the standard for probable cause is met, they issue a warrant. This authorizes law enforcement to take the individual into custody. After being issued, the warrant is usually logged into law enforcement databases.

An arrest warrant contains the following information:

• The name of the court that issued the warrant.
• The name of the defendant.
• Their physical description includes information such as height, weight, hair color, eye color, and other unique features that may help identify them.
• The criminal offense charged against the individual.
• The official issuing date of the warrant
• The signature of the judge issuing the warrant.
• The bail amount

Hardin County Arrest Warrant Search

Hardin County residents may use various methods to determine if an individual has an outstanding arrest warrant. The local sheriff’s office publishes and maintains data on active warrants. Individuals can get further information on a specific individual by contacting the Sheriff’s office through mail or in person. They must provide identifying information about the subject of the record, such as their complete name and date of birth. They must also provide government-issued identification.

To conduct an arrest warrant search online, visit the Hardin County Sheriff's website and navigate to the “Warrants” tab. Then, select the type of search they want to perform. They can search by name, date of birth, or warrant number. For further guidance, requesters can contact the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office at:

150 North Provident Way,
Elizabethtown, KY 42701,
Phone: (270) 765-5133

Do Hardin County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants generally do not have an expiry date. Once issued, an arrest warrant remains active and enforceable until a subject is captured, the court quashes the warrant, charges against them are withdrawn, or the subject is deceased.

The warrant information is logged into a national crime database if law enforcement agents cannot apprehend the individual. The next time the suspect interacts with law enforcement officers, they will be apprehended until the court that issued the warrant for their arrest ratifies their release.