Jefferson County Arrest Records

Jefferson County law enforcement officers have the legal mandate to arrest anyone who commits or is alleged to have committed an offense (KRS, Chapter 431). Such offenses may be felonies, misdemeanors, or violations with varying legal consequences.

A Jefferson County arrest typically results in the suspect’s booking at the closest police department or jailhouse. During the booking exercise, the police precinct collects and stores the arrestee’s details in a database, resulting in an arrest record. Subsequently, the suspect may be released or detained in a jailhouse managed by the arresting police precinct until their day in court.

Jefferson County arrest records are crucial for preliminary legal proceedings. These records provide insight into suspects’ criminal antecedents. Consequently, local and state court custodians also store and maintain Jefferson County court records. Thus, requesters may search for Jefferson County court records and criminal history through the County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office or the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts.

Are Arrest Records Public in Jefferson County?

Yes. The Kentucky Open Records Act protects the rights of Jefferson County residents and other Kentucky counties to access Jefferson County arrest records that are not exempted from public disclosure.

Nonetheless, the KORA applies specific exemptions on public access to arrest records. Such exemptions include:

• Personal details such as addresses, social security numbers, medical histories, or names of dependents of law enforcement agents.
• Documents containing information that can endanger members of the public, e.g., monitored domestic violence-related communication.
• Records related to ongoing criminal proceedings or investigations.
• Information connected with ongoing disciplinary or legal proceedings.

The Kentucky Open Records Act also stipulates conditions for “residents” who want to access county arrest records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records available to Jefferson County residents through the Kentucky Uniform Citation form include:

• The arrestee’s full name and date of birth
• A physical description of the arrestee, including gender, height, race, hair color, and eye color
• Details of the arrest, comprising arrest date, time of arrest, and exact location of arrest
• Charges and post-arrest complaint against the arrestee
• The arresting officer’s name, badge/ID number, and assignment

Jefferson County Crime Rate

The 2022 installment of the Crime in Kentucky report puts the total number of reported felony offenses in Jefferson County at 85,197 cases. According to the document, property crimes were the most common crimes reported in the county, accounting for about 35% of major crimes.

Within the property crime category, larceny-theft offenses, property destruction or vandalism, and burglary/breaking offenses constituted 17.6% (14,993 cases), 6.82% (5,814 cases), and 4.43% (3,771 cases), respectively.

Other significant property crimes were motor vehicle theft, which comprised 4.41% (3,557), and stolen property offenses, which constituted 1.32% (1,124).

Jefferson County Arrest Statistics

In addition to crime figures, the Crime in Kentucky report also features arrest statistics for Kentucky counties, including Jefferson County. The report showed that Jefferson County reported 31,040 arrests in 2022.

A breakdown of the adult and juvenile arrest population disclosed that 96.59% (29,981) were adults, while 2.36% (733) were juveniles. The age classification of 1.05% (326) arrestees was unknown.

As of 2024, Jefferson County incarceration statistics available from the Jail Population Dashboard of Louisville DOC indicate that Jefferson County has a jail population of 1,914. Of this number, 1,241 are in the central jail complex, 649 are on a home incarceration program, and 24 are on the day reporting center program.

Find Jefferson County Arrest Records

Jefferson County's almost 30 law enforcement agencies maintain law and order in their territories. The uniform citation form used by local and state law enforcement agencies makes arrests, bookings, and lookups of offenders relatively easy in Jefferson County. Thus, requesters may visit the respective police departments responsible for booking offenders or the County Sheriff’s Office to request needed arrest records.

Conversely, a holistic way to look up Jefferson County inmates is to browse the Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections (LMDC) offenders’ public records online. The Kentucky Offenders Online Online Lookup (KOOL) is another option.

Free Arrest Record Search in Jefferson County

Per the Kentucky Open Records Act, interested persons search for arrest records for free in Jefferson County. This means that any request for arrest record information and processing of the request does not incur a charge on the requester. Such requests only attract a charge where there is the need to provide copies of the desired record.

Requesters in Jefferson County can search arrest records for free when they drive to a local police department or submit a record request online.

Third-party public records repositories are another alternative available to members of the public. Users can search third-party sites at no charge using the first and last name of the subject of interest. However, obtaining a comprehensive report on the subject attracts a fee.

Get Jefferson County Criminal Records

A criminal record or criminal history is a comprehensive report of a person's interactions with the criminal justice system. This includes encounters with the courts and law enforcement and can encompass arrests, detentions, and convictions, among other things.

Since there is no single database for Jefferson County criminal records, requesters can conduct local, state, or national background checks. However, persons searching for criminal history records may explore the following agencies:

Kentucky State Police (KSP)

Interested parties can carry out name-—and finger-based checks at the KSP. A name-based check requires authorization from the subject of the criminal history check. However, such searches do not need the requester's fingerprints. Consequently, members of the public and organizations can request conviction records about employment, emigration, and housing through mail requests.

Only the subject of the criminal records search, and legally approved organizations or agencies are permitted to carry out fingerprint-based checks. To access more information on the scope, rules, and process of background checks, please visit the “background checks” page on the KSP website.

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)

Inquirers can also obtain criminal history reports online, in person, or through mail service requests from the AOC.

Online Requests: To receive reports electronically, requesters must register a FasCheck account. Non-registered users can make a one-time request to receive their reports via U.S. mail.

In-Person Requests: Parties requesting a criminal history report can visit the drive-thru window of AOC, 1001 Vandalay Drive, Frankfort. Please note that the Records Division of the AOC no longer accepts cash for in-person requests. However, the Division accepts most debit cards, including American Express, Discover, and MasterCard.

Drive-thru hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mail-Service Requests: Requesters using the mail request option should send the completed form, along with the necessary payment and a valid ID, to the AOC’s Records Unit.

Jefferson County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Jefferson County, an arrest record is a formal document summarizing a specific arrest. Typically, such a record would contain:

• Offender’s name and date of birth
• Physical descriptors of the arrestee (e.g., gender, height, weight, eye color, hair color, etc.)
• Charges against the Offender
• Location of the offense
• Name of the arresting officer

In contrast, Jefferson County criminal records comprise an exhaustive account of an individual's entire criminal record, including all interactions with law enforcement. A criminal record—also known as a criminal history or rap sheet—details usually contains information like:

• Police arrest and incident reports
• Ongoing legal proceedings
• Criminal convictions

In addition to other relevant organizations, the Kentucky State Police (KSP) is responsible for handling requests and granting access to criminal records via background checks.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

The State of Kentucky does not stipulate a specific duration for the retention of an individual's arrest record in its databases. According to the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, failure to request the expungement of an arrest record will result in the record remaining on the subject's criminal history record.

An implication of not obtaining an expungement is that the arrest, charge, or sentence will remain on the individual's criminal record. As a result, the conviction will appear any time one's criminal history permanently.

Expunge Jefferson County Arrest Records

Eligible persons can seek to expunge Jefferson County arrest records through online, in-person, or mail service requests.

Online Requests: To submit an online request, the prospective candidate must complete the steps below:

• Sign up for an account on the registration website.
• Fill out the online request form.
• Make a $40 payment. Approved means of payment include American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa cards, and most debit cards.
• Look for an email notification about the availability of the certification packet.
• Revisit the registration website and download the certification packet.
• Submit the certification papers and the appropriate expungement petition to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Jefferson County.

In-Person Requests: A requester for an expungement can also submit the request through the drive-thru window of the Administrative Office of the Courts at 1001 Vandalay Drive, Frankfort. Drive-thru hours are Mondays through Fridays (8 a.m. - 4 p.m. EST)—except state holidays.

Mail-Service Requests: To adopt the mail-service option, the interested person should follow these steps:

• Download and fill out the Expungement Certification Request Form.
• Make the $40 payment available through a check or money order. The inquirer must make the check or money order payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer.
• Mail the filled-out form and payment to the Records Unit, Administrative Office of the Courts.
• Next, the requester will receive the certification packet via US mail at the address provided.
• Submit the certification papers and correct expungement petition to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Jefferson County.

Under KRS 431.073, the courts can only expunge specific offenses and convictions. These include instances where:

• The person has a misdemeanor or Class D felony
• The person is acquitted or charged dismissed
• The person receives a pardon from the governor

For a complete list of Class D felonies eligible for expungement and filing fees, interested persons should visit the Expungement Certification Process page on the Kentucky Court of Justice website.

Jefferson County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is an official document handed down by a judge or magistrate authorizing a law enforcement officer to take an individual accused of a crime into custody. Typically, a judge issues an arrest warrant based on a determination of probable cause. This means that an arrest warrant may be issued if a reasonable person believes that the evidence available is adequate to support criminal activity.

To obtain an arrest warrant in Jefferson County, an individual with a complaint against another party must initially submit a complaint at the County Attorney's Mediation and Warrants Office.

Jefferson County Arrest Warrant Search

The following options are available to anyone searching for active arrest warrants in Jefferson County:

1. Law Enforcement Agencies: Interested parties may contact police departments like the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department, and other police departments operating in the county. Most of these departments offer warrant lookup services and information that can assist in locating active arrest warrants. Calling the respective agencies or visiting in person should yield the requisite information.
2. Online Databases: Local, state, and federal enforcement agencies typically have repositories that anyone searching for an active arrest warrant can access. The advantage of these databases is that requesters do not have to visit any police station, and such searches are discreet. In addition to the government sites, requesters may check out third-party databases offering similar services. However, official government websites are the best bet for the most current and accurate information.
3. County Attorney’s Mediation and Warrants Office: Persons seeking active arrest warrants in Jefferson County may also wish to stop by the Office of the Attorney for Mediation and Warrants. The Office should be able to render valuable assistance since it is legally mandated to receive complaints from residents.

Do Jefferson County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Jefferson County arrest warrants are valid for the subject's life or until the court or magistrate who issued the warrant recalls the document. In essence, Jefferson police officers can arrest anyone with an active warrant at any moment. However, it is pertinent to note that the issuing court or magistrate has the authority to set specified expiration dates for specific forms of warrants, like search warrants.