Kenton County Arrest Records

Arrests become necessary when persons are suspected of committing an offense and sufficient evidence supports the suspicion. They ensure public safety and to prevent further criminal activity. Arrests can occur through direct observation of a crime, investigation, or based on warrants issued by a court. When persons are arrested in Kenton County, they are held at the Kenton County Detention Center, the facility responsible for housing inmates awaiting trial or sentencing. The agency responsible for generating arrest records in Kenton County is the Kenton County Sheriff's Office.

Arrest records are public records closely related to Kenton County Court Records. The Kenton County Court Records include detailed information about court proceedings, criminal charges, trial dates, and case outcomes. The Office of the Kenton County Circuit Court Clerk maintains the Kenton County Court Records. These records play a crucial role in maintaining transparency within the County.

Are Arrest Records Public in Kenton County?

Yes, arrest records in Kenton County are public records and are generally accessible to the public. The Kentucky Open Records Act, or KORA, ensures the public has access to records that are not legally exempt from disclosure. While arrest records in Kenton County are generally public, some information within those records may be redacted if it would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

Some information or records typically exempt from public disclosure include:

• If disclosed, Records containing personal information would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
• Records, the disclosure of which would harm the agency by premature release.
• Public records that are prohibited from disclosure by federal law or regulation.
• Public records that are prohibited from disclosure by Kentucky statutes.
• Records the disclosure of which would have a reasonable likelihood of threatening public safety by exposing a vulnerability in preventing, protecting against, mitigating, or responding to a terrorist act.
• Communications of a purely personal nature unrelated to any governmental function.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records contain information related to the arrest and the individual involved. Here is a general list of information you may find in an arrest record:

• Personal information of the arrestee (Name, Gender, Date of Birth, Physical description, etc).
• Date, time, and location of the arrest.
• Name and department of the arresting officer.
• Location of detention (e.g., Kenton County Detention Center).
• List of charges filed against the arrestee.
• Circumstances surrounding the arrest.

Kenton County Crime Rate

The 2022 Crime in Kentucky Report from the Office of the Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police reveals crime statistics for Kenton County. The Covington Police Department reported a high number of offenses, including 98 aggravated assaults, 290 simple assaults, 276 intimidation cases, 1164 drug/narcotic violations, and 434 motor vehicle thefts. The Kenton County Sheriff's Department also reported collected figures with 12 aggravated assaults, 16 simple assaults, 16 intimidation cases, 424 drug/narcotic violations, and 424 motor vehicle thefts. Additionally, the Ft. Wright Police Department recorded five aggravated assaults, 19 simple assaults, eight intimidation cases, 48 drug/narcotic violations, and 33 motor vehicle thefts. Meanwhile, the Erlanger Police Department reported ten aggravated assaults, 72 simple assaults, 43 intimidation cases, 51 drug/narcotic violations, and 33 motor vehicle thefts. These statistics show that drug-related crimes and property crimes are more prevalent in Kenton County.

Kenton County Arrest Statistics

The 2022 Crime in Kentucky Report from the Office of the Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police provides detailed arrest and incarceration statistics for Kenton County. The total number of arrests made in Kenton County in the year, both adult and juvenile, is 11,007. 22.8% of the arrests were made for drug/narcotic offenses, 9.5% for drunkenness, and 6.5% for assault offenses.

Find Kenton County Arrest Records

To find arrest records, persons may send requests or apply directly to the arresting agency. The Kenton County Detention Center Website also links to an online tracker called “Jail Tracker” for looking up inmates. The website provides data about the full names, charges, arrest date, court date, height, weight, birth date, hair color, race, sex, arresting officer, and arresting agency. All you need to do to access this data is:

• Visit the Kenton County Detention Center Website.
• Click the “Inmate Population Icon”.
• Enter your type of search, whether “released,” “current only,” or “all”.
• Type the arrestee’s first and last name.
• Then click “Search”.

Another option is the Kentucky Online Offender Lookup (KOOL) of the Kentucky Department of Corrections (KDOC). All you need to do to access this data is:

• Click the link above.
• Enter the first, middle, and last name of the arrestee.
• Select a results search order.
• Click “Search data”.

Free Arrest Record Search in Kenton County

The government-provided tools allow you to search for inmates at no cost. However, you may also use third-party online tools to find arrest records in Kenton County.

Get Kenton County Criminal Records

Criminal records, often called "criminal history" or "rap sheets," include an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system. The records contain arrests, charges, court proceedings, convictions, and sentences, offering a complete overview of a person's criminal background. In Kenton County, obtaining criminal records from the Sheriff's Office involves several steps to ensure compliance with public records laws. They are as follows:

• Submit your request to inspect public records directly to the Official Custodian of the Kenton County Sheriff's Office.
• The Official Custodian may require a written application detailing the specific public records you wish to inspect. Include your name printed legibly and sign the application.
• The application may be hand-delivered, mailed, sent via facsimile, or emailed to the Official Custodian.
• The Sheriff's Office will respond within five business days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) to inform you whether the request will be fulfilled.
• If the requested records are available, they will be provided for inspection. If not immediately available, the custodian will explain the delay and a new availability date.
• You can inspect records during regular office hours at the Sheriff's Office or request to receive copies of the records by mail if you reside or conduct business outside the county.
• Upon inspection, you can make abstracts or obtain copies of the records. The Official Custodian will make copies upon request, provided the applicant pays the required fees in advance.
• If certain records are exempt from disclosure, the Official Custodian will notify you within five business days, explaining the specific legal reasons for the denial.

Kenton County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

While criminal records provide detailed information about a person’s criminal background, including all interactions with the justice system, arrest records are more specific. They contain details of a person’s arrest and are maintained by the law enforcement agency that made the arrest.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

There is no set time or how long an arrest stays on someone’s record, as details of the arrest are kept permanently. However, the record custodian can seal or erase the arrest record where the individual is charged with an offense. The individual has to apply to court to have such a record expunged.

Expunge Kenton County Arrest Records

An expungement means to have an arrest or charges removed from an individual's official state-conducted background checks. Individuals who wish to have their criminal conviction records expunged must complete the expungement certification process to determine their eligibility. However, an expungement certification is not required for charges or cases dismissed if the person was acquitted or if felony charges did not result in an indictment.

The requirements for eligibility are:

• Persons found not guilty, had charges dismissed, or the grand jury did not indict them within six months can have their charges erased. They can do so without requiring a certificate of eligibility or a filing fee. For acquittals or dismissals with prejudice, expungement is automatic after July 2020, but if not automatically granted, individuals can file the Acquittal Form 60 days post-dismissal/acquittal.
• Dismissals without prejudice for misdemeanors are eligible for expungement after one year and without filing fees.
• Dismissals without prejudice for felonies are eligible after three years and without filing fees.
• Those convicted of misdemeanors can apply to delete unlimited charges after a five-year waiting period following sentence completion. However, they must wait until any applicable enhancement periods are over, such as the ten years for DUIs. They must also pay $100 filing fees.
• Most Class-D felonies are eligible for expungement and expunged. Expungement of felonies, however, costs $300 in filing fees.

The process involves the following steps:

• First, eligibility is determined by completing the expungement certification process.
• A petition or application for criminal conviction expungement must accompany the eligibility certificate. The petition/application form can be accessed or downloaded via this link.
• Notarize the signature on the back of the petition or application.
• Pay the required filing fees.
• If an application is denied, the cost of filing minus $50 will be refunded to the applicant.

Kenton County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are legal documents issued by a judge or magistrate authorizing law enforcement to detain and arrest a specific individual based on probable cause where a person is reasonably suspected of committing an offense. They include the individual's full name and identifying details such as date of birth, physical description of the arrestee, a description of the alleged, a statement outlining the evidence or reasons for probable cause, and the issuing authority's name, title, signature, and date of issuance.

Kenton County Arrest Warrant Search

Active warrants cannot be searched online or given via telephone. To look up a warrant or an individual, you must visit the Kenton County Sheriff’s Office in Covington with a valid ID. The office is located at:

Kenton County Sheriff’s Office
1840 Simon Kenton Way, Suite 1200
Covington, KY 41011

Do Kenton County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Warrants in Kenton County are not subject to an active statute of limitations. They may remain in force until:

• The subject of the warrant is arrested,
• The judge recalls the warrant,
• The subject has been taken into custody; or
• The charges against the subjects have been dropped.