Laurel County Arrest Records

Laurel County arrest records are official documents created when law enforcement agencies apprehend individuals suspected of committing a crime. Arrest records are used to file important information about arrests, such as the agency that made the arrest, the name of the arrested, the arrestee's personal data, the charges filed against the suspect, the date and time of arrest, arrest status, holding facility, and bail conditions.

Arrests are typically made by the Laurel County Sheriff's Office and local police departments like the London City Police. Law enforcement agencies require arrest warrants to apprehend suspects. Otherwise, an officer must witness a suspect committing a crime before they can make an arrest without a warrant. Following arrests, suspects are taken to the Laurel County Correctional Center, which serves as the primary holding facility in the county.

A person's arrest record is created upon admission into the detention facility. The agency that made the arrests is responsible for creating and preserving arrest records. In many cases, arrests lead to criminal litigation and, as such, contribute to the creation of Laurel County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Laurel County?

Yes. Arrest records are public under the Kentucky Open Record Act (KORA) (KRS 61.870–61.844). This means that interested members of the public can view and reproduce record copies, except where exemptions are provided by other laws. Moreover, law enforcement agencies may temporarily classify records, exempting them from public access if the need for privacy outweighs the public's right to know. Such exemptions are necessary in cases where records contain sensitive information that pertains to personal privacy or security.

Non-public arrest records are only open to law enforcement officers, attorneys, and record subjects. Third parties can only view sequestered records with the permission of a court of competent jurisdiction (usually in the jurisdiction where the arrest was made). The following are general exemptions from the provisions of the open record law:

• Information about minors, witnesses in protection, and confidential informants
• Sensitive information about ongoing criminal investigations
• Information about investigative techniques used by law enforcement
• Information with the potential to compromise the outcome of an ongoing court trial, thus jeopardizing a litigant's right to a fair trial.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following contents of arrest records are typically public and may be obtained during an arrest record search:

• Full name, age, weight, sex, height, and other physical characteristics of suspects
• Mugshots or images taken during intake at a detention facility
• Detention status (whether or not an arrestee is still in custody)
• Release date and time (for freed inmates)
• Detention facility and name of arresting agency
• Booking number
• Date and time of booking
• Offense type and degree
• Bail/bond amount and release conditions.

Laurel County Arrest Statistics

According to the 2023 Kentucky crime report by the Kentucky State Police, Laurel County law enforcement made 7,073 arrests, comprising 2,372 Group A arrests and 4,701 Group B arrests.

Arrests made for Group A offenses include arson (1), assault (573), burglary (33), drug-related (996), homicides (7), larceny (271), motor vehicle theft (27), weapon law violations (42), robbery (12), and sex offenses (35). Under Group B offenses, some of the arrests made include trespassing (110), driving under the influence (DUI) (612), and non-violent family offenses (53). Out of the total number of arrests (7,073), adult arrests were 7,011, juvenile arrests were 36, and undefined arrests were 26.

The total number of arrests in the previous year (2022) was 5,781. Group A arrests were 2,210, while Group B arrests were 3,571. Juvenile arrests were 24. In comparison, 2023 indicated a 22.34 percent increase in the arrest rate.

Find Laurel County Arrest Records

The Laurel County Sheriff's Office is the custodian of the county's criminal records (including arrest records). For individuals arrested or incarcerated in Laurel County, record seekers may request records from this office in person or view the jail roster provided on the Laurel County Corrections website. Requesters at the sheriff's office are required to present the arrestee's name or booking number to find related records. In addition, one should carry a photo ID during their visit.

For statewide arrest record searches, visit the Kentucky Offender Online Lookup (KOOL) website provided by the Kentucky Department of Corrections (DOC). Searches on this website are name-based. Information provided on this website includes the arrestee's name, DOC number, age, race, gender, eye color, location, aliases, conviction information, and parole information.

Free Arrest Record Search in Laurel County

Free access to Laurel County arrest records can be achieved using the JailTracker tool provided by the Laurel County Correctional Center. This platform includes information for both current and released inmates held at the facility, which can be searched using a first or last name. Inmate details displayed on this website include photographs, full name, cases, charges, bond type and amount, release date (if applicable), booking/arrest date and time, and physical characteristics.

Alternatively, interested parties can find arrest records for free using third-party websites. Private entities provide these aggregate third-party databases for informational purposes. Like the official option discussed previously, they are typically searchable by an individual's name. However, due to their lack of affiliation with the government or law enforcement, records' completeness, availability, and accuracy vary.

NB: Online lookup tools (third-party and official websites alike) are provided for informational purposes only, and information obtained from these platforms may not be used for official purposes.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. However, individuals who satisfy certain conditions may petition the court to have their records expunged or sealed. For example, no pending paroles, sentences, or ongoing criminal litigation or investigation must be linked to them.

Expunge Laurel County Arrest Records

Expungement is a legal action that authorizes the removal of arrests and other criminal records from public records. Among other purposes, expungements enable people with criminal records to get a fair chance at privileges that otherwise would have been unavailable to them, e.g., during employment and housing screenings.

Once expunged, a record is removed from public databases, and the associated arrests, charges, or convictions can be treated as though they never happened. However, law enforcement may retain non-public copies for documentation purposes.

According to the Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS), persons seeking to expunge their records must complete an expungement certification process to determine their eligibility. Once completed, they are required to obtain a certificate of eligibility and file it alongside the expungement petition. The expungement certification process is not required if the charges that led to the arrest were dismissed or dropped if the suspect was acquitted of the charges or if there wasn't an indictment. An expungement certification costs $40.

Arrest records that qualify for expungement include those made for misdemeanors and class D felonies (KRS 431.073), although with certain exemptions. For a record to qualify for an expungement:

• The associated offense must not be a sex offense or other offense committed against a child.
• The petitioner must not have any felony or misdemeanor convictions in the last five years.
• There are no pending misdemeanors or felonies linked to the petitioner's name.

KRS 431.078 sets forth rules regulating the expungement of misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and violation charges. For statutes regulating the expungement of dismissed or dropped charges, see KRS 431.076. While there are no fees for expungement petitions where a suspect was acquitted, the filing fee for felony expungements is $50. If the petition is granted, an additional $250 expungement fee shall be required. The filing fee for misdemeanor offenses is $100. Furthermore, there are different petition applications for various offense types:

• Application to vacate and expunge felony conviction
• Petition for Expungement (for acquittal, dismissal, or failure to indict)
• Petition for Expungement (for misdemeanor, violation, or criminal conviction).

Note that certain timelines must elapse following release from detention or completion of sentence or parole before a record subject can file for an expungement. Record subjects may file for their record expungement at the Laurel County Circuit Court Clerk's Office. The prosecuting attorney and any involved victims are usually notified of an expungement petition and given a timeline to submit any counter-petitions. An expungement petition may be denied if it determines that the prosecution's counterargument is justified.

If the court determines that the applicant's circumstances outweigh the prosecution's objections and public interest in the affected record, it shall issue an expungement order. This order shall be sent to all involved agencies and parties named on the petition, notifying them of the expungement and ordering the destruction of the specified records.

Laurel County Arrest Warrants

Law enforcement requires arrest warrants to arrest individuals suspected of committing a crime. However, arrests may be made without a warrant if the suspect committed the offense in the officer's presence (KRS 440.280). The county's district court typically issues arrest warrants. Before a court can issue a warrant for a person's arrest, there must be reasonably sufficient evidence to establish probable cause linking a person to the alleged offense.

Once issued, an arrest warrant may be executed at any time or place during which the warrant will be served on the suspect. Under state laws, arrest warrants must be in writing and include the following information:

• The suspect's name
• Statement and description of the crime
• Name and signature of issuing authority
• City and county
• Date and time of issuance
• The warrant shall include the bail type and amount if the offense is bailable.

Do Laurel County Arrest Warrants Expire?

A Laurel County arrest warrant does not expire until the individual named on it is arrested. As such, law enforcement officers may apprehend a suspect on sight at any place or time (KRS 440.230). Warrants only go away if the issuing authority recalls or quashes them.