McCracken County Arrest Records

Per Kentucky Revised Statutes § 431.005, law enforcement in McCracken County has the authority to make arrests when probable cause exists that a crime has been committed. This may result from witnessing a crime in progress, having a warrant for a suspect's arrest, or possessing evidence that ties a person to a criminal offense. These arrests can be for various crimes, ranging from misdemeanors to felonies.

Inmates arrested in McCracken County are typically held at the McCracken County Jail, 400 Clarence Gaines Street, Paducah. This jail facility houses pre-trial detainees awaiting their court hearings and sentenced inmates serving their sentences.

The McCracken County Sheriff's Office is primarily responsible for generating arrest records in the county. These arrest records serve as a crucial starting point for criminal proceedings and may offer valuable insight into a person's criminal background. They may also be included in McCracken County Court Records, criminal history files managed by the Kentucky State Police (KSP), and Commonwealth Attorney's office records. These records serve as the official documentation of an arrest and may include details like the suspect's name, charges, booking information, and the arresting officer.

Are Arrest Records Public in McCracken County?

Yes. The Kentucky Open Records Act authorizes public access to records generated by public agencies. This Act requires law enforcement agencies in McCracken County to make most of the records they generate and maintain, including arrest records, generally accessible to the public.

However, this Act also includes exemptions restricting or limiting public access to certain records. Depending on what they contain, they may be entirely unavailable to the public, or parts may be redacted. It is worth noting that these confidential records may be accessible to some eligible parties for definite reasons. The records affected by this exemption clause contain personal information that could invade privacy, records that would jeopardize informants or undercover officers, and juvenile records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records typically contain the following information:

• Arrestee Information:
  • Full name
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Race
• Arrest Details:
  • Date of arrest
  • Time of arrest
  • Location of arrest
  • Arresting agency
  • Charges filed
  • Booking number
  • Bond amount
• Additional Information:
  • Physical description (height, weight, hair color, eye color, etc.)
  • Address

McCracken County Arrest Statistics

Crime and arrest statistics in Kentucky State are published in "Crime in Kentucky", an annual report of the Kentucky State Police. According to this report, McCracken County recorded 1,673 arrests in the year 2023. The following were the main categories of offenses that resulted in these arrests:

Drug/Narcotic Crimes: These accounted for approximately 30.5% of all arrests, with 510 apprehensions. They included offenses related to controlled substances and drug paraphernalia, with specific incidents involving methamphetamine, marijuana, and other regulated substances.

Assault Offenses: These comprised 358 arrests or roughly 21.4% of all arrests, and they included aggravated assault, simple assault, and intimidation incidents, which represented both physical and verbal threats or injury.

Crimes of Larceny and Theft: This category of offenses made up around 6.4% of all arrests, with 107. These offenses include many forms of theft, such as car theft, shoplifting, and other property thefts.

Find McCracken County Arrest Records

In Kentucky, the law enforcement agency that made the arrest maintains the record of the arrest. Therefore, the Kentucky State Police is one feasible state-level source of MacCracken arrest records.

Requests for records from the Kentucky State Police should be sent to the Official Custodian of Records via email, fax, mail, or personal delivery. It should be a written request. The application should be signed, the inquirer's name printed, and a description of the record to be inspected or duplicated should be included. The name of the subject, the location, and the record's creation date may all be included in the description of the record. Additionally, the full name, address, and phone number of the inquirer should be provided. The address to submit record requests is shown below:

Kentucky State Police,
919 Versailles Road, Franklin, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 782-1873
Fax: (502) 573-1636
Email: ksp.openrecords@ky.gov.

Requesters may also submit their requests via the Open Records Request Form, while it is not necessary. The Kentucky State Police charge ten cents per page.

Also, an interested party can obtain arrest records by performing background checks to obtain criminal record reports from the Administrative Office of Courts (AOC). The report usually includes arrests, convictions, verdicts, information about incarceration, and the specifics of all arrest warrants filed against the record holder.

The AOC can provide criminal records via mail, in person, or online. Requesters should utilize the FastCheck interface to view Kentucky criminal records online. But before businesses can do name-based background checks, they have to register. There is a $25 non-refundable cost for every search. Credit card payment is required for this fee.

In-person requests for criminal records in Kentucky should be made at the Administrative Office of the Courts. Each request costs $25, and payment options include credit card, money order, or check.

To make a mail request, the person should complete a request form, submit it along with a $25 money order or check and a stamped self-addressed envelope to the Administrative Office of the Courts Records Unit at:

1001 Vandalay Drive,
Franklin, KY 40601
Phone: (800) 928-6381

Free Arrest Record Search in McCracken County

Persons looking to access McCracken County arrest records for free may explore third-party public record websites. Several of these websites aggregate public records, including arrest records, from various government agencies and grant access to some basic searches at no cost.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

According to the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy's Expungement Guidebook, arrests remain on the records of implicated persons if they do not ask for expungement.

Expunge McCracken County Arrest Records

An arrest, charge, or conviction can be expunged from a person's record through a legal process. In McCracken County, an arrest record will remain on a person's record if they do not apply to expunge it. This implies that such information will surface whenever the person's criminal history is investigated. The release of such data may impact opportunities for employment, education, and even some government aid programs.

Those who fit the following requirements can have their arrest records expunged after being detained and charged:

• The charges were dropped without prejudice, meaning they can not be brought up again.
• The individual was found not guilty of a crime after being charged with one but not indicted by a grand jury within six months.

On or after July 15, 2020, the Kentucky Judiciary implemented auto expungements for all cases that were acquitted or dismissed with prejudice. The subject is not required to do anything in this situation, and these records will be automatically deleted after 30 days. The defendant, the defendant's attorney, the county attorney, the Kentucky State Police (KSP), the arresting agency that prepared the report, and, if relevant, the nearby correctional facility will receive the expungement order when an arrest record is automatically deleted. If the petitioner plans to forward the order to other agencies, they should tell the court within 60 days of the expungement. The expungement must be reported to federal agencies by the Kentucky State Police.

If the prospective petitioner is ineligible for such relief or the auto expungement is denied for whatever reason, the interested party has 60 days from the date of dismissal or acquittal to petition the court. A certificate of eligibility is normally required for anyone wishing to have a conviction and related arrest expunged. However, no certificate of eligibility or filing fee is needed if the person was found not guilty or if the charges were dropped.

The court in the county where the arrest occurred may receive an Acquittal, Dismissal, and Failure to Indict form from anyone who does not need a certificate of eligibility. The petitioner must submit this form within 60 days of the charges being withdrawn. If the grand jury decides not to indict the person, the charges will be dropped a year later.

McCracken County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants in McCracken County, as defined by Kentucky Revised Statutes § 440.230, are court orders issued by a judge or other authorized judicial officer that enable law enforcement to detain a person suspected of committing a crime at any time and place in the state and request assistance from other peace officers when necessary. These warrants are issued based on probable cause, which is typically proven by affidavits submitted to the court, supporting documentation, or witness evidence. Usually, an arrest warrant includes the following details:

• The name of the defendant
• The charges against the accused
• The date the warrant was issued
• The court where the warrant was issued
• The amount of bail, if any

It is necessary to have an arrest warrant when someone is suspected of committing a crime but has not been taken into custody at the scene. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 431.005, a peace officer may arrest without a warrant in specific circumstances, such as when a felony is committed in their presence or when they reasonably suspect a crime has been committed. However, offenses committed outside of an officer's presence—especially misdemeanors or situations where the offender does not immediately pose a threat—often require a warrant.

In McCracken County, a police officer usually files a complaint with a judge or magistrate to get an arrest warrant. The complaint needs to contain enough details to prove probable cause and be sworn to. The judge or magistrate will issue an arrest warrant if they determine that there is reasonable cause.

Do McCracken County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Unlike other types of warrant that may be valid for a specific period, an Arrest warrant does not expire, as stated in Kentucky law. These documents only become invalid when the judge or magistrate recalls them or when they are executed.