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Perry County Arrest Records
Perry County arrest records document the key facts surrounding an individual’s detention and the ensuing criminal process. Under Kentucky law (KRS 431.005), a peace officer may arrest a person when:
- A felony is committed in the officer’s presence
- The officer has probable cause to believe a felony has occurred; or
- A misdemeanor is committed in the officer’s presence
After an arrest, individuals are typically booked into the Kentucky River Regional Jail—also known as the Perry County Detention Center—where they remain while awaiting court appearances or serving short sentences. Following an arrest, the arresting agency typically generates an official record that lists:
- The arrestee’s full name
- The date and time of arrest; and
- The charge(s) alleged
As the case progresses, the record is updated with additional details such as the court docket number, scheduled hearing dates, and final judicial rulings. These records are part of the public domain and can be accessed through Perry County court record databases.
Are Arrest Records Public in Perry County?
Yes, Under the Kentucky Open Records Act, most Perry County arrest records are open to the public. However, Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.878(1) outline several important exceptions:
| Exception | When it applies |
|---|---|
| Personal-privacy exemption | Records containing personal details whose release would amount to an "unwarranted invasion of personal privacy". |
| Active-investigation exemption | Materials tied to an open investigation that, if disclosed, would jeopardize law-enforcement efforts. |
| Juvenile records | Arrests involving minors are generally sealed from public view. |
| Expunged records | Once a record is expunged under Kentucky law, it is treated as if it never existed and is no longer subject to public disclosure. |
What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?
A public arrest record typically includes the following information:
- Full name of the person arrested
- Date and time of the arrest
- Location of the arrest
- Name of the arresting agency (e.g., local police or sheriff’s office)
- Charges filed against the individual
- Booking details, such as the booking number and booking date
- Mugshot (if available and not restricted)
- Bail or bond amount (if set)
- Court case number (if assigned)
- Scheduled court date or appearance information
Perry County Arrest Statistics
According to the 2023 Crime in Kentucky report from the Kentucky State Police, there were 2,778 total arrests in Perry County. Most of these were adults, with 2,773 adult arrests, 1 juvenile arrest, and 4 listed as unknown. In comparison, the total number of arrests in 2022 was higher at 3,198, with 3,195 adult arrests, no juvenile arrests, and 3 unknown.
Find Perry County Arrest Records
Persons seeking arrest records or inmate information in Perry County can start by querying local custodians. The Kentucky River Regional Jail in Hazard keeps an online roster of current inmates that shows each person’s name, charges, booking date, and sometimes a photograph. The Perry County Sheriff’s Office also maintains records of recent arrests and active warrants, and the Hazard Police Department holds information for arrests made within city limits. They can all be contacted by mail, email, or in person to make a request.
For individuals held in state prisons, Kentucky provides the Kentucky Online Offender Lookup (KOOL), a free public website where users can search by name to find out which facility an inmate is in, what charges they face, and their projected release date. If someone is incarcerated under federal authority, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons offers an Inmate Locator on its website that covers inmates from 1982 onward.
Free Arrest Record Search in Perry County
Residents of Perry County can access arrest records for free through the Kentucky River Regional Jail which maintains a public inmate roster on their website with names, booking dates, charges, and mugshots. The Perry County Sheriff’s Office and other local enforcement agencies also provide recent arrest and warrant information upon request. Additionally, the Kentucky Online Offender Lookup (KOOL) lets users search state prison inmates by name or ID to view charges and facility details. Alternatively, inquirers may conduct a free arrest record search via third-party sites which aggregate county arrest and inmate data. However, since these sites operate independently of official custodians, their validity and accuracy may not be guaranteed.
How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?
Arrest records in Perry County typically remain on someone’s record forever unless they take legal steps to have them erased, which is called expungement. Except for cases in which the arrestee is acquitted or their arrest deemed unnecessary, Kentucky law may not provide for the automatic expungement of records, so they will keep showing up on background checks until a person asks the court to clear them and gets approval.
Expunge Perry County Arrest Records
Under Kentucky law, arrest records in cases that end in acquittal or are dismissed with prejudice (other than traffic infractions) are automatically expunged 30 days after the final court disposition, with no action required by the individual unless they choose to object. Individuals convicted of misdemeanors or eligible Class D felonies may petition for expungement no sooner than 5 years after completing their sentence or probation—whichever is later—so long as they have not been convicted of any new crimes during that period. Certain offenses, such as sexual crimes or offenses against minors, remain ineligible for expungement under these statutes.
To initiate expungement, an eligible person files a verified petition in the circuit court where the case was handled—using form AOC-496.4—pays a $50 filing fee (and, if the petition is granted, a $250 expungement fee, with waivers available for those who qualify as indigent), and serves notice on the Commonwealth’s Attorney. If the court finds all statutory criteria are met, it issues an expungement order directing every relevant agency to delete or seal the records in their systems so they no longer appear on state background checks; thereafter, agencies must respond to any inquiry that no record exists, and the individual is not required to disclose the expunged record on employment or credit applications.
Perry County Arrest Warrants
An arrest warrant is a court order authorizing law enforcement to take a specific person into custody; in Perry County, such warrants are issued by a district or circuit court judge (or clerk) under Kentucky’s Rules of Criminal Procedure. Before issuing a warrant, the judge must be presented with a sworn complaint or affidavit demonstrating "probable cause" that the person committed a crime. Warrants become necessary when an officer cannot lawfully arrest someone on the spot—for example, for felonies not committed in the officer’s presence—or when a person fails to appear in court after receiving a citation, at which point the Commonwealth’s attorney may seek a warrant under KRS 431.015(4).
Each warrant must clearly identify the defendant (by name or a description sufficient to ensure correct identification), specify the offense charged, direct that the person be brought before the issuing authority, and bear the judge’s printed name and signature along with the date of issuance. Once signed, any certified peace officer may execute the warrant; if the officer does not have the paper in hand at the moment of arrest, they must inform the individual of the charge and that a warrant exists and then show or deliver a copy as soon as possible.
Do Perry County Arrest Warrants Expire?
No, Arrest warrants in Perry County—and throughout Kentucky—do not automatically expire and remain in effect until someone is arrested on them or a court formally recalls or quashes them; there is no statute setting a "use-by" date on an arrest warrant itself. Even though arrest warrants in Perry County do not have an expiration date, the type of crime involved can affect how long the warrant stays active. For example, if the crime is a misdemeanor, Kentucky law says it usually must be taken to court within one year of when it happened. For felonies, there is no time limit. Also, a judge or the Commonwealth’s Attorney can cancel a warrant if the case is dropped, new evidence shows the person is not guilty, or something changes in the case—like a successful appeal—that makes it unfair to keep the warrant active.