Pike County Arrest Records

In Pike County, law enforcement agents make an arrest when they have evidence to believe that a person has committed a crime. An arrest can occur when the crime was committed or following a warrant obtained from a judge. Depending on the crime and the arresting agency, suspects are usually detained at the Pike County Correctional Facility or transferred to a state or federal facility.

Records of this movement through the criminal justice system make up the arrest record. Relevant information may also show up in Pike County court records. Generally, arrest records are generated and maintained by the Pike County Sheriff's Office.

Are Arrest Records Public in Pike County?

Yes. Arrest records in Pike County are public records accessible on request per the Kentucky Open Records Act (KRS 61.870-61.884). These records contain information on the person arrested, the nature of the charges, the arresting agency, and the booking details. Any individual can obtain these records unless specific exemptions apply.

Generally, records are restricted from public access if their disclosure compromises an individual's privacy, safety, or security. In such cases, only authorized persons may access them. For example, public officers may access restricted records if they require access to perform their official duties. Likewise, the record subject and their authorized legal representatives may access restricted arrest records. Third parties wishing to access restricted arrest records must get a subpoena from a court of competent jurisdiction.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Pike County contain the following information:

• Personal Information: Full name, aliases, birthday, and gender.
• Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color, body markings, tattoos, etc.)
• Arrest details: Date, time, and location of the arrest, as well as the arresting agency and the arresting officer's name.
• Charges: The record will contain the list of charges filed, their counts, and a description of each charge (e.g., felony, misdemeanor), including the statute or code violated.
• Booking Information: This includes the date and time of booking as well as the individual's booking number
• Booking photo, a.k.a., mugshot
• Bail and bond information: The arrest record will contain the amount and conditions set for bail and type (i.e., cash or surety).
• Court information: Court date, time and location, case number, and assigned judge.

Pike County Arrest Statistics

The Kentucky State Police (KSP) publishes annual offense and arrest statistics for all the counties under its jurisdiction. According to the KSP 2023 report, Pike County reported 6,289 arrests, including 2,002 felonies and 4,287 misdemeanors. Of the felony arrests, narcotic offenses accounted for 62.7% (1,256), followed by assault at 13% (261) and larceny at 10.4% (208).

Find Pike County Arrest Records

Arrest records may be obtained by contacting the arresting agency. This is usually the sheriff's office or the local police department but may also include state and federal law enforcement agencies if the crime falls under their jurisdiction.

Generally, obtaining an arrest record involves contacting the Records Bureau/Unit of an agency. Every office has its policies and costs for making records requests and receiving them. Nonetheless, most allow electronic, mail-in, and in-person requests. Furthermore, requestors will need to provide the relevant details to facilitate a search.

• Arrested person's full name
• Date and place of the incident
• Requestor's contact details
• A valid photo ID.

Interested persons may contact the Pike County Correctional Facility or the Sheriff's Office to obtain local arrest records.

Pike County Correctional Facility
175 Pike County Boulevard
Lords Valley, PA 18428
Phone: (570) 775-5500
Fax: (570) 775-5511

Meanwhile, information about persons arrested or in the custody of a state or federal law enforcement agency may be obtained by contacting that agency. For instance, interested persons may lookup persons in state prisons through the Kentucky Department of Corrections offender search portal. For additional information, contact the specific correctional institution where the individual is located. Similarly, requesters can locate federal inmates using the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator. Records of federal prisoners detained from 1982 till now are available.

Free Arrest Record Search in Pike County

Under Kentucky's Open Records Act, requesters can access public records, including arrest records, from any public agency, such as the Sheriff's Office or State Police. Nonetheless, it is necessary to submit a formal request. While it is possible to get a fee waiver or view arrest records for free, the requestor may need to cover administrative costs associated with finding and copying the arrest record.

Another way to find arrest records is via third-party databases. These websites aggregate records from several sources and make them available in one central location. Since public records from several agencies are available here, it is often more convenient to use aggregate sites than visit individual record custodians. However, despite their convenience, the accuracy and completeness of arrest records obtained may vary.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Pike County, arrests stay on record indefinitely unless expunged. Kentucky law allows individuals to legally apply for expungement of certain misdemeanor and felony charges after a specified period. However, the arrest record itself may still be accessible unless expunged, even if charges are dismissed or not prosecuted.

Expunge Pike County Arrest Records

Expungement is the legal procedure that removes an arrest or criminal record from public access, essentially sealing the record from most background checks. In Kentucky, not all arrest records can be expunged. To be eligible for expungement, an individual must meet certain criteria based on the nature of the offense, the case outcome, and their criminal history.

Expungement of Non-Convictions

• If an individual was arrested but not convicted (i.e., the charges were dismissed, or were acquitted), such person may be eligible to have the arrest record expunged immediately.
• Automatic Expungement of Acquittals: Under Kentucky law, once charges are dismissed with prejudice or acquitted, the arrest record is automatically expunged after 60 days (KRS 431.076).
• For dismissed cases without prejudice, a waiting period applies, subject to the applicable statute of limitations—usually one year for misdemeanors and three years for felonies.

Expungement of Misdemeanors and Class D Felony Convictions

Misdemeanor convictions can be expunged after five years from the completion of the prison sentence (including probation) without any new criminal charges. However, petitioners must have a clean criminal record during these five years (KRS 431.078). If no additional offenses are committed, certain Class D felony convictions may be expunged after five years. Eligible felonies include non-violent, non-sexual offenses.

Procedure for Arrest Record Expungement

Eligible petitioners typically follow these steps when applying for an expungement.

1. Obtain and review criminal record: Petitioners may obtain their criminal record to confirm that the offenses meet the eligibility requirements for expungement. Records can be obtained from the Kentucky State Police or the Courts' Administrative Office (AOC).
2. File a petition for expungement: Petitions for arrest record expungement are filed in the county where the arrest happened. Requesters can obtain the necessary forms online or at the Court Clerk's Office. The forms include the AOC-496.3 form for felony expungement or the AOC-496.2 form for misdemeanor expungement. A filing fee of $40 applies.
3. Wait for court review: After filing, the court will review the petition to determine if all eligibility criteria were met. If necessary, the court may hold a hearing during which the judge will consider factors such as good behavior and the petitioner's motivation for filing an expungement request. If the prosecution files no objections are filed, the court may grant the expungement.
4. Court issues expungement order: If successful, the court will issue an order that the arrest or conviction record be sealed. This order is sent to the relevant agencies who will remove the associated documents from public view. After this, the arrest record will not show up on background checks. Furthermore, the individual can legally state that they have no criminal record for that offense. However, certain government agencies (e.g., law enforcement or the court system) may still be able to access the sealed records.

Pike County Arrest Warrants

In Pike County, an arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge that authorizes law enforcement to arrest someone suspected of a crime. Courts only issue this document based on probable cause, usually after law enforcement demonstrate compelling reasons and circumstantial evidence. Arrest warrants may also be issued for failure to appear in court or probation violations.

Generally, an arrest warrant contains:

• The subject's name, aliases, and known address
• The offense and statutes or codes violated
• The judge's name and signature.

Do Pike County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Pike County, Kentucky, arrest warrants do not expire and remain active until executed or withdrawn by a court. Law enforcement can execute a warrant at any time or place, including entering a person's home if they believe the person is present. Arrests can happen years after the warrant is issued, as there is no statute of limitations for warrants in Kentucky.

To get an arrest warrant withdrawn (or quashed), a person can:

1. Voluntarily surrender to law enforcement in good faith.
2. Hire an attorney to petition the court for warrant withdrawal.
3. Address the underlying issue that led to the warrant, such as failing to appear for a hearing.