Simpson County Arrest Records

Simpson County arrest records are official documents from the archives of criminal justice agencies containing details about law enforcement detention. Arrest records provide information about arrests and details of the detainee. These details are obtained during the booking process at the Simpson County Detention Center, where arrested individuals are kept. Arrests are made pursuant to the execution of arrest warrants issued by the court or when the offender is caught in the act of the offense. The Detention Center is managed by an elected County Jailer who handles the control, custody, and care of all inmates and those awaiting sentencing, trial, or serving less than one year of jail time. Arrests are usually executed by the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office, where arrest records are maintained, or by a local police department, such as the Franklin Police Department.

Arrest records are also available through Simpson County court records. The arraignment documents generally provide details about the arrest, arresting officer or agency, and a timeline of how the arrest was executed. Arrest records are managed and updated primarily by the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office. These records can also be accessed through the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, where criminal case files are kept. Arrest records do not provide proof of guilt because they are limited to details of arrests and alleged crimes. They also do not provide a complete criminal profile as they do not contain details about court trials and convictions.

Are Arrest Records Public in Simpson County?

Yes, arrest records in Simpson County are generally publicly accessible according to the Kentucky Open Records Act (KRS 61.870 to 61.884). This body of laws guides public access to government records archives and clarifies information that can be accessed by the public. The public can access basic information about detained individuals, such as their names, booking date, alleged offenses, age, and pictures or mugshots. There are also details that are protected from public access to ensure data privacy and integrity are upheld. These details contain sensitive or private information, such as personally identifiable details. Restricted information in Simpson County includes details like home addresses, personal phone numbers, social security numbers, medical records, information from ongoing investigations, and juvenile records. While these records are protected, they can still be accessed by persons who can provide a valid ID and reasons or a court order.

Simpson County Crime Rate 

Based on the 2024 Crime in Kentucky Annual Report, Simpson County documented a total of 951 Group A offenses. Given the 2024 population of 20,477, as reported by the United States Census Bureau, this translates to a crime rate of 46.4 per 1,000 residents for Simpson County. 

The 2024 report also included specific offense reports from the county's law enforcement agencies:

• The Franklin Police Department reported the highest number of Group A offenses, with 539 cases. This was followed by the South Central Drug Task Force (199 cases), the County Sheriff's Department (176 cases), and the Kentucky State Police (37 cases).
• The Franklin Police Department reported the highest number of assault cases at 69. This total exceeded the 31 cases recorded by the County Sheriff's Department. Furthermore, the State Police reported nine assault offenses, and the South Central Drug Task Force reported four.
• Multiple agencies reported aggravated assault cases: the County Sheriff's Department led with 16 cases, followed by the Franklin Police Department with 9, and the South Central Drug Task Force with 4. The State Police reported zero cases.

• The South Central Drug Task Force reported the highest number of drug and narcotic-related offenses with 183 cases. This was followed by the Franklin Police Department, with 117 cases, and the County Sheriff's Department, with 92 cases. The state police reported the fewest drug offenses, totaling 19 in 2024.

Simpson County Arrest Statistics

In 2024, Simpson County reported a total of 3,355 arrests, according to the 2024 Crime in Kentucky Annual Report. Specifically, 1,426 arrests were classified as Group A arrests (for the most serious crimes), and 1,929 arrests were categorized as Group B (for the lesser offenses). The top five offenses leading to arrests in Simpson County that year included:

• Drug/Narcotics Violations: 562
• Larceny-Theft Offenses: 272
• Assault Offenses: 238
• Pornography/Obscene Material: 103
• Counterfeiting/Forgery: 101

Find Simpson County Arrest Records

Simpson County arrest records can be accessed through the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office or the County Clerk or Circuit Court Clerk’s Office. These agencies maintain law enforcement and court records, which contain details about arrests in the county. They can be accessed using records requests, which can be submitted in person, via mail, or online. Simpson County arrest records can be found online by using the Kentucky Offender Search platform. This provides a search website that allows searches by name, offender type, conviction information, age, race, gender, and more. The court records can be accessed by searching through the CourtNet2.0 website or using the County Clerk website.

Simpson County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Simpson County criminal records are documents revealing an individual’s convictions and criminal charges, while arrest records are documents from the county jail and law enforcement arrests and detention. Arrest records are limited to the details of who was detained, when, where, and why the person was taken into custody, as they cannot be used as proof of guilt. Criminal records provide details about a person’s arrest, booking, detention, court trial, and sentencing. They form a law enforcement profile with the criminal justice agencies, which is used for background checks. Criminal records can be proof of guilt where arrests lead to convictions and sentencing. Criminal records encompass all aspects of law enforcement, from arrests to sentencing, while arrest records are limited to details about arrests and detention.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Simpson County arrest records do not expire or get removed automatically. They will remain part of your public records indefinitely until legal steps are taken to seal or remove them. According to KRS 431.073, 431.076, and 431.078, arrest records can be expunged in Simpson County. For cases that were dismissed with prejudice, the process for expungement can begin after 60 days, while cases dismissed without prejudice require 1 year for misdemeanors or 3 years for felonies. Applicants must also ensure the offense for which they were convicted is eligible for expungement under Kentucky laws.

Simpson County Arrest Warrants

Simpson County arrest warrants are legal documents issued by judges or magistrates with a directive to detain an individual for the commission of a crime. Arrest warrants are signed by the magistrate or judge and addressed to law enforcement agencies, who will execute the arrest. They are issued when there is probable cause or enough evidence showing the named individual is guilty of an offense. Arrest warrants gain their authority from the judge’s signature, which makes them executable at any time and across jurisdictions. Peace officers may execute an arrest for arraignment or to bring an individual who does not show up for trial to court, which is a bench warrant. When an arrest is being executed, the suspect must be presented with the warrant at the scene, or as soon as possible if it is not on hand. Arrest warrants are public and can be accessed by anyone, which promotes communal awareness and safety. They contain details like the alleged offenses, the supporting laws, the jurisdiction where the warrant was issued, and the suspect’s details or description.

Do Simpson County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants in Simpson County do not expire. There are no laws or provisions for the expiry of arrest warrants due to the passage of time in the county. After they are signed, these warrants will remain active until the suspect is detained or a court recalls the warrant. Arrest warrants will remain in the state’s electronic database and will remain executable indefinitely. This can be affected by the statute of limitations, which gives a time limit for the prosecution of crimes. After the allowed time passes, the warrant will remain active, but execution may be futile as the case cannot be charged in court. However, the statute of limitations clock may be suspended in situations where the suspect flees or hides, which will prolong the validity of the arrest warrant.

Expunge Simpson County Arrest Records

Simpson County arrest records can be expunged or sealed according to Kentucky laws. Sealing of records generally applies to juvenile records or certain non-adjudicated cases, while expungement is the most common method for deleting records from public archives. Individuals whose arrest did not lead to a conviction will be immediately eligible for expungement with no waiting period. For persons convicted of misdemeanors, first-time offenders are allowed to expunge one misdemeanor conviction after a 2-year waiting period. Felony convictions in Simpson County can be expunged after a 5-year waiting period. Only one non-violent felony from a specific list can be expunged. Individuals who meet the requirements can begin by:

• Obtaining their criminal records from the Simpson County Circuit Court Clerk
• An expungement certification must also be obtained from the Kentucky State Police for an approximate fee of $40.
• File these documents with the petition at the court where the case was originally handled.
• The District Attorney or Commonwealth’s Attorney will be served with the petition and given time to object.
• A hearing may be scheduled to determine if the applicant has been rehabilitated.
• If satisfied, the Order of Expunction will be signed and issued to all agencies to clear the record.