Spencer County Arrest Records

In Spencer County, Kentucky, arrests typically become necessary when it is established that there is probable cause to believe that a crime was committed. However, a few other factors may warrant arrests in the state. These include:

• When an arrest warrant is issued
• When an officer witnesses a crime
• In response to an emergency
• During investigations that may lead to detention.

Ideally, individuals arrested within the county are held in the Spencer County jail until their court appearances. Offenders in the county jail are held only for short-term detentions. Since the Sheriff's Office has the most interactions with locals, they are responsible for making necessary arrests and generating and maintaining arrest records within the county.

Spencer County Court Records show a comprehensive breakdown of an individual's history with law enforcement and the justice system. Court records in the county usually detail hearings, prosecutions, and final hearings. Arrest records, on the other hand, are simply a documentation of arrests and detentions. They usually include details about the offender and the circumstances surrounding the arrest.

Are Arrest Records Public in Spencer County?

Under the Kentucky Open Records Act (KRS 61.872), arrest records are considered public records and can be accessed by any member of the public. This act requires that public records be made available for free and open inspection by anyone. This includes records such as arrest records, which are created by the Sheriff’s Office.

Arrest records in Kentucky remain public unless they are expunged or relevant to an active investigation.

Per KRS 61.870.2 of the Kentucky Open Records Act, public records refer to all law enforcement records that are not exempt from the Act. Examples of such exemptions include personal information, whose disclosure would warrant an invasion of privacy, juvenile court records, juvenile arrest records, and internal memos.

To access arrest records, any member of the public may submit a written request to the Sheriff’s office or the designated records custodian. Access to these records is free; however, making or requesting copies of these records may attract fees.

Requests for arrest records are handled within five days. Written request can be submitted to the County Sheriff's Office at:

Spencer County Sheriff’s Office
18E. Main Street, P.O. Box 475
Taylorsville, KY 40071
Phone: (502) 477-3200
Fax: (502) 477-3249
Email: scottherndon@spencercountyky.gov

Spencer County Arrest Statistics

According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), Spencer County saw an increase in arrest statistics between 2020 and 2023. Local authorities reported 785 arrests across all crime categories in 2020. However, this increased to 945 arrests in 2022 and 1,045 arrests in 2023.

Of these arrests, group A offenses (which includes crimes such as animal cruelty, arson, homicide, human trafficking, theft, robbery, sex offenses, gambling, blackmail, drug offenses, and weapon violations) were a total of 374 in 2020, while group B arrests (involving crimes like trespass, disorderly conduct, DUI, family offenses, and curfew violations) resulted in 785 arrests in 2020.

In 2020, 47.8% of arrests for group A offenses were by male offenders, while 44.8% were by female offenders. 55.2% of group B arrests were females, while 52.2% were males. However, in 2022, 43.1% of group A offenses were committed by men, while 39.7% of these crimes were committed by women. In 2022, 56.9% of group B offenders were male, while 60.3% were female.

In 2022, group A offenses accounted for 481 arrests, while group B offenses accounted for 464 arrests. In 2023, group A offenses accounted for 742 arrests while group B offences accounted for 503 arrests, leading to a total of 1,245 arrests.

Find Spencer County Arrest Records

There are various avenues for locating inmates in Spencer County and across Kentucky. One such avenue is the state's online system, the Kentucky Online Offender Lookup (KOOL) tool. To find arrest records with this tool, visit the official KOOL website and type in the inmate’s name or DOC number.

The results should reveal the desired arrest records. Alternatively, individuals can visit the official website of the Spencer County Sheriff’s Office or their physical location. To use this, type in the full name, booking date, or other identifying data.

Physical records can be requested at:

18E. Main Street, P.O. Box 475
Taylorsville, KY 40071
Phone: (502) 477-3200

Spencer County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

An arrest record is an official document that reveals that a person was taken into custody by law enforcement. Arrest records are created at the time of arrest, irrespective of whether the offender is charged, convicted, or cleared. In Spencer County, these records usually contain the offender’s name and other important identifying information, such as sex and age about the offender such as sex, and age. They also contain date, time, and location of arrest, booking information (e.g., fingerprints or mugshots), and the crime committed. However, they do not usually contain the outcomes.

Criminal records, on the other hand, are more comprehensive, including details such as the outcomes of arrests (e.g., conviction, dismissal, acquittal) and the entire criminal history. They also include details of filed charges, court case numbers, imposed sentences, and parole history. Criminal records combine arrests, prosecutions, court decisions, and correction outcomes.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Kentucky, arrests remain on a record indefinitely unless expunged or removed by a court order. Under Kentucky law, an individual's eligibility to expunge their arrest records depends on whether charges were filed and what charges were filed.

In accordance with KRS 431.076, the following records are eligible for expungement:

• Arrests without convictions.
• Cases dismissed without prejudice.
• Convicted offences.
• Non-indicted felony charges.

Records exempt from expungement include: traffic infractions, crimes involving children, and violent and sexual crimes.

Non-conviction arrests can only be expunged from a record five years after the initial outcome, provided there are no pending charges. For arrest cases where charges were dropped, or an individual was acquitted, the records are automatically expunged after 30 days.

If an individual was convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, there is a five-year waiting period after completing the sentence before the record can be expunged.

Spencer County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are court orders authorizing law enforcement officials to take an individual into custody on the suspicion of having committed a crime. Arrest warrants are usually issued by judges when there is evidence to suggest that a crime has been committed.

In Spencer County, arrest warrants are issued after a judge reviews a filed complaint or other evidence that proves probable cause. Determining probable cause is essential to issuing a warrant. Once the complaint is reviewed and approved, the judge signs it, and it becomes an enforceable order.

A judge may issue an arrest warrant in cases where:

• An identified suspect is not in custody.
• A person fails to appear in court.
• During criminal investigations.
• Court orders, parole, or restraining orders are violated.
• Cases of domestic violence.

Arrest warrants typically include the following details: the subject's name and physical description, the offenses charged, the execution date, the judge’s signature, the court issuing the warrant, the date and time of issuance, and instructions for law enforcement.

Kentucky arrest warrants must also specify the type of offense on the warrant (e.g., felony, violation, or misdemeanor), as this affects how the warrant is executed.

Do Spencer County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, they don’t. Ideally, arrest warrants in Spencer County remain active indefinitely or until they are executed. However, the following factors can revoke the validity of the warrant:

• Warrant recall by a judge.
• Warrant dismissal by court order.
• Case is resolved (by diversion or plea)
• Incorrect issuing of a warrant (ie, warrant issued for the wrong person, or due to procedural default).
• Prosecution dismisses underlying charges.

It is important to note that once an arrest warrant is issued, it remains active unless affected by the above-listed conditions. The expiry of the statute of limitations does not affect the validity of an arrest warrant.

Expunge Spencer County Arrest Records

According to KRS 431.076, an arrest record may be expunged if:

• The arrest did not lead to a conviction.
• The offender was acquitted.
• Charges were dismissed with prejudice.
• The jury ruled that there was no indictment.
• The case was not prosecuted.

Effective from 15th July 2020, cases resulting in an acquittal or dismissal without prejudice are automatically expunged 30 days after the final judgment. For cases with convictions, eligibility for expungement is stricter. An arrest record that led to a conviction can only be expunged if:

• There are no new convictions.
• There are no pending charges.
• A five-year waiting period after the sentence is completed.

Follow the steps below to expunge arrest records.

1. Access Criminal Record: Obtain a copy of either your Kentucky Criminal Background report or court case records from the Kentucky State Police, Spencer County Court, or District Court Clerk.
2. File petition for expungement: Submit an online application to the Kentucky State Police. For non-convictions, AOC-497 is the official application form to complete. The application must include the petition, a Kentucky State Police background check, and the filing fees. The fees may vary depending on the nature and type of the case.
3. Application Review: The application is reviewed to ensure all requirements are met. If all goes well, the expungement can proceed. However, if faults arise, an objection to the expungement will be raised, and a hearing could be set.
4. Court Decision: A judge grants or denies the expungement depending on the findings from the review. If expungement is allowed, the judge signs an expungement order that seals the records.