Kentucky has more counties than any state east of the Mississippi -- 120 of them -- and that decentralized structure matters when you are trying to track down a recent arrest. The Kentucky State Police maintains the central criminal history repository and processes mail-based background checks for $20, but there is no free online statewide public search. What fills that gap are the Administrative Office of the Courts' FastCheck system for court records and county-level jail rosters. Kentucky also has one of the more meaningful expungement frameworks in the South, including automatic expungement for acquittals and dismissals with prejudice that occurred on or after July 15, 2020. This guide explains how the system works.
What Makes Kentucky Arrest Records Public
The Kentucky Open Records Act, codified at Kentucky Revised Statutes 61.870 through 61.884, establishes that government records are presumed public. This framework covers criminal records maintained by law enforcement agencies. Basic arrest information -- name, charges, date and location of the arrest, and the arresting agency -- is generally accessible.
The Kentucky State Police serves as the central repository for criminal history record information and processes background checks for the public. County sheriff offices and local police departments maintain records of arrests within their jurisdictions. The Administrative Office of the Courts maintains court case records statewide.
Exemptions include juvenile records, which are confidential under KRS 610.340 and not part of standard public searches. Sealed and expunged records and materials connected to active investigations are also protected from general disclosure. Mugshots in Kentucky are classified as public records under the Open Records Act.
What a Kentucky Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document. It reflects the facts of an arrest at the time of booking and carries no presumption of guilt.
A Kentucky arrest record includes the person's personal identifying information, the charges filed at booking, the arresting agency, the date and location of the arrest, fingerprints, and a booking photograph. Release status is also part of the booking record. When courts submit disposition information, that data appears in the KSP criminal history record.
A key practical note: the KSP criminal history database does not contain all arrest data -- only what agencies have reported to KSP. For a complete picture of someone's Kentucky arrest history, particularly for older or smaller-jurisdiction arrests, cross-referencing with county-level sources and AOC court records is advisable.
How to Search Kentucky Arrest Records
The Kentucky State Police processes name-based background checks for $20 each, payable by check or money order. Requests must be submitted by mail along with a completed request form. KSP does not accept requests by phone or fax for criminal records. Send requests to: KSP Criminal I&R Branch, Criminal Records Division, 1266 Louisville Road, Frankfort, KY 40601. For Open Records requests to KSP, write to the Official Custodian of Records at the same address, or call 502-782-1873.
The Administrative Office of the Courts operates FastCheck, the public court records portal for the Kentucky Court of Justice. FastCheck provides public access to criminal case information, charges, and dispositions across Kentucky courts. This is the most accessible free public tool for checking case-level outcomes and is the right starting point before paying the KSP fee.
County sheriff websites are the practical starting point for recent arrests. Kentucky has 120 counties and most county sheriff offices publish online inmate rosters or jail booking logs. For anyone arrested in the past 24 to 72 hours, the county sheriff website is where to look.
For broader multi-source searches that aggregate public record data across Kentucky's 120 counties and other jurisdictions, TruthFinder is a practical option.
VINELink at vinelink.com connects to the Kentucky DOC system and many county facilities and provides free real-time custody status and notification registration. Victims and family members can register to receive phone, email, or text notifications when an individual's custody status changes.
County Jail Records in Kentucky
Kentucky's 120 counties each have their own law enforcement infrastructure. County sheriffs manage the county jail and local booking records. County jails hold people who have just been arrested, those awaiting trial, and individuals serving short sentences.
Recent bookings often appear on daily jail rosters published by county facilities. Louisville Metro Corrections, Jefferson County's jail, is among the larger systems with a publicly accessible booking search. For smaller counties, a phone call to the sheriff's office is often the fastest route.
When someone is convicted and sentenced to state prison, they enter the Kentucky Department of Corrections system. The KDOC operates KOOL -- the Kentucky Offender Online Lookup -- as its primary public inmate search tool. KOOL is accessible through the KDOC website and allows searches by name, alias, or KDOC identification number. Results show the person's current facility, offense information, sentence terms, and parole eligibility.
Federal Arrests in Kentucky
Federal arrests in Kentucky are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. After federal sentencing, individuals enter the Bureau of Prisons rather than the Kentucky DOC.
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for locating anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. Federal court records are available through the PACER system at pacer.gov.
Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the KSP criminal history database. A KSP check will not surface federal charges.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
An arrest record documents that law enforcement took someone into custody. A conviction record documents a court's finding of guilt. In Kentucky, the arrest entry does not automatically update when the case resolves.
Charges can be dropped, cases dismissed, and juries acquit. In all of those situations the arrest entry remains in KSP records and AOC court systems unless expunged. The record will continue to surface on background checks until it is legally addressed.
Kentucky's Tiered Expungement System
Kentucky has a multi-tier expungement framework with different rules depending on the type of record.
For acquittals and dismissals with prejudice: Under KRS 431.076, these are the most accessible path. Acquittals and dismissals with prejudice that occurred on or after July 15, 2020 are subject to automatic expungement -- no filing fee and no action required by the individual. For older dismissals and cases where the dismissal was not with prejudice, or for failure to indict (after six months), the person must file a petition using AOC form AOC-497.2. There is no filing fee for these petitions, and no Certificate of Eligibility is required.
For misdemeanor and traffic convictions: Under KRS 431.078, misdemeanor convictions can be expunged with a court petition after applicable waiting periods. A Certificate of Eligibility is required.
For Class D felony convictions: Under KRS 431.073, most Class D felony convictions are eligible for expungement -- approximately 61 categories of felony offenses. The waiting period is five years after completion of sentence or five years after successful completion of probation or parole, whichever is later. A Certificate of Eligibility must be obtained from the AOC before filing. The certificate costs $40 and is available online or by mail. It must be used within 30 days or it expires. If the court grants expungement of a Class D felony conviction, the original conviction is vacated and the case dismissed -- it is treated as if it never occurred.
For felony charges that did not result in indictment: Under KRS 431.076, these are eligible for expungement after six months. No Certificate of Eligibility is required and no filing fee applies.
After expungement, the court, KSP, and all agencies holding records are required to delete or remove the records from their systems. Kentucky's expungement is a true erasure, not just a sealing -- the person may lawfully state the offense never happened.
InmateAid's guides on expungement cover Kentucky's framework in more detail. Mugshot removal from third-party sites after expungement is a separate process addressed in InmateAid's resources on that topic.
Frequently asked questions
Are Kentucky arrest records public?
Yes, under the Kentucky Open Records Act at KRS 61.870 through 61.884. Arrest records are presumed public. Basic arrest information is accessible through KSP and county agencies. Juvenile records, sealed or expunged records, and active investigation materials are exempt.
How do I search Kentucky arrest records?
Mail a completed name-based background check request form with a $20 money order to KSP, Criminal Records Division, 1266 Louisville Road, Frankfort, KY 40601. For court case records and dispositions, use the AOC's FastCheck portal -- it is the most accessible free public tool. For recent arrests, check the relevant county sheriff's website. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data. For real-time custody status, VINELink at vinelink.com provides free notifications. For KDOC state prison inmates, use KOOL through the KDOC website.
What does a Kentucky arrest record contain?
A Kentucky arrest record includes personal identifying information, charges filed at booking, the arresting agency, the date and location of the arrest, fingerprints, booking photograph, and release status. Court dispositions appear in KSP records when submitted by courts. Note that KSP records depend on what agencies have reported -- county-level sources may hold additional information.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in Kentucky?
No. An arrest documents that someone was taken into custody. A conviction reflects a court's finding of guilt. You can have a Kentucky arrest record with no conviction if charges were dropped, dismissed, or you were acquitted. The arrest entry remains in KSP records and AOC court systems unless expunged under KRS 431.076.
How do I find someone in a Kentucky county jail?
Check the sheriff's office website for the county where the arrest occurred. Most Kentucky county sheriffs publish online inmate rosters. VINELink at vinelink.com connects to many county facilities statewide and provides free notification registration. For someone sentenced to state prison, use the KOOL system through the KDOC website.
Can I search federal arrest records in Kentucky?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the KSP criminal history database.
How long does an arrest stay on record in Kentucky?
Kentucky arrest records remain in KSP files and AOC court systems indefinitely unless expunged. Automatic expungement applies to acquittals and dismissals with prejudice that occurred on or after July 15, 2020 -- those disappear without any action by the individual. For other records, expungement must be actively pursued through the appropriate petition process.
What is automatic expungement in Kentucky?
Under KRS 431.076, acquittals and dismissals with prejudice that occurred on or after July 15, 2020 are automatically expunged without any filing fee or action required by the individual. The courts handle the process administratively. For pre-July 2020 cases and dismissals without prejudice, a petition must be filed, but no filing fee is required and no Certificate of Eligibility is needed for these categories.
Who qualifies for felony expungement in Kentucky?
Under KRS 431.073, most Class D felony convictions are eligible for expungement -- approximately 61 categories of offenses. The applicant must wait five years after completing their sentence or probation/parole, whichever is later. A Certificate of Eligibility from the AOC ($40, valid 30 days) is required before filing. If the court grants the petition, the conviction is vacated and the case dismissed, and the person may lawfully state the offense never occurred. Felony charges that did not result in indictment are eligible under KRS 431.076 after six months with no fee and no certificate required.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
An arrest entry is created at booking and remains in KSP records and AOC court files regardless of the case outcome. If charges were dropped, dismissed, or you were acquitted, the arrest still exists unless expunged. For qualifying cases -- acquittals and dismissals with prejudice on or after July 15, 2020 -- automatic expungement should have occurred. If your case was before that date or involves a dismissal without prejudice, a petition under KRS 431.076 is the path to removal. ---
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