Kentucky Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find Kentucky criminal records, arrest records, court records, inmate information, and the public sex offender registry, and how Kentucky's background-check and record-clearing laws work. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official Kentucky sources, and it points you to the state and county agencies that hold each type of record. You can also start a name search using the tool on this page.

How do I look up a criminal record in Kentucky?

There are three main ways to find criminal-record information in Kentucky:

• Kentucky State Police (KSP) name-based check. The KSP Records Branch offers a name-based adult criminal history check that any member of the public can request with the subject's consent. Requests can be submitted in person or by mail to the KSP Records Division in Frankfort. The fee is $20, payable by check or money order to the KY State Treasurer, and mail requests take an average of 10 business days to process. See the KSP Background Checks page for current forms and instructions.
• Court records through eCourts. The Kentucky Court of Justice offers a public case search at its eCourts portal where you can search by party name across all 120 Kentucky counties. Basic docket information is publicly available; full document access requires attorney credentials. You can also request records in person from any county court clerk.
• An online people-search tool like the one on this page, which compiles public-record data from many sources into one report. These tools are for personal knowledge only and are not a substitute for an official KSP check or an FCRA-compliant background check.

A name-based search can return results that belong to someone else who shares the same name; only a fingerprint-based check can definitively confirm a record belongs to a specific person.

Are criminal records public in Kentucky?

Most adult criminal records in Kentucky are public under the Kentucky Open Records Act (KRS Chapter 61). Court case records filed with the Circuit or District Court clerk are generally open to anyone. The KSP's statewide criminal history database is also accessible to the public for name-based checks (with the subject's consent) and to authorized agencies without consent. Sealed, expunged, and juvenile records are exceptions to the general public rule.

Where can I look up arrest records in Kentucky?

Arrest records are held by the agency that made the arrest - a city police department, county sheriff, or the Kentucky State Police. Many county sheriffs and jails in Kentucky post online booking or "who's in custody" rosters for recent arrests. The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) also makes booking logs available. Remember that an arrest record is not a conviction: it documents that a person was taken into custody, not that they were found guilty of anything.

How do I find court records in Kentucky?

Kentucky's court records are maintained county by county. The Kentucky Court of Justice provides a public access portal at kycourts.gov where you can search by party name across all 120 counties, including Circuit Court (felonies and major civil cases) and District Court (misdemeanors, traffic, and small civil matters). Basic case information - the parties, case number, filing date, status, and hearing dates - is free and publicly viewable. To pull copies of specific documents, visit or contact the clerk of the court in the county where the case was filed. For older records (generally pre-1990s), contact the State Records Center or the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.

How do I look up warrants in Kentucky?

Warrants are issued by courts, but the most practical way to check is through the county sheriff or the court clerk in the county where charges would be filed. Some Kentucky county sheriffs post outstanding-warrant information on their websites. You can also search case records through the Kentucky eCourts portal, which shows case status and, in many instances, whether a warrant has been issued. The Kentucky State Police does not maintain a single public warrant database, so the local court or sheriff is the most reliable source.

Do arrests show up on background checks in Kentucky?

For employment, tenant, and credit screening run through a consumer reporting agency, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) controls what can be reported. Under the FCRA, arrests that did not result in a conviction generally cannot be reported once they are more than seven years old. Kentucky adds a state-level restriction: consumer reporting agencies may not retain information about arrests that did not result in a conviction. Convictions can be reported indefinitely under federal law, and Kentucky does not add a shorter state cap on convictions (unlike California). Expunged records cannot be reported at all once expungement is granted.

How far back does a background check go in Kentucky?

Kentucky follows the federal FCRA framework. The key points for employers and applicants:

• Arrests that did not lead to a conviction generally cannot be reported once they are more than seven years old, and Kentucky law bars consumer reporting agencies from retaining non-conviction arrest information at all.
• Criminal convictions can be reported for an unlimited time under federal law - Kentucky adds no state-level cap on how far back convictions can be reported.
• For jobs paying $75,000 or more per year, the FCRA removes even the seven-year limit on non-conviction information.
• Expunged records (whether misdemeanors, certain felonies, or dismissed charges) cannot be reported on a background check once expungement is complete, and applicants may legally state on most applications that the conviction did not occur.
• Louisville Metro and the Kentucky state government have limited ban-the-box policies restricting when criminal history questions can be asked of job applicants, but no statewide private-employer ban-the-box law applies.

How do I find someone in jail or prison in Kentucky?

It depends on where the person is being held:

• State prison or custody. Use the Kentucky Department of Corrections' Kentucky Online Offender Lookup (KOOL) to find a person in state custody by name or DOC number. KOOL shows the offender's current facility, offense, DOC/PID number, and risk-assessment rating.
• County jail. People awaiting trial or serving sentences for misdemeanors are usually held in a county jail. Check the county detention center or sheriff's online inmate roster.
• VINE notification service. You can also use the VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) service at 1-800-511-1670 to check custody status or sign up for automatic notifications about an offender's release or transfer.
• Federal custody. For federal cases, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator instead.

How do I find out if someone is on probation or parole in Kentucky?

Parole in Kentucky is supervised by the Kentucky Department of Corrections, and an offender's supervision status may appear in the KOOL database. Probation is handled through the sentencing court and the local probation and parole office, so the court's case records are the best public source. You can also call VINE at 1-800-511-1670, which provides automated updates on offender status including parole and release events. Probation lets a person serve their sentence in the community under conditions set by the court rather than in a jail or prison.

What crimes are felonies in Kentucky?

A felony in Kentucky is any offense punishable by more than one year in state prison. Kentucky classifies felonies into five levels under KRS Chapter 532:

• Capital offense: Punishable by death or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. First-degree murder under certain circumstances is a capital offense.
• Class A felony: 20 to 50 years in prison, or life. Examples include first-degree rape and first-degree robbery.
• Class B felony: 10 to 20 years in prison. Examples include first-degree assault and second-degree rape.
• Class C felony: 5 to 10 years in prison. Examples include second-degree assault and certain drug trafficking offenses.
• Class D felony: 1 to 5 years in prison. This is the lowest felony level and is the only class eligible for expungement under KRS 431.073.

What crimes are misdemeanors in Kentucky?

Misdemeanors in Kentucky are offenses punishable by up to one year in county jail (not state prison). Kentucky has two misdemeanor classes under KRS Chapter 532:

• Class A misdemeanor: Up to 12 months in county jail and/or a fine up to $500. Common examples include first-offense DUI, third-degree assault, and theft of property valued under $500.
• Class B misdemeanor: Up to 90 days in county jail and/or a fine up to $250. Minor offenses such as disorderly conduct and harassment often fall here.

After a five-year waiting period from completion of sentence, most misdemeanor convictions are eligible for expungement under KRS 431.078 (see below).

Are traffic offenses crimes in Kentucky?

Minor traffic violations in Kentucky are typically civil infractions, not criminal offenses, and carry only a fine. More serious traffic offenses are criminal. Driving under the influence (DUI) is a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense and escalates to a Class A misdemeanor for a second or third offense. A fourth or subsequent DUI within a ten-year period is a Class D felony under KRS 189A.010. Reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident can also be criminal offenses with potential jail time.

Is the sex offender registry public in Kentucky?

Yes. Under KRS 17.580, the Kentucky State Police maintains a public sex offender registry that anyone can search for free. The registry is searchable at kspsor.state.ky.us by name, zip code, or address. It shows the registrant's photo, offense, and location information. You can also sign up for free email alerts to be notified when a registered sex offender moves into a zip code you select. Using registry information to harass a registrant is a criminal offense under KRS 525.070 and 525.080.

How long must sex offenders register in Kentucky?

Kentucky uses two registration periods under KRS 17.520 rather than a numbered tier system:

• Twenty years from the date of release from confinement (or from the court's judgment if no confinement was imposed) for most registrants.
• Lifetime registration for those convicted of the most serious offenses - such as first-degree rape (KRS 510.040), first-degree sodomy (KRS 510.070), or use of a minor in a sexual performance (KRS 531.310) - and for any registrant with a prior sex-offense conviction or with two or more felony offenses against minors.

Kentucky does not have a formal petition process to end registration early for most registrants; the registration obligation runs its full statutory term.

How do I expunge or clear my criminal record in Kentucky?

Kentucky has three main paths to clearing a criminal record, each governed by different statutes:

• Dismissals and non-convictions (KRS 431.076). Charges that were dismissed with prejudice, acquittals, and cases where a grand jury declined to indict are eligible for expungement. Acquittals after July 15, 2020, are automatically expunged; others require a petition to the court.
• Misdemeanor convictions (KRS 431.078). Most misdemeanor and violation convictions can be expunged after a five-year waiting period from the completion of sentence (including probation). The person must have no new convictions and no pending charges during that period.
• Class D felony convictions (KRS 431.073). A single Class D felony conviction (or multiple Class D convictions arising from the same incident) may be expunged after a five-year waiting period following completion of the full sentence, including probation and parole. Certain Class D felonies are excluded from eligibility, including DUI (KRS 189A.010), domestic assault (KRS 508.032), offenses against children, sex offenses, and any offense that caused serious bodily injury or death.

To start the process, obtain an expungement eligibility certification ($40 fee) from the Administrative Office of the Courts, then file a petition with the Circuit Court clerk in the county of conviction. Only a judge can grant the expungement. Once granted, the record is sealed from public view and you may legally state on most applications that you were not convicted.

Do I need a lawyer to expunge my record in Kentucky?

You are not legally required to hire an attorney. The Administrative Office of the Courts makes the certification form and instructions publicly available, and the process can be completed without a lawyer. That said, eligibility rules under KRS 431.073 and 431.078 are detailed, some Class D felonies are excluded, and a procedural mistake can delay or defeat your petition. Many people find it worth consulting an attorney or a free legal-aid organization, especially for felony expungements or older cases where the record of conviction may be harder to locate.

How long does a felony stay on your record in Kentucky?

A Kentucky felony conviction stays on your record permanently unless you obtain relief - typically expungement under KRS 431.073 for eligible Class D felonies. Class A, B, and C felony convictions are not eligible for expungement under current Kentucky law and remain on the record indefinitely. The FCRA's seven-year discussion above applies to what a background-check company may report; it does not delete the underlying record from court or KSP files. A governor's pardon can also restore civil rights but does not expunge the record.

Are juvenile criminal records private in Kentucky?

Juvenile records in Kentucky are generally confidential and are not available to the public or ordinary background checks. Court records of juvenile proceedings are sealed from public inspection under KRS 610.340. However, if a juvenile is tried and convicted as an adult (which can happen for serious offenses), that record is public like any adult record. Juvenile records may be accessed by law enforcement, prosecutors, schools, and certain other agencies. Expungement of juvenile records is possible after a waiting period following completion of sentence; violent crimes may not be eligible.

Jefferson County criminal records

Jefferson County, home to Louisville, is the most populous county in Kentucky with more than 780,000 residents. The Office of the Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk serves Circuit, Family, and District courts - the largest jurisdiction in Kentucky's unified court system. The clerk's office provides access to court dockets and records at jeffersonkycourtclerk.com. You can also search Jefferson County cases through the statewide Kentucky eCourts portal by selecting Jefferson County. Records requests can be made in person at the Louis D. Brandeis Hall of Justice, 600 W. Jefferson St., Louisville, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For current jail bookings, check the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections online roster.

Official Kentucky criminal record sources

• Kentucky State Police Background Checks - name-based adult criminal history request; $20 fee by mail or walk-in.
• Kentucky eCourts public case search - search court records by name across all 120 Kentucky counties.
• KOOL Kentucky Online Offender Lookup - Kentucky Department of Corrections inmate and offender search.
• Kentucky Sex Offender Registry (KSP) - free public search by name or zip code; email alert signup available.
• Kentucky Court of Justice: Expungement Certification - eligibility certification ($40) required before filing a petition to expunge.
• Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk: Court Dockets - online docket access for Louisville's court system.
• KRS 431.076 - expungement statute for dismissed charges and non-convictions.
• KRS 431.073 - expungement statute for eligible Class D felony convictions.

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). An arrest record or mugshot is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Kentucky public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.