Kentucky Arrest Records Search | Criminal Records 2026

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Kentucky statewide · Arrest, jail, court and criminal-history guide

Kentucky Criminal Records Search: Find the Correct Record Across All 120 Counties

Kentucky arrest information is divided among county jails, local police and sheriffs, the Kentucky Department of Corrections, Kentucky State Police and the Kentucky Court of Justice. No single public search shows every recent arrest, police report, court case, warrant and conviction.

This guide explains which system answers each question, what the results contain, what they leave out, how much official reports cost, how to correct mistakes and how Kentucky expungement works.

Choose the correct record Search Kentucky offenders Fix a failed search
An arrest is not a conviction. A jail booking, mugshot, citation or police allegation does not establish guilt. Charges may be amended, dismissed, declined, expunged or resolved without a conviction. Confirm identity and read the final court disposition before relying on a record.
120 counties

AOC reports use District and Circuit Court activity statewide.

$25 AOC report

Current published fee for a Kentucky court criminal-record report.

$20 KSP check

Current name-based Kentucky criminal-history fee.

KOOL scope

DOC inmates, parolees, probationers and other supervised offenders.

VINE hotline

1-800-511-1670

Start here

Choose the Kentucky record that answers your question

COUNTY JAIL OR VINE Was the person arrested recently?

Start with the jailer or detention center in the county where the arrest occurred. Use Kentucky VINE when you need custody, facility or release-notification information.

Best for: recent booking, current custody, county jail location and release status.
KOOL / DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Is the person a state offender?

Use KOOL for people connected with Kentucky Department of Corrections incarceration or community supervision.

Best for: state prison, DOC number, probation, parole, supervision county and sentence information.
COURT OR BACKGROUND REPORT What happened to the criminal case?

Use the county Circuit Court Clerk for the official file, or order an AOC criminal-record report when you need a statewide court-history search.

Best for: filed charges, amendments, dismissal, plea, conviction, sentencing and certified documents.
Complete-search method: Check current custody first, identify the arresting agency, locate the court case, and order a statewide report only when a broader history is needed.

Choose the problem you need to solve

This page is organized around tasks rather than a directory of agency links.

Recent bookings

How to find someone recently arrested in Kentucky

Kentucky’s 120 counties use county jailers, regional detention centers, local detention centers and municipal or county law-enforcement agencies. A person’s residence does not determine where the arrest record is stored.

Identify where the arrest occurred Determine the city and county of the arrest. Search the arrest location rather than the person’s home county.
Identify the arresting agency The agency may be a city police department, county sheriff, Kentucky State Police, university police or another authorized agency.
Search the county detention system Look for the official county jailer, county detention center or regional jail roster. Use the person’s legal surname first.
Check Kentucky VINE VINE can help locate people held in participating local jails and state correctional facilities and can provide custody notifications.
Search KOOL only when DOC involvement is possible KOOL may show state inmates, people housed in county jails under DOC authority, parolees, probationers and other supervised offenders.
Save the official identifiers Record the full name, date of birth, booking number, inmate number, arrest date, arresting agency and court case number.
Check the court case separately A county jail result describes custody. It does not necessarily show the charge later filed or the final disposition.
Timing problem: A person may not appear immediately after arrest. Identification, medical screening, property inventory, fingerprinting, charging paperwork and facility transfer can delay the public result.
Who holds the record?

Kentucky arrest records are split among different custodians

Record type and responsible Kentucky office
Record needed Likely record holder What it usually answers What it does not replace
Recent jail booking County jailer, detention center or regional jail Current custody, booking date, initial charges and bond entries. The police report or final court disposition.
Custody notification Kentucky VINE Custody location, status changes and release notifications. A criminal-history report.
DOC offender record Kentucky Department of Corrections through KOOL DOC status, supervision, location and conviction information. A complete county arrest archive.
Incident or arrest report The arresting police, sheriff or KSP post The alleged incident, officer observations and report details. The official court judgment.
Official criminal case file Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county of filing Filed documents, motions, orders, docket and disposition. Live custody confirmation.
Statewide court-history report AOC Records Unit Kentucky District and Circuit Court criminal activity across 120 counties. A certified copy of the underlying case document.
Kentucky conviction check Kentucky State Police Name-based adult Kentucky criminal-history information under the selected form. An FBI fingerprint check where required.
Federal criminal history FBI or an authorized fingerprint-based process Nationwide identity-history information under the applicable process. Local jail custody information.
Kentucky offender lookup

How to search KOOL without excluding the correct offender

KOOL stands for Kentucky Online Offender Lookup. It is operated by the Kentucky Department of Corrections and should be used for DOC-related incarceration or supervision—not as a substitute for every county arrest record.

Begin with the last name only KOOL advises users to enter as little information as needed to obtain a match. An inaccurate field can eliminate the correct result.
Add the first name when needed Add the first name only when the surname returns too many people.
Enable alias searching Use the alias option when the person may have used a maiden name, former surname, nickname or another identity.
Use DOC or PID numbers when available A DOC number or PID number is more reliable than a common name.
Add one advanced filter at a time Filters include offender type, supervision status, location, county of supervision, age, race, gender, offense, KRS code and conviction county.
Reset after a failed search Check the spelling, select Reset Data and try again with fewer fields.
Open every plausible result Compare the photograph, middle name, aliases, age, PID number, DOC number, current location and conviction details.

KOOL advanced search fields

Offender type
DOC number
PID number
Supervision status
Location type and facility
County of supervision
Approximate age range
Race and gender
Crime or offense name
Kentucky Revised Statute code
Indictment information
Crime and conviction dates
Conviction county
Institution or supervision start date
Escape or abscond date range
Projected release-date range
Run the live KOOL search
KOOL result decoder

What Kentucky offender-search fields mean

KOOL fields, limits and practical next actions
Field What it means What to verify
PID number A personal identifier used in the Kentucky correctional system. Use it to distinguish offenders with similar names.
DOC number The Department of Corrections offender number. Provide it when contacting DOC about an offender record.
Current location The institution, county jail, probation office, parole office or supervision location presently listed. Location can change after transfer, release or supervision reassignment.
Supervision status A status such as incarcerated, probation, parole, mandatory reentry or another DOC classification. Read the detail page rather than assuming the person is physically incarcerated.
Offense counts Generalized offense categories used to assist searching. The categories are not necessarily the precise statutory crime description.
KRS code The Kentucky Revised Statute connected with the listed conviction. Check the court case for amendments and the controlling judgment.
Conviction county The Kentucky county connected with the conviction. Contact that county’s Circuit Court Clerk for the official case file.
Sentence information DOC calculation information associated with the sentence. Dates can be affected by credits, parole decisions, detainers and later calculations.
Parole eligibility A date or status related to possible parole consideration. Eligibility is not the same as approval or guaranteed release.
Projected release A calculated projected date based on current information. Do not treat it as a guaranteed physical-release date.
Alias Another name associated with the offender record. An alias does not by itself prove that every similar-name record belongs to the person.
KOOL data warning: The system warns that information received within the previous 120 days may not be finalized. It also prohibits using offender information to harass a person.
Troubleshooting

No Kentucky arrest or offender result found? Follow this order

The arrest happened only a few hours ago Intake and identification may still be underway. Contact the county jail or arresting agency and retry later.
The person is in a county jail but not under DOC authority Search the county jailer or detention center rather than KOOL.
The name may be entered differently Search the surname alone. Try maiden names, aliases, suffixes, hyphens and spelling variations.
The person was released quickly A short booking may disappear from a current-inmate list. Search the court case or request the booking record.
The person is supervised but not incarcerated Use KOOL’s supervision filters and check probation or parole status.
The arrest occurred in another state Kentucky systems will not provide the complete out-of-state booking record.
The case was expunged or purged Expunged or legally purged cases may not appear in state court-report results.
The record is juvenile or confidential Juvenile, mental-health, domestic-violence and other protected case information may not be publicly available.
Call script for a missing custody record “I am trying to confirm whether [full legal name], date of birth [date], was booked or is currently held in your facility. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency]. I also have [booking, report or case number]. Can you confirm whether the person is in intake, released, transferred or listed under another name?”
Statewide court report

Kentucky AOC criminal-record reports explained

The Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts produces a statewide criminal-record report based on District and Circuit Court information from all 120 Kentucky counties.

Traffic cases

Cases using the court system’s “T” designation.

Misdemeanors

Cases using the “M” designation.

Felony charges

Cases using the “F” designation.

Circuit Criminal

Cases using the “CR” designation.

Information included in the report

County where the case originated
Court case number
Original charge
Amendments to the original charge
Disposition
Charge date
Disposition date
Necessary clerk memos
AOC report scope and limitations
Question Official answer Practical meaning
How many counties? All 120 Kentucky counties. The report is broader than searching only one county clerk.
How far back? Misdemeanor and traffic cases for at least five years; felonies back to 1978. It is not represented as a complete pre-1978 archive.
Federal records? No. Use the appropriate FBI process when federal or nationwide history is required.
Juvenile cases? Not included in the public criminal-record report. Confidential case types are excluded.
Mental-health or domestic-violence cases? Not included as criminal-report case types. The report is not a search of every Kentucky court matter.
Expunged or purged cases? They should not appear after the county has completed the authorized action. A missing case can reflect lawful record removal.
Official court document? No. The report is marked “Not an Official Court Record.” Obtain the indictment, order, judgment or certified disposition from the county clerk.
Third-party notification: If you request an AOC report on another person and a record is found, the AOC Records Unit states that it will notify that person and send the person a copy of the report results.

Ways to order the report

FastCheck registered account

Registered users order online and retrieve processed results electronically. Completed results remain available for 30 days.

One-Time Request

Submit one online request and receive the result by U.S. mail. One-time users cannot track the request online.

Mail or drive-through

Submit the official form by mail or use the AOC drive-through window in Frankfort during published business hours.

AOC report fees and payment rules

Current published AOC criminal-record costs
Item Published amount or rule What to know
Criminal-record report $25 Current official form fee for a record on yourself or another individual.
Credit or debit service fee 2.25% or $2.50, whichever is greater Applies to supported card payments.
Mail payment Check or money order Make payable to Kentucky State Treasurer.
Cash Not accepted by the AOC Records Division Do not mail cash or bring cash to the drive-through request window.
Expedited service Not available Requests are processed in the order received.
AOC Records Unit
Administrative Office of the Courts
Records Unit
1001 Vandalay Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601

800-928-6381

Drive-through requests

Monday–Friday

8 a.m.–4 p.m. Eastern Time

Closed on Kentucky state holidays.

Large in-person request: AOC states that requests involving 10 or more reports require at least one hour to process.
Use FastCheck Submit a one-time request
Report interpretation

How to read a Kentucky criminal-record report

AOC report fields and questions to ask
Report field What it tells you What to check next
County of origin Where the case was filed. Contact that county’s Circuit Court Clerk for official documents.
Case number The court identifier for the case. Use the exact number when requesting a docket or certified disposition.
Original charge The charge first recorded in the court case. Do not stop here; check amendments and final disposition.
Amended charge A later modification to the original allegation. Determine which charge was ultimately resolved.
Disposition The court’s recorded resolution or status. Obtain the underlying order when the wording is unclear.
Charge date The date connected with the court charge. Do not assume it is identical to the arrest or offense date.
Disposition date When the recorded court resolution occurred. Use it when ordering a disposition or checking expungement timing.
Clerk memo Additional information entered by the local clerk when needed. Contact the clerk when the memo changes how the result should be understood.
AOC cannot provide legal interpretation. The Records Unit can help with missing, incomplete or outdated information and may refer the issue to the county clerk, but it does not give legal advice.
Choose the correct check

AOC, KSP and FBI background checks are not interchangeable

Kentucky background-check comparison
Check Scope Current published cost Best use Important limitation
AOC criminal-record report Kentucky District and Circuit Court activity from all 120 counties. $25 plus applicable card fee. Statewide Kentucky court-history search. Not federal and not an official certified case document.
KSP name-based check Kentucky adult criminal-history search under the selected request form. $20. Employment, personal review or another approved form purpose. Requires the proper form and subject permission for general-public requests.
Kentucky and FBI fingerprint check State and FBI fingerprint-based information. Depends on the requesting agency and IdentoGO process. Statutorily authorized licensing, employment or agency checks. The requesting organization must be authorized and supply the process information.
FBI Identity History Summary A person’s own nationwide FBI identity-history record. Set by the FBI or approved channeler. Personal nationwide record review. Does not replace a live county-jail or state-court search.

Kentucky State Police name-based check

$20 fee

Pay by check or money order to the Kentucky State Treasurer. KSP states that cash is not accepted.

No fingerprints

The standard Kentucky name-based request does not require fingerprint submission.

Average mail time

KSP publishes an average completion time of approximately 10 business days for mailed requests.

Choose the form that matches the purpose

General employment without a specific statutory form
Outfitter or guide licensing
Adoption or foster-care purpose
Position with disciplinary authority over minors
Long-term care or assisted-living employment
Licensed childcare employment
Emigration or foreign-country requirement
Fire, ambulance or rescue service
Housing-assistance request
Secondary metal recycler registration
Personal criminal-history review
Do not use a random form. KSP directs requesters to select the form matching the legal or employment purpose. A licensing agency may reject the wrong report.
KSP Records Division

502-227-8700

Temporary operating location:

1050 US 127
Frankfort, KY 40601
Temporary-location notice

The Records Division states that it is operating from 1050 US 127 while the 1266 Louisville Road office is under renovation.

Choose and download the KSP form
Official court file

How to obtain a Kentucky criminal court case record

The Administrative Office of the Courts does not maintain the individual official case file. Requests begin with the clerk of the court that heard the case.

Documents a criminal court file may contain

Criminal citations
Complaints or charging documents
Pleadings
Motions
Court orders
Evidence admitted into the record
Reports filed with the court
Docket entries
Video recordings when maintained
Transcripts when created and available
Judgment and sentence
Final disposition
Identify the court and county Use the AOC report, citation, booking result or case number to determine where the case was handled.
Contact the county Circuit Court Clerk Circuit Court Clerks manage records for Kentucky Circuit, District, Family and Business Courts within their counties.
Provide the exact case number Include the defendant’s full name, case number, case type and approximate filing or disposition date.
State the document needed Ask for the docket, charging document, order, judgment, sentence, dismissal or certified disposition rather than “everything.”
Ask about certification Request a certified copy when the document will be used for employment, licensing, immigration, court or another formal purpose.
Follow the clerk’s older-record instructions Older files may be stored at a records center, transferred to archives or destroyed under an authorized retention schedule.

Older files at the State Records Center

A name alone is not enough. When a county clerk states that a case is stored at the State Records Center, obtain the case number and file-locator number from the clerk. The records center cannot search these files by a person’s name or Social Security number.
State Records Center

Email: state.records@ky.gov

Phone: 502-564-3617

Appellate records

Court of Appeals Clerk: 502-573-7920

Supreme Court Clerk: 502-564-5444

Guest CourtNet limitation: Public court-event information can help locate a case, but it is not intended to replace an official record and should not be used as an employment or licensing background check.
Find the correct county court clerk Open Guest CourtNet instructions
Incident and arrest reports

How to request the police report behind a Kentucky arrest

The court record tells you what was filed. The arresting agency’s report may describe the alleged incident, officer observations, evidence references and arrest circumstances.

Send the request to the agency that created the record
Who made the arrest? Where to request the report Information to provide
City police officer That city police department’s records custodian. Name, date, location, report number and officer when known.
County sheriff or deputy That county sheriff’s records office. Arrest date, location, report number and involved names.
Kentucky State Police trooper KSP Public Records Branch. KSP post, event date, location, report number and subject name.
University, airport or special police The department that employed the arresting officer. Agency name and precise incident details.
Federal officer The responsible federal agency. Federal case, incident or agency identifiers.

Information that reduces delay and cost

Full legal name of the arrested person
Date of birth when known
Date or narrow date range
Street, city and county of the incident
Arresting agency or KSP post
Incident or report number
Citation or arrest number
Court case number
Specific document or recording requested
Preferred electronic delivery method
Copy-ready Kentucky open-records request
Under the Kentucky Open Records Act, I request an electronic copy of the releasable incident report, arrest citation or arrest report, probable-cause narrative and releasable supplemental reports relating to [full legal name], date of birth [date if known], for the incident occurring on or about [date] at [location]. The believed agency is [agency or KSP post]. Known identifiers are report number [number], arrest or citation number [number], booking number [number] and court case number [number]. Please notify me before processing if the estimated cost will exceed $[amount].

Kentucky State Police request rules

Written request

Sign the request, print your name and describe the records with enough detail to locate them.

Five-day response

KSP states that it will issue a response within five days, excluding weekends and legal holidays. Record production may require additional time.

Records, not explanations

An agency must provide nonexempt existing records; it is not required to conduct research or answer questions by creating a new report.

Published KSP reproduction costs
Record format Published charge Practical note
Paper copy $0.10 per page Request electronic delivery when available to reduce copying.
Photograph Published media charge may apply Ask for an estimate before ordering many images.
CD, video or other media Generally $2–$3 per item under the published schedule Review and redaction labor may affect the total.
Extensive request Possible additional actual cost Narrow the date range, people and document categories.
KSP Public Records Branch
Attn: Records Custodian
1266 Louisville Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
KSP open-record contact

Phone: 502-782-1873

Fax: 855-592-7656

Possible redactions: Active investigative material, confidential informant data, juvenile information, victim details, medical information and other exempt material may be withheld or redacted.
Submit a KSP open-records request
Warrant safety

How to check a possible active warrant in Kentucky

Kentucky does not provide one complete public statewide warrant portal that should be treated as the final authority for every county, city, state and federal warrant.

Identify the likely issuing county Use the arrest, citation or court-case location to determine which county may control the warrant.
Check the court case A public docket may show warrant-related activity, but it may not confirm whether a warrant is currently active.
Contact the county sheriff Ask the sheriff’s warrant unit to verify the name, birth date, case number and warrant status.
Contact the Circuit Court Clerk The clerk can help locate the related court case and direct you to the appropriate division.
Use the arresting or issuing agency City police, KSP, probation, parole or another jurisdiction may control the matter.
Use a safe resolution process A person checking their own status should speak with a Kentucky attorney or the responsible court and agency before appearing unexpectedly.
Do not confront or detain anyone. A similar name, recalled warrant, served warrant or delayed update can produce a misleading result. Give the information to law enforcement.
Custody notification

Kentucky VINE search and notification rules

Kentucky was the first state to provide an automated statewide victim-notification system. VINE supplies free custody information and notification for participating local jails, adult correctional facilities and certain juvenile offenders.

Cost

Free.

Availability

24 hours a day.

Phone

1-800-511-1670

Notification

Phone, email or supported electronic method.

Privacy

The offender is not told who registered.

Search the person’s legal name Use the birth date, age or offender identifiers when several people share the same name.
Confirm the correct custody record Compare the county, facility and identifying details.
Register a phone number or email Multiple contact methods can be registered for the same offender.
Create a four-digit phone PIN The PIN is used to acknowledge a notification call.
Use a direct phone number Do not use a number that reaches a switchboard or requires an extension.
Keep the registration current Update a changed phone number or email so notifications are not missed.
Release calls from a jail: Kentucky VINE states that notification calls may repeat every 30 minutes for up to 24 hours until the call is acknowledged with the PIN.
Do not depend on VINE as your only safety plan. Release dates and custody changes can occur unexpectedly. Keep contact with victim services, law enforcement, prosecutors and trusted support people.
Kentucky DOC Victim Services

Phone: 502-564-5061

Toll-free: 877-687-6818

VINE hotline

1-800-511-1670

Available for search and registration assistance.

Search or register with Kentucky VINE
Separate safety registry

Kentucky Sex Offender Registry search and alerts

The Kentucky State Police Sex Offender Registry is a separate public-safety system. It should not be confused with KOOL, a jail roster, a statewide criminal-history report or a complete list of every sex-related arrest.

Who appears

People required to register under the offenses and conditions covered by Kentucky law.

Available alerts

Users can register for email alerts connected with a ZIP code or an individual registrant.

Purpose

The registry is provided for public safety, not punishment, embarrassment or harassment.

Harassment is prohibited. KSP warns that registry information must not be used to harass, threaten or commit a crime against a registrant.
KSP Sex Offender Registry

Phone: 502-227-8700

Email: kspsor@ky.gov

Registry office
1266 Louisville Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
Run the live registry search
Record correction

How to correct an inaccurate Kentucky criminal record

Correct the error with the agency that controls the field
Incorrect information Office to contact Evidence to prepare
County booking identity or release data County jailer or detention center Government identification, booking number and proof of the correct identity.
KOOL identity, location or conviction information Kentucky DOC Offender Information Services PID or DOC number, court judgment and description of the disputed field.
Police incident or arrest report The law-enforcement agency that created the report Report number, official documents and the precise alleged error.
Court case or disposition Circuit Court Clerk in the filing county Case number, filed order, judgment or corrected court document.
AOC statewide report AOC Records Unit Report copy, case number and certified court documentation when available.
KSP criminal history KSP Records Division Fingerprint-supported identity and certified disposition or order.
Third-party people-search website Third-party publisher after official correction Corrected official record, expungement order or certified disposition.

Practical correction workflow

Save the inaccurate result Record the URL, date accessed, agency, case number, booking number, PID number or DOC number.
Identify the source of the disputed field AOC cannot directly correct an arresting agency’s report, and DOC cannot change a county court judgment.
Obtain the controlling document Use a certified dismissal, judgment, amended order, identity document or fingerprint-supported record.
Submit a narrow written correction request Quote the incorrect field and state the exact correction requested.
Ask for written confirmation Keep the correction letter, corrected report or agency response.
Recheck connected systems A court correction may also need to reach AOC, KSP, DOC, the arresting agency and third-party publishers.
AOC report questions

800-928-6381

Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. ET

KSP record questions

502-227-8700

DOC Offender Information

502-564-2433

AOC technical support

502-573-2350

Kentucky record relief

Kentucky expungement certification, eligibility and filing fees

Certification is not expungement. The certification packet is used with the court petition. Only a judge can grant an expungement order.

Step 1: Obtain the expungement certification

Certification fee

$40.

Online payment

American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa and most debit cards are accepted through the official online system.

Mail payment

Check or money order payable to Kentucky State Treasurer.

Register online or download the mail form An email account is required for online registration and must be verified.
Provide identity information Supply the required name, address, Social Security number, date of birth and other requested identifiers.
Pay the $40 certification fee Submit the supported online payment or include a check or money order with a mailed request.
Wait for AOC and KSP review AOC prepares the court-history report and KSP reviews the record for statutory eligibility.
Download or receive the packet Online users receive email notification and can retrieve the completed packet through their account.
File before the certification expires The certification is valid for 30 days. File the petition and certification with the proper Circuit Court Clerk before expiration.

Online status meanings

Expungement certification status decoder
Status Meaning What to do
Pay Now The request was submitted but payment has not been completed. Pay the $40 fee to start processing.
Processing AOC is processing the criminal-record report. Continue monitoring the account.
Sent to KSP AOC completed its report and KSP is reviewing eligibility. Wait for KSP completion.
Complete KSP completed the certification. Download the packet and file promptly with the court.

Felony expungement workflow

Review the conviction and waiting period Many eligible Class D felony petitions cannot be filed until at least five years after completion of the sentence or probation and parole, whichever occurs later.
Obtain the $40 certification The current certification must be attached to the felony application.
Complete form AOC-496.3 File the Application to Vacate and Expunge Felony Conviction with the Circuit Court Clerk in the county of conviction.
List every agency holding records Include the arresting agency, jail, KSP, DOC and other agencies that may possess records.
Allow time for prosecutor review The prosecutor has 60 days to object. An objection can result in a hearing.
Receive the judge’s decision If no objection is filed, the court may decide without a hearing. Eligibility certification does not guarantee approval.
Complete the required payment The expungement is not completed until the required granted-petition fee is paid in full.
Confirm agency processing Keep the signed order and verify that the court and listed agencies completed the required record action.

Felony expungement costs

Published Kentucky felony-expungement fees
Fee Amount When paid
Expungement certification $40 Before filing the court petition.
Nonrefundable felony filing fee $50 When the felony application is filed.
Granted-petition expungement fee $250 After the judge grants the application; installment payments may be available.
Total court felony fee $300 Combined $50 filing and $250 granted-petition amounts.
Total including certification $340 Certification plus the full felony court fees, excluding incidental costs.
Ineligible certification result: Kentucky states that a person may still file a petition even when the certification indicates ineligibility. Only the judge can grant or deny expungement.

Automatic expungement after dismissal or acquittal

Kentucky states that cases dismissed with prejudice or resulting in acquittal on or after July 15, 2020 are generally automatically expunged after 30 days, excluding traffic cases. The defendant ordinarily does not need to file a petition for those qualifying cases.
  • The defendant may object in writing within 30 days.
  • The order is distributed to the defendant or attorney, prosecutor, KSP, arresting agency and local jail.
  • The defendant must notify the court within 60 days when another agency also needs the order.
  • KSP is responsible for notifying applicable federal agencies of the Kentucky expungement.
Not every case qualifies. Certain offenses, previous history, serious bodily injury, death, sex offenses, offenses against children, abuse of public office and other statutory exclusions can prevent relief. Obtain case-specific legal advice when eligibility is uncertain.
Mail certification request to
Records Unit
Administrative Office of the Courts
1001 Vandalay Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601
Incorrect AOC information

800-928-6381

Incorrect KSP eligibility information: 502-227-8700

Start the expungement certification Open felony form AOC-496.3
State contact directory

Kentucky criminal-record and offender contacts

Call the office responsible for the record
Office Phone Use this office for
AOC Records Unit 800-928-6381 Criminal-record report results, corrections, status and expungement certification questions.
AOC Service Desk 502-573-2350 Technical problems with Kentucky Court of Justice online systems.
Kentucky State Police Records 502-227-8700 KSP background checks, criminal-history questions and KSP record issues.
KSP Public Records Branch 502-782-1873 KSP incident, arrest and other open-record requests.
DOC Offender Information Services 502-564-2433 KOOL and Kentucky DOC offender-information questions.
DOC Local Facilities 502-564-7290 Questions involving Kentucky county and regional correctional facilities.
DOC public open records 502-782-2229 General Department of Corrections open-record inquiries.
DOC inmate records 502-782-2370 DOC inmate-record questions.
Kentucky VINE 1-800-511-1670 Custody search, registration and notification assistance.
DOC Victim Services 877-687-6818 Victim assistance related to Kentucky DOC offenders.
Court of Appeals Clerk 502-573-7920 Kentucky Court of Appeals case-record questions.
Supreme Court Clerk 502-564-5444 Supreme Court of Kentucky case-record questions.
AOC Records Unit location

Kentucky statewide court-record request office

Administrative Office of the Courts
Records Unit
1001 Vandalay Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601
Drive-through hours

Monday–Friday

8 a.m.–4 p.m. Eastern Time

Excluding state holidays.

Do not travel without confirming the service. The AOC Records Unit handles statewide reports and certifications, but official county case documents remain with the responsible Circuit Court Clerk.
Before using a result

Kentucky arrest-record identity and fairness checklist

Match the full legal first and last name
Compare middle name, suffix and aliases
Confirm the date of birth or age
Compare the county and arrest date
Match the booking, PID, DOC or case number
Identify the arresting agency
Read amended charges
Locate the final court disposition
Check whether the record was expunged
Obtain certification for formal use
Do not make a decision from a name or photograph alone. A common name can connect an innocent person with another person’s case. Use at least two independent identifiers and obtain the final court record.
Final live actions

When you still need to leave this page

The explanations, fees, scope rules and preparation steps are provided above. Use an official system only for an action that must occur in real time.

DOC
Search a DOC offender

Use KOOL when the person may be incarcerated or supervised by Kentucky DOC.

Run KOOL search
AOC
Order a statewide court report

Use FastCheck or One-Time Request to submit and pay for the AOC report.

Order AOC report
VINE
Register for custody alerts

Search participating facilities and register a phone number or email.

Open Kentucky VINE
KSP
Request a KSP report

Submit the final open-record request when KSP maintains the incident record.

Submit KSP request
EXP
Request expungement certification

Pay the fee and obtain the packet before filing in the correct county.

Start certification
SOR
Search the safety registry

Use the separate KSP registry only for legally registered offenders.

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Frequently asked questions

Kentucky arrest and criminal-record questions answered

Is there one free Kentucky arrest-record search?

No single public system contains every Kentucky arrest. Recent custody is generally county-based, KOOL covers DOC offenders, VINE covers participating custody systems, and court records are maintained through the Kentucky Court of Justice.

What should I search first after a recent arrest?

Search the jail or detention center in the county where the arrest occurred. Then check VINE and the county court case. Use KOOL when DOC incarceration or supervision is possible.

Does KOOL show everyone in a Kentucky county jail?

No. KOOL is a Department of Corrections offender system. It may display some offenders housed in county facilities, but it is not a complete current roster for every county jail.

Why does KOOL show an offense category instead of the exact crime?

KOOL explains that search-result offense counts are generalized categories used to assist searching. Open the detail record and check the official court case for the exact conviction.

How much is a Kentucky AOC criminal-record report?

The current official criminal-record request form lists a $25 fee. Supported credit or debit payments may include a 2.25% service fee or $2.50, whichever is greater.

Can I order an AOC report on another person?

Yes. Criminal-record reports are public information, subject to confidentiality restrictions. If a record is found, AOC states that it will notify the person and provide them with a copy of the results.

Is the AOC report an official court record?

No. It is marked “Not an Official Court Record.” Obtain the official indictment, order, judgment or certified disposition from the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed.

Does the AOC report include federal crimes?

No. It is based on Kentucky state court activity from the 120 counties. Use the appropriate FBI or federal process for nationwide or federal history.

How much is a KSP name-based background check?

Kentucky State Police currently lists a $20 fee, paid by check or money order to the Kentucky State Treasurer. Fingerprints are not required for this name-based check.

Can I request a KSP background check online?

KSP currently states that its standard name-based form process must be completed by mail or walk-in and that it does not offer an online request for that check.

How long does the KSP background check take?

KSP publishes an average of approximately 10 business days for mailed name-based requests.

Where do I find the final outcome of a Kentucky charge?

Locate the criminal court case and read the final disposition, order, judgment or sentence. A jail charge or police report does not establish the final case outcome.

How do I obtain a Kentucky arrest report?

Request it from the law-enforcement agency that made the arrest. Include the person’s name, incident date, location and report number. Contact KSP only when KSP created or maintains the record.

How fast must KSP answer an open-records request?

KSP states that it will issue a response within five days, excluding weekends and legal holidays. The response may explain that additional production or redaction time is needed.

How do I check a Kentucky warrant?

Contact the sheriff, police agency or Circuit Court Clerk in the county connected with the warrant or criminal case. Do not treat a third-party people-search page as confirmation.

Is Kentucky VINE free?

Yes. Kentucky VINE provides free custody information and notifications. Call 1-800-511-1670 or use the online service.

How much is a Kentucky expungement certification?

The certification costs $40. It must be filed with the correct petition before the certification expires.

Does an expungement certification remove my record?

No. It is an eligibility packet used in the court process. Only a signed judicial expungement order removes the record under the applicable law.

How much does Kentucky felony expungement cost?

The published court fee is $300: $50 when filing and $250 if granted. The separate certification costs $40, making the published combined amount $340 before incidental costs.

Can I file when KSP says I am ineligible?

Yes. Kentucky Court of Justice states that a person may still file the petition because only a judge can grant or deny expungement.

Accuracy, identity and legal-use notice

County Arrest Records is an independent informational guide. It is not the Kentucky Court of Justice, Kentucky State Police, Kentucky Department of Corrections, a county jail, Circuit Court Clerk, prosecutor or law firm.

Custody, charges, warrants, court status, supervision, fees, office locations and eligibility rules can change. Confirm identity with multiple identifiers and obtain the current official record before making an employment, housing, licensing, financial, legal, safety or publication decision.

Every arrested person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. This page provides procedural information and does not provide legal advice.

Last official-source review: July 23, 2026.

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