Kentucky Police Records and Police Departments

Contact the law enforcement agency that responded to the incident, Kentucky State Police, the county sheriff's office, or the municipal police department. Provide the date, location, and case number if available. Most agencies charge between $5 and $10 for standard incident reports. Kentucky State Police reports can be requested through individual posts or the Central Records Branch in Frankfort. For collision reports investigated by KSP, use the online portal at crashinformationky.com.

Yes, arrest records are generally public information in Kentucky, including the arrestee's name, charges, booking date, and arresting agency. County jails maintain publicly searchable online inmate rosters. However, juvenile arrest records are confidential under KRS 610.340, and expunged records are sealed and unavailable to the public. You can request arrest records from the arresting agency or search court records through CourtNet at courtnet.kycourts.net.

A Kentucky state criminal background check through the Kentucky State Police costs $10. Federal FBI background checks cost an additional $25.50. These fingerprint-based checks must be processed through the Kentucky Applicant Processing System (KAPS) at authorized fingerprinting locations. Name-based court record searches through CourtNet are free for public access, but certified copies from courts cost $5 to $10 depending on the county.

Body camera footage may be available through Open Records requests, but Kentucky law allows agencies to withhold videos if disclosure would invade personal privacy under KRS 61.878(1)(l). Submit a detailed written request to the agency identifying the date, time, location, and officers involved. Agencies may charge substantial fees for staff time required to locate, review, and redact footage, typically $30 to $50 per hour. Not all Kentucky agencies use body cameras, as they are not mandated statewide.

Contact the county sheriff's office or circuit court clerk in the county where the warrant was issued. Many counties maintain online warrant searches. The Kentucky Court of Justice's CourtNet system at courtnet.kycourts.net provides access to court records that may indicate active warrants. Kentucky State Police maintains a Most Wanted list at kentuckystatepolice.org for serious felony warrants. You can also check county jail inmate rosters, as individuals with active warrants appear if they've been arrested.

Kentucky driving records (MVRs) include traffic violations, points assessed, license suspensions or revocations, DUI convictions, at-fault accidents, and license status. Violations remain visible for five years (ten years for DUI). Points remain active for two years. You can request your driving record online at drive.ky.gov for $6 (certified) or $3 (non-certified). The record shows conviction dates, violation types, points assessed, and any administrative actions against your license.

Kentucky allows expungement of certain offenses under KRS 431.076. Misdemeanor convictions and Class D felonies may be expunged five years after completion of sentence if you have no subsequent convictions. Acquittals, dismissals, and no true bills may be expunged immediately. File a petition in the circuit court where the conviction occurred, pay the filing fee (approximately $50 to $100), and attend a hearing. If granted, the Kentucky State Police removes the record from public access, though sealed copies remain for law enforcement purposes.

Kentucky law provides strong protections for police disciplinary records. Under KRS 61.878, agencies can withhold internal affairs investigations, misconduct complaints, and disciplinary records as preliminary investigative materials or personnel records. The Kentucky Supreme Court has upheld these exemptions broadly. However, officer certification status through the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council is public, and settlements in civil rights lawsuits are accessible. Citizens can appeal denials of misconduct records to the Kentucky Attorney General's Office, though success rates are limited under current law.