Kentucky Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records
Kentucky Criminal Records Search: Free Court Cases, Public Records, Background Checks and Official Dockets
You can search available Kentucky criminal court case information for free through the official CourtNet Guest Portal. For a statewide Kentucky criminal-record report, use the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) FastCheck service. For certified judgments or older and disposed cases, contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed.
These are different services. Choosing the right one will save you time, especially when a case no longer appears in the public guest search.
Where Should You Search Kentucky Criminal Records?
Kentucky has several official record systems. Pick the source that matches the information you need, rather than searching every site for the same person.
Criminal Court Case
Find publicly accessible Kentucky trial-court case information, court dates and basic case details.
Open Guest CourtNetCriminal History Check
Request a state-court criminal-record report through the Kentucky AOC Records Unit.
Open AOC FastCheck GuideCertified Conviction or Disposition
Contact the Circuit Court Clerk where the case was filed for the official court record.
Find Clerk & RecordsSupreme Court or Court of Appeals
Use the Kentucky judiciary’s public C-Track appellate case system.
Open C-TrackInmate or Supervision Lookup
Search Kentucky Department of Corrections offender information using KOOL.
Open KOOLRegistered Sex Offender
Search the official Kentucky State Police sex-offender registry by name or location.
Open KSP RegistryHow to Search Kentucky Criminal Court Cases Free
The official Kentucky KYeCourts Guest Login page states that Public Court Records provides free access to public case information throughout the Commonwealth. A guest does not need a paid professional CourtNet subscription to start an available public case search.
Open the official guest login
Go to the KYeCourts Guest Login page at kcoj.kycourts.net. This is a Kentucky Court of Justice domain, not a commercial people-search website.
Accept the guest access terms
Select the square verification checkbox shown on the page, read the applicable terms, and click Continue.
Choose a suitable search
Use case number when you already have paperwork. Otherwise, use the available party-name search and search criteria. The fields and filters may differ from those in the subscribed CourtNet interface.
Start with the county and legal name
Enter the surname and first name as accurately as possible. Use the filing county or jurisdiction when known, then narrow results by permitted fields.
Confirm that you found the right case
Compare county, case number, court division, case type and other available public details. A person with a similar name could have a completely unrelated case.
Record the case number and county
Write down the complete number, including the year and case-type component. Save the county. These two pieces of information are useful when contacting the clerk later.
Read the status without guessing the outcome
Review available hearing and case information. If the guest interface does not show the final disposition, move to the county clerk instead of assuming the initial charge resulted in conviction.
What to do if a disposed case is no longer available
The Kentucky Court of Justice’s CourtNet troubleshooting documentation explains this guest access limitation. Its advice is to contact the local Circuit Court Clerk for cases that have had a disposition ruling.
Get Kentucky Criminal Court Records and Certified Copies
The Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where a case was filed is the correct starting point for official Kentucky Circuit and District Court records. The AOC may produce background-check reports, but it is not the custodian of the underlying trial-court case files.
Ask the clerk for
- Certified judgment or order
- Official case disposition
- Sentencing documents
- Docket or case file copies
- Older or archived court files
- Record inspection or copy instructions
Prepare these details
- Defendant’s full name
- County and court where filed
- Full case number, if known
- Approximate year of the case
- Exact documents requested
- Whether certification is required
How to find your Circuit Court Clerk
- Open the official Kentucky Circuit Court Clerks directory.
- Find the county in the court/county information selection.
- Open the county page and locate the clerk’s phone, courthouse address and office hours.
- Call or visit the clerk and provide your case number, county and document description.
- Ask whether the record is available for inspection, whether it can be copied and what the current fee is.
- If the file has moved to storage, request the case and file locator numbers from the clerk.
When the local clerk directs you to the State Records Center, Kentucky publishes these contact options: 502-564-3617 or state.records@ky.gov. Do not start there without the case and file locator numbers.
Kentucky AOC Criminal Background Checks: FastCheck
Kentucky’s Administrative Office of the Courts Records Unit produces state-court criminal-record reports covering available District and Circuit Court data from all 120 counties. These reports do not include federal criminal cases.
For online orders, AOC offers two distinct paths:
FastCheck
Create a registered account, order criminal-record reports and retrieve completed results online.
Processed results remain available for retrieval for 30 days according to AOC guidance.
One-Time Request
Place an individual order without using the registered account workflow and receive the result by U.S. mail.
AOC says one-time users cannot track the request status online.
Step-by-step online background-check request
Open the AOC background-check page
Read the report coverage and choose Online Requests.
Choose FastCheck or One-Time Request
Select registered FastCheck if you want electronic retrieval; choose One-Time if postal delivery is appropriate.
Complete the record-request fields
Enter the identifying information requested by the official system. Double-check spellings and dates. Do not enter sensitive data into an unrelated commercial search form.
Review payment and submit
Check the current report fee and any card-processing charge before confirming payment. Save the confirmation.
Retrieve or receive the report
Registered users should check their account for processing status and retrieve the completed report. One-Time Request users receive results by mail.
For in-person or mail requests, AOC lists 1001 Vandalay Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601. Drive-thru hours are Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Eastern Time, except state holidays. AOC does not accept cash for in-person Records Division requests.
Records Unit: 800-928-6381. For online technical support, AOC lists 502-573-2350.
Understanding Kentucky Criminal Case Numbers and Records
Kentucky AOC criminal reports include several case categories. Knowing the case type can help you choose the appropriate court and understand why there may be multiple related case numbers.
| Code | Case Category | How to Interpret It |
|---|---|---|
| CR | Circuit Criminal | Criminal case in Circuit Court, commonly including felony prosecutions |
| F | Felony Charge | District Court felony charge or preliminary matter; check whether a separate Circuit Court prosecution followed |
| M | Misdemeanor | Misdemeanor case category |
| T | Traffic | Traffic matter, which may involve a violation or criminal charge depending on the offense |
What information might appear in an AOC report?
According to Kentucky AOC, qualifying criminal-record reports can include the county of origin, case number, original charges, amended charges, charge dates, disposition dates and court-record memos.
The AOC describes report coverage as misdemeanor and traffic cases for at least the preceding five years and felony cases dating back to 1978, subject to record retention, expungement, confidentiality and system limitations. This is a description of AOC report coverage, not a promise that every historical record will appear.
District Court and Circuit Court are not interchangeable
District Court
Generally handles misdemeanors, traffic cases and preliminary felony matters, among other assigned jurisdiction.
A felony case may begin at the District Court level before proceeding further.
Circuit Court
Generally handles felony prosecutions and other cases assigned by Kentucky law.
A criminal conviction or final felony judgment may therefore be found under a different Circuit Court number.
Search Kentucky Court of Appeals and Supreme Court Criminal Cases
Kentucky appellate records are searched separately from ordinary trial-court criminal case records. The Kentucky Court of Justice offers C-Track Public Access for qualifying Court of Appeals and Supreme Court case information.
- Open C-Track Public Access.
- Read the terms and continue as a public user.
- Use the search interface to locate the appellate case using the identifiers available to you.
- Confirm the appellate court, case number, party names and filing details.
- Review available docket entries and orders.
- Keep the originating trial-court case number, where provided, to retrieve underlying trial-court records from the county clerk.
Kentucky Court of Appeals
For case-specific clerk assistance, the Kentucky Court of Justice lists 502-573-7920.
Supreme Court of Kentucky
For appellate clerk assistance, the Kentucky Court of Justice lists 502-564-5444.
An appeal may change or affect the trial-court disposition. If you are researching the final outcome, review both trial and appellate records where applicable.
Kentucky Inmate and Offender Search: KOOL
The Kentucky Department of Corrections operates Kentucky Online Offender Lookup (KOOL). It provides offender records related to the corrections system and should not be treated as a complete Kentucky criminal court history.
How to search KOOL
- Open the Department of Corrections KOOL information page.
- Read its disclaimer and continue into the offender lookup system.
- Enter the last name and first name, or use a DOC number when known.
- Start with fewer fields; too many inaccurate filters can produce no results.
- When needed, expand Advanced Search to filter by supervision status, location, county or other available details.
- Open the possible offender result and compare multiple identifiers before concluding it concerns the correct person.
If the question is about a recent county jail booking rather than state corrections supervision, check the relevant county jail or sheriff instead of assuming KOOL includes every local custody event.
Kentucky State Police Sex Offender Registry
The Kentucky State Police maintains the official statewide sex offender registry under Kentucky law. It is free to search and serves a different purpose from CourtNet or an AOC criminal-record report.
Search by offender details
Use offender number or last name, then add location fields such as city, county or ZIP code when needed.
Search by neighborhood
The registry offers an address/location map search with distance and geographic filters.
Read the registry’s legal warning and do not assume a registry result is a complete criminal-history report. Not every Kentucky conviction requires registration.
Kentucky Criminal Record Expungement: What Searchers Should Know
Some Kentucky criminal cases may qualify for expungement. An eligible expungement can affect whether the record appears in state-performed background checks, so a no-result search must be interpreted carefully.
Kentucky’s expungement process depends on the charge type, disposition, conviction history and legal eligibility.
| Situation | Important Process or Cost |
|---|---|
| Expungement eligibility certification | AOC lists a $40 certification request fee |
| Qualifying felony conviction expungement | AOC lists a $50 nonrefundable filing fee and, when granted, $250 additional fee; certification is separate |
| Certain dismissed-with-prejudice or acquitted cases | AOC describes automatic expungement after 30 days for qualifying cases on or after July 15, 2020, excluding traffic cases |
| Felony charge not resulting in indictment | A separate process under KRS 431.076 may apply; check filing conditions |
How to begin an expungement certification request
- Open the Kentucky Court of Justice Expungement Certification Process page.
- Review whether your record type requires certification and which expungement procedure applies.
- Use the linked online registration service if appropriate, or follow mail/in-person instructions.
- Pay the applicable certification fee or follow any recognized alternative procedures.
- Obtain the certification packet and complete the required petition for your case category.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the original matter was filed.
Federal Criminal Records in Kentucky
Federal criminal cases are separate from the state courts. Kentucky AOC criminal-record reports do not contain federal case information.
For a case filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky or the Western District of Kentucky, use PACER. If you do not know which federal court handled the case, use the PACER Case Locator.
PACER registration is free, but viewing or retrieving case material can incur usage charges subject to its current fee and waiver rules.
Kentucky Criminal Record Search Problems and Solutions
| What Happened? | Possible Reason | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| An old case vanished from Guest CourtNet | The case may have received a disposition and no longer be accessible to guests | Contact the filing county’s Circuit Court Clerk |
| Name search shows too many cases | Common name or insufficient identifying criteria | Use county, complete case number, court and dates; do not assume the first match is correct |
| AOC FastCheck report appears incomplete | Record coverage limits, missing case updates, restricted information or incorrect source entry | Call AOC Records Unit, then the originating county clerk if directed |
| Need a certified conviction | CourtNet and AOC reports are not signed official court judgments | Request the official judgment or disposition from the Circuit Court Clerk |
| KOOL has no match | Person may not be covered by KOOL, identifiers may differ or record may not be finalized | Reduce filters; verify through corrections or the relevant county jail |
| Federal charge not in Kentucky case search | Federal criminal cases use federal courts | Search PACER or the PACER Case Locator |
| Older court file cannot be found locally | Case may have been transferred to storage or lawfully destroyed | Ask clerk for retention status and case/file locator numbers |
| No public record appears | Wrong county, sealed or expunged record, confidentiality or other access limits | Verify with the court custodian; do not assume no record has ever existed |
What if a criminal record contains an error?
Start with the AOC Records Unit at 800-928-6381. Kentucky states that some questions can be resolved by AOC, but others require the Circuit Court Clerk of the county where the original case was filed.
Be prepared to identify the exact record entry, explain the problem and obtain an official court disposition when necessary. Do not attempt to correct a court judgment solely by editing information held by a private records website.
Kentucky Criminal Records Search FAQs
Can I search Kentucky criminal records online for free?
Yes. The Kentucky Court of Justice provides free Guest CourtNet access to available public court case information. An official AOC criminal-record report is a separate service that generally carries a fee.
What is the official Kentucky criminal court case search website?
The official guest entry is https://kcoj.kycourts.net/kyecourts/login/guestlogin. Read the guest terms and use the available case or party search.
Why can’t I find a closed Kentucky criminal case in CourtNet?
Kentucky’s CourtNet help states that guest users may not access cases that already have a disposition ruling. Contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the filing county for those records.
Where do I request a Kentucky criminal background check?
Use the Administrative Office of the Courts Background Checks service and choose FastCheck registered access or a One-Time Request. Reports are based on available Kentucky state court information, not federal cases.
Does Kentucky notify someone if I request their criminal report?
Kentucky AOC says that if a third-party request finds a record, the person whose record was requested will be notified and provided a copy of the report results.
How do I get certified Kentucky criminal court records?
Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed. Ask for the precise document, such as a certified judgment, sentence, docket sheet or disposition.
How far back do Kentucky AOC criminal reports go?
AOC describes coverage of misdemeanors and traffic cases for at least the past five years and felonies dating back to 1978, subject to confidentiality, expungement, purging and other record availability limitations.
How do I find an inmate in Kentucky?
Use Kentucky Online Offender Lookup (KOOL) through the Kentucky Department of Corrections. For recent county jail bookings, the responsible jail or sheriff may be the more appropriate source.
Can Kentucky criminal records be expunged?
Some cases qualify for expungement under Kentucky law. The applicable procedure depends on the offense, conviction, disposition and eligibility rules. The Kentucky Court of Justice publishes an official certification and petition process.
Where do I search federal criminal cases in Kentucky?
Use PACER or the PACER Case Locator. Kentucky state CourtNet and AOC criminal-record reports are not substitutes for the federal court-record system.
Official Kentucky Criminal Records Resources
Use these government and judiciary resources to confirm the latest procedures, eligibility, contact information and public-access restrictions.
- Kentucky Guest CourtNet – Free Public Court Records
- Kentucky CourtNet Troubleshooting and Guest Access Limits
- Kentucky Court of Justice – Request Court Records
- Kentucky Circuit Court Clerks Directory
- AOC Background Checks and FastCheck
- Kentucky Appellate C-Track Public Access
- Kentucky Department of Corrections KOOL
- KOOL Search Troubleshooting FAQ
- Kentucky State Police Sex Offender Registry
- Kentucky Expungement Certification Process
- PACER – Federal Court Records
- Federal Trade Commission – Background Check Requirements