Franklin County Criminal Records
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Franklin County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Franklin County, Kentucky, may access publicly available information through official government channels, court systems, and third-party aggregators such as FranklinKYRecords.org. Criminal record searches in Franklin County may return information related to arrests, charges, court dispositions, sentencing outcomes, and incarceration history, subject to applicable state and federal restrictions. The availability and completeness of any record depends on the agency maintaining it, the nature of the case, and whether the record has been sealed, expunged, or otherwise restricted under Kentucky law.
Records that may be accessible through official sources include:
- Arrest and booking records
- Circuit and District Court case files
- Felony and misdemeanor conviction records
- Jail inmate rosters and booking logs
- Active and historical warrant information
- Sex offender registration data
- Probation and parole status (where publicly disclosed)
Members of the public may search criminal records through the following methods:
1. County Court Records
The Franklin Circuit and District Courts, both part of the Kentucky Court of Justice, maintain case files for criminal proceedings originating in Franklin County. Members of the public may inspect court records in person at the courthouse clerk's office. Requestors should bring a valid government-issued photo ID and, where possible, the full legal name of the subject and an approximate case filing date or case number.
Franklin Circuit/District Court Clerk
222 St. Clair Street
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 564-8380
Kentucky Court of Justice
Public access terminals are available at the courthouse during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. These terminals allow members of the public to search case records at no charge.
2. Sheriff's Office
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest logs, booking records, and inmate information for individuals processed through the county jail. Members of the public may submit records requests in person or in writing during regular business hours.
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
320 West Main Street
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 875-8751
Franklin County Sheriff
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Fees for copies of records are assessed in accordance with KRS § 61.874, which governs the reproduction of public records in Kentucky.
3. Online Court Search
The Kentucky Court of Justice operates an online case search portal that allows members of the public to search court records statewide, including Franklin County. Users may search by full name, case number, or date of birth. The portal returns case status, charge information, and disposition data for cases in the court system. Sealed, expunged, and juvenile records do not appear in public search results.
The Kentucky Court of Justice case search portal is accessible at no charge for basic case lookups.
4. State Criminal History Repository
The Kentucky State Police (KSP) serves as the state's central repository for criminal history records. Formal background check requests, including those requiring fingerprint submission, are processed through KSP. Processing times and fees vary by request type; at present, standard background checks require a fee and may take several business days to complete. Fingerprinting services are available through authorized providers statewide.
Kentucky State Police — Background Checks
1250 Louisville Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 227-8700
Background Checks – Kentucky State Police
5. Written/Mail Requests
Members of the public may submit written requests for criminal records to the Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk or the Franklin County Sheriff's Office at the addresses listed above. Written requests should include the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and the specific records sought. Under KRS § 61.880, agencies are required to respond to public records requests within five business days of receipt.
What Is Franklin County Criminal Record
A criminal record in Franklin County is an official compilation of documented interactions between an individual and the criminal justice system, maintained by law enforcement agencies, courts, and state repositories. Under Kentucky law, a criminal record may encompass arrest data, charging documents, court proceedings, plea agreements, verdicts, sentencing orders, and post-conviction supervision status.
The distinction between record types is significant for access and legal purposes:
- Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that an individual was taken into custody; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by plea or verdict.
- Felony vs. misdemeanor records: Felony records involve more serious offenses and carry greater collateral consequences. Misdemeanor records document lesser offenses but remain part of the public record unless expunged.
- Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are presumptively public. Juvenile records are confidential under Kentucky law and are not accessible to the general public.
- Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect current judicial orders for arrest. Historical records document past proceedings regardless of current warrant status.
The agencies responsible for maintaining criminal records in Franklin County include:
- Franklin County Sheriff's Office — arrest records, jail booking logs, inmate records
- Franklin Circuit and District Courts — case files, charging documents, dispositions, sentencing orders
- Kentucky State Police — statewide criminal history repository, background check processing
- Frankfort Police Department — local arrest and incident reports
Records are created at the point of arrest and updated as a case progresses through arraignment, pretrial proceedings, plea or trial, sentencing, and any subsequent appeals or supervision. The Kentucky Court of Justice serves as the primary repository for court-based criminal records in Franklin County.
Are Criminal Records Public In Franklin County
Criminal records in Franklin County are presumptively public under the Kentucky Open Records Act, codified at KRS § 61.870 et seq. The Act establishes that all public records are open for inspection by any person, and that agencies bear the burden of demonstrating that a specific exemption applies before withholding a record.
As the Kentucky Attorney General has stated, "The Open Records Act reflects the General Assembly's recognition that free and open examination of public records is in the public interest." Adult conviction records, court case files, sentencing orders, and booking information are among the categories of records that are accessible to members of the public under this framework.
Certain categories of records are restricted or exempt from public disclosure, including:
- Juvenile court records, which are sealed by statute
- Expunged records, which are treated as if they never existed following a court order
- Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure would harm the investigation
- Victim and witness identifying information in certain cases
- Records sealed by court order for other legally recognized reasons
Federal criminal records maintained by the FBI are governed by separate federal statutes and are not subject to Kentucky's Open Records Act. Members of the public seeking their own federal criminal history may submit a request directly to the FBI through its Identity History Summary Checks program.
How To Find Criminal Records in Franklin County Online
Official County Resources
The Franklin County Clerk's office maintains public records accessible through its official portal. Members of the public may access deed records, court-related filings, and other documents through the Franklin County Clerk records page. The clerk's office, under County Clerk Jeff Hancock, processes requests in accordance with Kentucky's public records statutes.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office provides current inmate and booking information through its official website at franklincounty.ky.gov.
State-Level Resources
The Kentucky Court of Justice provides a statewide case search portal that includes Franklin County court records. The Kentucky eCourts case search tool allows users to search by name or case number across all Kentucky courts. The Kentucky State Police administers the state's criminal history background check system, accessible through the KSP background checks portal.
Search Tips
- Search using the subject's full legal name and any known aliases
- Case number searches return the most precise results
- Cross-reference multiple databases, as no single portal contains all records
- Note that records predating electronic filing may not appear in online searches
- Sealed and expunged records will not appear in any public online search
Limitations
Online databases may reflect a data lag of several days to weeks. Historical records predating the digitization of court files may require in-person requests. Online searches do not constitute official background checks for employment, licensing, or legal purposes.
Can You Search Franklin County Criminal Records for Free
Free Options
1. In-Person Inspection
Kentucky law mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Under KRS § 61.872, any person may inspect public records during the regular office hours of the agency. Copying fees apply when physical or electronic copies are requested, but inspection itself is free. In-person inspection is available at the Franklin Circuit Court Clerk's office and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office at the addresses listed above.
2. Free Online Databases
| Resource | What's Free | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky eCourts Case Search | Case status, charges, dispositions | kycourts.gov |
| Franklin County Sheriff | Inmate roster, booking info | franklincounty.ky.gov |
| Franklin County Clerk | Public record index searches | franklincountyclerk.ky.gov |
3. Sheriff's Logs
Daily arrest and booking reports maintained by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office are available for public inspection at no charge during regular business hours.
What Costs Money
- Certified copies of court records: fees set by court schedule
- Official state criminal history background checks through KSP: fee required per request
- Staff-assisted record searches beyond standard inspection
- Expedited processing requests
State Fee Law
KRS § 61.874 governs fees for public records reproduction in Kentucky. Agencies may charge the actual cost of reproduction but may not charge for inspection. Fee waivers may be available in limited circumstances as determined by the agency.
What's Included in a Franklin County Criminal Record
Identifying Information
A Franklin County criminal record at present includes the subject's full legal name and known aliases, date of birth, physical description, photograph (mugshot), last known address, state identification number (SID), and FBI number where applicable.
Arrest Information
Arrest records include the date and time of arrest, the arresting agency, booking number, charges filed at the time of arrest, bail or bond information, and the jail facility where the individual was held.
Court Case Information
Court records include the case number, court and jurisdiction, filing date, charges as formally filed (including felony or misdemeanor classification and applicable statute), plea entered, and attorney of record.
Disposition
Disposition records reflect the verdict or outcome, conviction date where applicable, sentencing details (type, length, fines, restitution, and conditions of supervision), any appeals filed, and probation or parole status.
Additional Record Elements
- Active or historical warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status
- DUI/DWI adjudications
- Traffic violations adjudicated in criminal court
- Pending charges not yet resolved
NOT Included in Public Records
- Juvenile records (sealed under Kentucky law)
- Expunged or sealed records
- Records from other states or federal jurisdictions
- Completed pretrial diversion programs where records have been expunged
Accuracy Note
Members of the public who identify errors in their own criminal records may seek correction through the maintaining agency or through the Kentucky Court of Justice. Accurate and complete records are essential for employment, licensing, and legal proceedings.
How Long Does Franklin County Keep Criminal Records
Legal Requirements
Kentucky's public records retention schedules, administered through the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, govern how long criminal records must be maintained by county agencies. Courts operating under the Kentucky Court of Justice follow retention schedules established by the Supreme Court of Kentucky.
Retention by Record Type
- Felony convictions: Retained permanently by courts and the Kentucky State Police criminal history repository
- Misdemeanor convictions: Retained permanently in court records; may be eligible for expungement under KRS § 431.078
- Arrest records without conviction: Retained by the Sheriff's Office for a period determined by agency retention schedules; may be expunged upon petition
- Dismissed or acquitted cases: Court records are retained permanently but reflect the dismissal or acquittal as the disposition
- Juvenile records: Sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood; destruction timelines are governed by juvenile court retention rules
- Pending cases: Retained until final resolution of the case
Agency Differences
- County courts retain case files permanently in accordance with Supreme Court retention rules
- The Franklin County Sheriff's Office retains jail and booking records per county retention schedules
- The Kentucky State Police retains conviction records permanently in the state criminal history repository, accessible through the KSP background checks portal
Physical vs. Electronic Records
Electronic records are retained for longer periods than paper records. Physical documents may be destroyed after scanning and digitization, but the electronic record remains accessible.
Destruction vs. Sealing vs. Expungement
- Destruction refers to the physical or electronic elimination of a record per retention schedule
- Sealing restricts public access to a record without eliminating it; the record remains accessible to law enforcement
- Expungement under Kentucky law results in the record being treated as if it never existed for most purposes, though law enforcement may retain access
Kentucky's expungement statute, KRS § 431.073, provides eligibility criteria and procedures for expunging certain felony and misdemeanor convictions. Expungement forms and instructions are available through the Kentucky Court of Justice.
Federal Records
Criminal records maintained by the FBI are subject to federal retention rules and are not affected by Kentucky expungement orders. Federal records are maintained separately and indefinitely.
Practical Implications
Felony convictions appear on background checks indefinitely unless expunged. Employment background checks conducted under the Fair Credit Reporting Act typically report convictions for seven to ten years, though no such limit applies to positions involving public trust or professional licensure. Professional licensing boards in Kentucky may require full disclosure of all criminal history regardless of age.
Even if a county agency destroys physical records pursuant to a retention schedule, electronic copies may persist in state databases unless the record has been legally expunged through a court order.