In Kentucky, a warrant is an official order or writ issued that authorizes an otherwise unlawful act and protects its executor from criminal or civil liability.
A Kentucky warrant search entails searching for warrants (active or not) issued on an individual within state limits. A variety of warrant types, including arrest, bench, and search warrants issued by Kentucky courts, may be found through this search.
The Kentucky Court of Justice, law enforcement organizations like the County Sheriff's Office or City Police Department, official websites, or third-party sources issue, execute, and maintain the state's warrants. Hence, inquirers may direct warrant-related queries to these offices.
Are Warrants Public Records in Kentucky?
According to the Kentucky Open Records Act, warrants are, in fact, public records in Kentucky. Thus, anyone can view them unless specifically determined by a court order or federal statute.
A comprehensive list of exemptions applies to state public documents in Kentucky's KRS 61.878 statute; notwithstanding, warrants are accessible to persons who satisfy the state's eligibility requirements.
Types of Warrants in Kentucky
According to the Kentucky Revised Statutes, Kentucky Courts issue various warrants depending on their function. They include
- Arrest Warrant: A judge issues this to permit the arrest of someone believed to have committed a crime.
- Search Warrant: This permits law enforcement to search a specific area for evidence of a crime. The location to be searched and the objects to be seized must be specified in the warrant.
- Bench Warrant: This is issued by a judge at a hearing from the bench for a variety of offenses, like missing court dates or disobeying directives from the court. It gives the police permission to apprehend the person in court.
- Probation Violation Warrant: When someone on probation disobeys the rules and regulations of their probation, a probation violation warrant is issued for their arrest. It permits the probationer to be taken into custody by the police and brought before the court for a hearing regarding the alleged infractions.
- Parole Violation Warrant: This is comparable to a probation violation warrant, but it pertains to parolees who have disregarded their release conditions.
- Child Support Warrant: This is issued for people who don't pay their required child support. It gives the police the right to take the noncompliant party to court to resolve the child support dispute.
What is a Search Warrant in Kentucky?
In Kentucky, a search warrant is a formal document a judge or magistrate grants to law enforcement officials. It permits them to search a particular area to locate and seize evidence that may be connected to a suspected crime. The basis for its issuance must be probable cause, which requires evidence that the allegations are more likely than not. Search warrants are issued to safeguard the legitimate expectation of privacy against arbitrary government intrusions, such as physical trespassing. This protection was originally created to shield citizens from unauthorized government searches and seizures under the 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
According to Kentucky Revised Statutes, KRS 455.180, no search warrant permitting entry without notice may be issued unless:
- The evidence presented to the court is clear and persuasive enough to conclude that the alleged offense qualifies the accused as a violent offender should they be found guilty. Alternatively, the evidence requested could lead to the prosecution of someone who would be found guilty of a violent offense.
- Giving notice before entry may jeopardize someone's life or safety or result in the loss or destruction of evidence sought that could lead to a charge of a crime that would designate a person as a violent offender if found guilty, as demonstrated by facts unique to this instance.
- The highest-ranking officer in their law enforcement agency or their supervisory officer has consented to the law enforcement officer requesting the warrant.
- The law enforcement official requesting the warrant has conferred with an assistant or the county or Commonwealth attorney for the jurisdiction for which the warrant is requested.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Search Warrant?
In Kentucky, the time it takes to seek a search warrant is determined by how quickly an officer appears before a court and persuades them that one is required. If an officer accelerates their case, it can take only a few minutes, but often it takes many hours.
Ultimately, there is no set time limit by law for getting a search warrant; instead, the availability and reliability of the evidence necessitate a judge's approval for each request.
What is an Arrest Warrant in Kentucky?
An arrest warrant is a formal court order that enables a law enforcement official to detain an individual charged with a crime in Kentucky. A magistrate or judge issues the warrant and gives the police the rightful legal authority to apprehend the defendant.
In Kentucky, a peace officer must submit a written affidavit to a magistrate or judge to obtain an arrest warrant. The name of the suspect, a description of the crime, and any other relevant information that could aid in the suspect's identification must also be included in the affidavit.
In Kentucky, there are further circ*mstances where a suspect or convicted felon escapes custody and goes on the run, as per the statutes KRS 440.010 and KRS 440.270. The warden of the prison institution then issues an arrest warrant for that individual's arrest to every peace officer. The governor also issues a warrant for the fugitive's arrest and extradition back to the state of jurisdiction if they manages to flee to another state.
According to the Revised Kentucky Statutes, KRS 431.005, a peace officer is permitted to make an arrest, following the issuance of a warrant or without a warrant, if the offense was committed in their presence or when there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person being arrested has committed a felony.
Arrest Warrant Lookup in Kentucky
In Kentucky, the courts typically issue arrest warrants to law enforcement organizations at the city or county levels, such as the police or sheriff's department; as a result, these organizations are in charge of keeping the related documents. Therefore, the first step for anyone wishing to check the status of an arrest warrant is to contact the local courts or arresting agency. This can be done in person, via mail, or online.
To find active or pending arrest warrants issued by the county court, police, or sheriff's department, requesters can also search internet repositories. For example, the official website of the Kenton County Sheriff's Office has a warrants lookup portal where requesters can find information on how to find current warrants. The site does not provide online access to the records. On the other hand, the public can use the Madison County Sheriff's Department's warrant lookup program to find outstanding warrants, using their last name and first name as search parameters.
Kentucky's Office of Homeland Security maintains a warrant search online portal known as "KYOps eWarrants", which serves as a state repository for viewing warrants. However, this service is only available to authorized persons, not the general public.
Visiting private, third-party websites offering this service is another option for seeking warrants. Still, requesters should be advised that there may be a fee associated with this and that the integrity of the search results cannot be assured.
The public can access criminal history information from the Kentucky City Police, which is made public under the Open Records Act. Those who are interested in conducting a background check on any individual of interest can get in touch with the city police, which has offices located throughout multiple counties. Directions can be found, and additional information can be accessed by visiting the official website's several office locations.
How to Find Out If You Have a Warrant in Kentucky
To find out if you have a warrant in Kentucky, contact the county or city where the warrant was issued. For example, most local sheriff's offices allow the public to view warrants online. Nevertheless, in other situations, interested parties may need to physically visit the office to access this information. For example, Kenton County does not currently allow internet access for warrant searches; instead, requesters must physically visit the office at:
1840 Simon Kenton Way, Suite 1200
Covington, KY 41011
Office Hours (Monday – Friday)
7:30 AM - 4 PM
The law enforcement agency that executed the order is the second source where people can search for warrants. This might be the state or local police. For many police departments, there are online resources available, but for others, people would need to visit the office to look up warrant records physically.
Interested parties can search statewide by contacting the Kentucky Court of Justice, which provides choices for online, mail, or in-person requests, or the Kentucky State Police, at their numerous office locations across the state.
Free Warrant Search in Kentucky
To conduct a free warrant search in Kentucky, contact the issuing court or law enforcement agency where the records are held. According to the Kentucky Open Records Law, warrants may be provided to the public at no cost upon request, except in situations where copies would be necessary and would, therefore, demand payment for duplicate copies of the record. Typically, the search criterion consists of the case number or the first and last name.
How to Find Out If Someone Has a Warrant Online
Kentucky's courthouses, police, and sheriff's departments maintain online repositories where members of the public can find out if someone has a warrant. These search tools are often accessible through these organizations' official websites. Once the record custodian of the desired record has been established, a quick internet search can lead to the official website where the search can be carried out. The subject's first and last name, case number, and other search parameters are typically required to process a search.
An independent or third-party website may also be used to perform a Kentucky warrant search. However, users will be charged to obtain specific information from these third-party suppliers. The benefit of using a third-party site is that a user's search frequently encompasses multiple counties and cities, even those outside Kentucky. This charge varies depending on the website. Like official government websites, most independent service providers require a full name to inquire.
How Long Do Warrants Last in Kentucky?
Most Kentucky warrants never expire, so police can use them to take action until the subject is taken into custody or the judge recalls them. Warrants are not subject to an active statute of limitations, unlike other legal matters. However, an arrest warrant is kept private until the person is taken into custody. It then becomes a public document. The authorities remove the record from the public domain if the person who was arrested is not guilty of the charges that resulted in their arrest. It is also important to remember that certain sorts of warrants, including search warrants, have particular expiration dates that might be established by the magistrate or judge who issued them.
