Criminal records in Laurel County, Kentucky, are available through several channels. LaurelCourt.us allows you to search publicly available information about criminal cases in the county. Additionally, records can be obtained through the state court system, law enforcement agencies, and the office of the county court clerk in London, the county seat.
How to Search Criminal Records in Laurel
Start your search with the person's full name. If you know the date of birth or case number, it will significantly narrow the results.
- Through LaurelCourt.us — enter the first and last name to find publicly available information about court cases in Laurel County.
- Kentucky Court of Justice Portal — on the official website of the Kentucky court system, you can request court records or find contact information for the desired court.
- Kentucky Offender Online Lookup (KOOL) — the offender search system of the Kentucky Department of Corrections allows you to search by last name, first name, and filter by place of detention, including the Laurel County Detention Center.
- Kentucky State Police — through the state police website, you can request a criminal background check or find information in the sex offender registry.
- In Person — visit the Laurel County Judicial Center at 305 S. Main St., London, KY 40741. The Circuit Court Clerk's office is the starting point for obtaining copies of court records.
- Written Request by Mail — send a letter with the person's full name, date of birth, and case number (if known) to the court clerk's address: PO Box 1798, London, KY 40741.
For the search, you will need at least:
- Full name (last name, first name)
- Date of birth (preferably)
- Case number, if known
Search Laurel Criminal Cases by Case Number
Each case in the Kentucky court system is assigned a unique number. It consists of several parts, and understanding the format will help you quickly find the desired record.
Typical format of a case number in Kentucky:
- Year — two digits indicating the year the case was filed (e.g., 24 for 2024)
- Case Type — a letter code indicating the category. Main codes for criminal cases:
- CR — criminal case in Circuit Court (felonies)
- M — misdemeanor in District Court
- T — traffic violation
- Sequential Number — numerical identifier of the specific case within the year
For example, the number 24-CR-00123 means a criminal case filed in 2024 in Circuit Court with sequential number 123. Misdemeanor cases are heard by the District Court, and felonies by the Circuit Court. If you only know the name but not the case number, contact the court clerk — they will help you find the appropriate record.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Laurel
Each court record contains several key elements. Below is an explanation of what each of them means.
Charges
| Element | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | Reference to the specific section of the Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) under which the charge is brought |
| Severity | Felony (serious crime), Misdemeanor (less serious), Violation |
| Amended Charge | The prosecutor may change the initial charge to a lesser or more serious one during the case |
Case Status
- Pending — the case is open, and a decision has not yet been made
- Active — the case is in progress
- Disposed — the court has made a final decision
- Closed — the case is closed, and all procedural actions are completed
Hearings
In criminal cases in Laurel County, the following hearings typically occur:
- Arraignment — the defendant's first court appearance, announcement of charges
- Preliminary Hearing — the judge determines if there is enough evidence to proceed with the case
- Pre-trial Conference — discussion between parties before the trial
- Sentencing — announcement of the sentence after a guilty plea or conviction
- Review Hearing — check on the fulfillment of sentence conditions (e.g., probation)
Court Results
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guilty | Found guilty |
| Not Guilty | Found not guilty |
| Dismissed | Case closed without a verdict |
| Acquitted | Acquitted by court or jury decision |
| Diverted | Case referred to a diversion program instead of standard punishment |
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Laurel
Certified copies of criminal records are officially certified documents accepted by other institutions and courts. They can be obtained in several ways.
Circuit Court Clerk's Office
This is the main place to request copies of court records in Laurel County. The clerk maintains case materials for cases heard in both the Circuit Court and District Court.
How to submit a request:
- In Person — come to the Judicial Center with a valid photo ID (driver's license or state ID). Provide the case number or the full name and date of birth of the person.
- By Mail — send a written request with the name, date of birth, case number (if known), type of document needed, and return address. Include payment in the form of a money order.
Criminal History Check through Kentucky State Police
To obtain an official criminal background check, contact the Kentucky State Police. This process involves fingerprinting and submitting an application. The KSP report covers records from the entire state, not just one county.
What You Need to Have
- Valid photo ID
- Full name and date of birth of the person being queried
- Case number (if known)
- Payment of established fees
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Laurel
The amount of fees is set according to Kentucky law and the internal rules of the court clerk's office. Below are approximate amounts — check current rates directly with the office.
| Service | Approximate Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Copy of court document (per page) | $0.25–$0.50 | Depends on the type of document; check with the clerk's office |
| Document certification | $5.00 | Per certified document (statewide rate) |
| Criminal history check (KSP) | $20.00–$40.00 | Depends on the type of check (name-based or fingerprint-based); submitted through Kentucky State Police |
Processing times for requests vary. If you apply in person, simple copies are usually prepared within a few minutes. Mail requests may take one to three weeks. Criminal history checks through KSP take more time — from a few days to several weeks, especially if fingerprinting is involved.
For current fees and processing times, contact the Circuit Court Clerk's office directly through the Laurel County page on the Kentucky Court of Justice website.