Kentucky Statewide Criminal Background Check
Search every Kentucky county court in one order. Our statewide search pulls court records from the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts.
Plus, every order covers the applicant’s aliases and former names at no extra charge. Normal turnaround 1 business day, delayed when AOC clerk finds a possible match.
Kentucky Statewide Criminal Search at a Glance
Source
Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)
Coverage
All 120 counties, every district and circuit court
Price
$47.50 per applicant ($20 per name + $27.50 state access fee)
Aliases
Aliases and former names included at no extra charge
Turnaround
Normal 1 business day; delayed when AOC clerk finds a possible match
Provider
BCS Background Screening LLC
One Kentucky Criminal Record Check Covers All 120 Counties
Kentucky runs a unified court system.
As a result, one statewide court database holds cases from every district and circuit court.
Our Kentucky statewide criminal background check searches that database through the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).
So, you avoid ordering separate county searches in Jefferson, Fayette, Kenton or Boone counties.
The search returns four case types.
Felony charges
Felony cases filed in district court, with records dating back to 1978.
Circuit criminal
Felony indictments and trials heard in Kentucky circuit courts.
Misdemeanors
Misdemeanor cases such as theft, assault and DUI, for at least five years.
Traffic
Criminal traffic cases, such as driving without a license, for at least five years.
Kentucky Criminal Background Check Cost
We keep Kentucky pricing simple and visible.
Each search costs $20 per name, and the Kentucky state access fee passes through at $27.50.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| BCS search fee, per name | $20.00 |
| Kentucky state access fee | $27.50 |
| Aliases and former names | Included |
| Total per applicant | $47.50 |
Why do aliases matter?
Kentucky courts file each case under the name the defendant gave at the time.
Therefore, a maiden name, a hyphenated surname or a misspelling can hide a record.
Our sample report below shows four cases filed under four different name spellings.
What a Kentucky Statewide Criminal Search Shows
Each case on your report lists the facts an adjudicator needs.
- County of origin, where the case was filed
- Case number and case type
- Original charge and any amended charge
- Charge date and disposition date
- Final disposition, such as guilty or dismissed
- Sentence details, including jail, fines, costs and conditions
- Bail, warrant and clerk memos when present
What stays off the report
By law, some cases never appear.
These include juvenile, mental health and domestic violence cases.
Likewise, expunged cases drop out of the AOC data.
Federal cases also sit outside state courts, so add a federal criminal search for full coverage.
How Far Back Does a Kentucky Criminal Record Check Go?
Two sets of limits apply to every Kentucky statewide search.
First, the AOC database has its own retention windows. Second, the federal FCRA limits what we may report.
Felonies
Felony records in the AOC database date back to 1978.
Misdemeanor and traffic
The AOC keeps these cases for at least the last five years.
Convictions
Under the FCRA, convictions stay reportable at any age unless expunged.
Non-convictions
Dismissed or pending charges older than seven years stay off employment reports.
Also note the salary exception in 15 U.S.C. §1681c.
For jobs paying $75,000 or more, the seven-year cap on non-convictions lifts.
Use Kentucky Criminal Records the Compliant Way
Kentucky has no state version of the FCRA.
Instead, federal rules control how you order and use this report.
Before you reject an applicant, send a pre-adverse action notice with a copy of the report.
Then wait a reasonable time, and send a final adverse action notice.
Also, never rely on an expunged Kentucky case, even if an outdated source still shows it.
For statutes, agencies and ban-the-box rules, read our guide to Kentucky background check laws.
Kentucky Statewide Criminal Background Check Sample Report
Below is a sample Kentucky AOC report, formatted for easy review.
The subject, identifiers and case numbers are fictitious.
Record Found
Request information provided
Guilty · 3 charges
Defendant
Bail information
Charge 1 · 0003800 · NO OPERATORS / MOPED LICENSE
Sentence
Fine $25.00
Charge 2 · 0001360 · CARELESS DRIVING
Sentence
Cost $143.00 · Fine $100.00
Charge 3 · 0005190 · FAILURE TO PRODUCE INSURANCE CARD
Sentence
Fine $25.00
Guilty
Defendant
Charge 1 · 0005300 · DRIVING WITHOUT LICENSE / NEGLIGENCE IN ACCIDENT
Sentence
Condition, no driving, conditionally discharged 2 years · Jail assessed 10 days · Jail conditional 10 days · Cost $154.00
Fugitive · Active warrant
Defendant
Bail and warrant
Active warrant: BENCH WARRANT issued 11/19/2024
Charge 1 · 0239350 · *OBS* TBUT OR DISP SHOPLIFTING U/$500
Status
No sentence entered. The case stays open until the defendant appears on the bench warrant. *OBS* marks a superseded charge code.
Guilty
Defendant
Bail information
Charge 1 · 0003800 · NO OPERATORS / MOPED LICENSE
Sentence
Condition, not to drive until properly licensed, conditionally discharged 2 years · Jail assessed 10 days · Jail conditional 10 days · Cost $153.00 · Fine $100.00
Report scope: Results cover traffic (T), misdemeanor (M), felony (F) and circuit criminal (CR) cases.
The AOC includes all misdemeanor and traffic cases for at least five years, plus felonies back to 1978.
The AOC cannot guarantee accuracy. Verify details against the official court record before any adverse action.
Fictitious sample. Any resemblance to a real person or case is coincidental.
How to read this sample
Notice that four name spellings appear across four cases.
Without the alias search, two of these cases would have stayed hidden.
Meanwhile, the Kenton County case shows an active bench warrant with no final disposition.
Under the FCRA, you may still consider that open case, since it falls within seven years.
How to Order a Kentucky Statewide Criminal Background Check
Four steps take you from sign-up to a finished report.
- 1
Open an account
Sign up online, and we verify your business before you order.
- 2
Get FCRA consent
Send the applicant a stand-alone disclosure and collect a signed authorization.
- 3
Enter the applicant
Add the full name, date of birth and every alias or former name.
- 4
Review results
Read the formatted report in your secure account, then follow FCRA adverse action steps.
Build a Complete Kentucky Background Check
A statewide court search works best as part of a package.
Federal Criminal Search
Find federal cases that Kentucky state courts never hold.
Nationwide Criminal Database
Catch records from other states, then verify each hit at the source court.
County Criminal Court Search
Search county courts in other states where the applicant lived.
Motor Vehicle Records
Get driving histories for delivery, trucking, sales, and CDL positions.
Kentucky Screening Laws
Review Kentucky ban-the-box, expungement and FCRA rules before you decide.
All Search Packages
Compare bundled packages and add-ons for every hiring need.
Kentucky Statewide Criminal Background Check FAQs
What is a Kentucky statewide criminal background check?
It searches Kentucky court records from all 120 counties in one order.
The data comes from the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts, which manages the unified court system.
How much does a Kentucky statewide criminal search cost?
BCS Background Screening LLC charges $20 per name, plus a $27.50 Kentucky state access fee.
That totals $47.50, and aliases or former names cost nothing extra.
Does the search include aliases and maiden names?
Yes. We search every alias and former name you provide at no added charge.
Kentucky courts file cases under the name used at arrest, so aliases often reveal hidden records.
How far back does a Kentucky criminal record check go?
The AOC holds felonies back to 1978 and misdemeanor and traffic cases for at least five years.
However, the FCRA bars reporting non-convictions older than seven years for most jobs.
What records will not appear on the report?
Juvenile, mental health and domestic violence cases never appear.
Expunged cases and federal cases do not appear either.
Add a federal criminal search to cover federal courts.
Is the Kentucky AOC report an official court record?
No. The AOC labels it unofficial and does not guarantee its accuracy.
For that reason, our quality review team checks each result against the applicant’s identifiers.
Is a statewide search enough for Kentucky applicants?
It covers every Kentucky state court, so it replaces separate Kentucky county searches.
Still, add federal and out-of-state searches when the applicant lived or worked elsewhere.
Do I need applicant consent for a Kentucky criminal search?
Yes. The FCRA requires a stand-alone disclosure and written authorization before you order.
Our secure platform collects both with an electronic signature.
Order Your Kentucky Statewide Criminal Search Today
Open a free account with BCS Background Screening LLC in minutes.
Then run your first Kentucky criminal record check once we verify your business.
Every user account also offers optional Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF) for added login security.
Disclaimer: The sample report uses fictitious names, identifiers and case numbers. Kentucky court data comes from the Administrative Office of the Courts, which does not guarantee its accuracy. This page is not legal advice.