What are Hardin County Public Records?
According to the Kentucky Open Records Act, a public record is any record prepared, used, possessed, owned, or retained by a public body. Public bodies include state, local government offices, legislative entities, governing bodies for various counties and cities in Kentucky, and any state or local agency created by state statutes or any other legislative act. A Hardin public record also includes public agency records that are not under the public body’s premise. Under the Kentucky Open Records Act, the record keeper must make records available as and when requested. Open records include statutes, policies, minutes, regulations, and budget documents.
Under the KORA, the definition of public records is subject to a few exceptions. These include;
- Personnel information of public agency employees
- Criminal investigation records
- Records sealed by rules of evidence
- Medical treatment records
- Preliminary drafts and notes
Hardin County Crime Statistics
The Kentucky State Police provides data on all criminal offenses that occurred in Hardin County. The latest report states that the county recorded 1,138 total crimes in 2018, a 20.2% surge from the previous year. The county's clearance rate was 26.4%.
The index crime report shows three murders, two robberies, 36 sexual offenses, 146 aggravated assaults, 60 burglaries, 76 larceny-thefts, 21 motor vehicle thefts, and zero arsons, bringing the total index crime count in 2018 to 344. This index crime data represents a 6.26% decline from the previous year. Hardin County's total crime rate in 2018 was 1031.9 crimes per 100,000 persons, an 18.7% increase from the previous year. Its index crime rate was 311.9 crimes per 100,000 people, an 8% decline from the previous year.
Are Hardin County Criminal Records Public?
Hardin County criminal records are open to the public under Kentucky's Open Records Act. Requests for criminal records should go through the Kentucky Court of Justice. A criminal record will not contain driving violations and arrest records. Juvenile delinquency records are also not open to the public.
The Court of Justice has an online portal through which the public can obtain public criminal records by conducting name-based background checks. The cost for accessing a criminal background history from the Court of Justice is $25. Interested parties may also contact the Kentucky State Police to obtain background checks for employment, licensing, and criminal justice.
People can also contact the Hardin County Sheriff's Office for Hardin criminal records. The Sheriff can provide local background checks for $5. Anyone interested in obtaining copies from the Sheriff's Office should bring along a valid I.D. and a criminal background check form to:
Hardin County Sheriff's Office
150 N Provident Way
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
How to Obtain Hardin County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
Hardin County arrest records and police reports are available at the police department in the municipality where the event occurred. Interested people can query any of these offices:
Elizabethtown Community & Tech College Campus Police
610 College Street Road
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Phone: (270) 769-2371
Elizabethtown Police Department
318 S Mulberry Street
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Phone: (270) 765-4125
Evarts Police Department
P.O. Box 208
Evarts, KY 40828
Phone: (606) 837-8183
Radcliff Police Department
220 Freedom Way
Radcliff, KY 40160
Phone: (270) 351-4479
Vine Grove Police Department
300 W Main Street
Vine Grove, KY 40175
Phone: (270) 877-2262
West Point Police Department
509 Elm Street
West Point, KY 40177
Phone: (877) 216-0555
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Hardin County
The Kentucky State Police maintains a statewide Sex Offender Registry. County residents can lookup sex offender information online by providing the offender's name, street address, city, county, and zip code. Interested persons may also use the community search options to know and monitor sex offenders living around them. Although sex offender information is public in Kentucky, the Kentucky State Police will not publish details of sex offenders still detained at the county jail. To access incarcerated sex offender data, the record seeker can contact the State Police:
919 Versailles Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 782-1800
How to Find Hardin County Inmate Records
The Hardin County Detention Center provides a list of all incarcerated inmates via its online jail roster. This view, however, only provides a summary of the inmate’s jail profile. Upon locating the inmate, the record seeker can click to view more information about the inmate. Available data includes a mugshot, arrest date, the arresting agency, arresting officer, physical descriptors, age, race, sex, alias, and offense information. Interested individuals can also search for inmates by their names. The roster may also provide information on released inmates.
How Do I Visit an inmate in Hardin County Jail?
Detained inmates in the Hardin County Detention Center can receive visitors twice a week. The Jail Captain permits four visitors at a time. The duration of each visit is 20 minutes. All visitations are from Sunday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The county jail provides both on-site and remote visiting privileges. Only visitors who schedule appointments 24 hours beforehand can visit on-site. Intending visitors can book their appointments online or at the jail lobby located at:
100 Lawson Boulevard
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Phone: (270) 982-3259
Every visit at the Hardin County Detention Center is subject to monitoring and recording.
Court Records
Kentucky's trial court system consists of Circuit and District Courts. There are three court locations in Hardin County.
Hardin County Circuit Court
Hardin County Justice Center
120 East Dixie Avenue
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Phone: (270) 766-5000
Fax: (270) 766-5243
Hardin County District Court - Elizabethtown
Hardin County Justice Center
120 East Dixie Avenue
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Phone: (270) 766-5041
Phone: (270) 766-5042 (Probate)
Hardin County District Court - Radcliff
Municipal Building
220 Freedom Way
Radcliff, KY 40160
Phone: (270) 351-4799
Are Hardin County Court Records Public?
Hardin County court records are open to the public as most court files fall under provisions of the Kentucky Open Records Act. However, some Hardin court records are unavailable to the public. Usually, these include portions of court files that contain sensitive information such as adoption records, information about minors, medical treatment records, and some tax records. The Hardin County Clerk is the county's court administrator.
How to Obtain Hardin County Civil Court Case Records
The Hardin County Clerk provides a Digital Records Search to help the public locate civil court case records. Interested individuals will need to sign in if they have a preexisting account or click "sign in as a guest" if they prefer not to open an account. Thereafter, search the online repository by providing the name of the involved party. Court records are also available at the Clerk's office located at:
150 N. Provident Way
Suite 103
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Phone: (270) 765-2171
How to Obtain Hardin County Criminal Court Records
Criminal court records are within the Hardin County Clerk's purview. The Clerk's office maintains a Digital Records Search repository that contains all public criminal court records for sessions held at the county courthouse. Members of the public can sign-in with a registered account or use the guest option. For an effective search, the record seeker will need to know specific details about the record in view and provide them accurately.
The Clerk's physical office can also provide search services. Interested parties can contact the office at:
150 N. Provident Way
Suite 103
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Phone: (270) 765-2171
What are Hardin County Vital Records?
Hardin County vital records are official documents that provide information on life events within the county's jurisdiction. These documents include birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. Some vital records fall under public records in Kentucky, while some are confidential and only open to few people.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (KCHFS) is the state office that maintains and provides copies of vital records. Some of these documents are also available at the office of the Hardin County Clerk. Record seekers can query any of these offices and will need to provide the required documents and fees.
Where and How to Obtain Hardin County Divorce Records
Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services maintains divorce records filed in Hardin County. Divorce records are generally available for inspection under state law unless they fall under the category of confidential information. Requesters will need to contact the Vital Records Office online, via phone, or fax to apply for copies. Mail requests and walk-in pickups are also available. To apply in person or by mail, complete a Divorce Certificate Copy Application and submit it together with a $6 check or money order payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer. Mail or visit the
Office of Vital Statistics
275, E. Main Street
1E-A
Frankfort, KY 40621
Where and How to Get Public Hardin County Marriage Records
Hardin County marriage certificates are available at the Kentucky Vital Records Office. A copy obtained from this department will cost a non-refundable $6 fee. Anyone in need of a birth record can obtain copies by placing an order online, via phone, or fax. Alternatively, complete a Kentucky Marriage Records Form and forward it by mail or in-person to:
Office of Vital Statistics
275, E. Main Street
1E-A
Frankfort, KY 40621
The Hardin County Clerk also has marriage records. Interested parties can search the Will and Marriage Records repository for marriage events that occurred in the county. Some records are also available at the Archives Records Search. The record seeker should contact the Clerk if they are experiencing difficulties accessing the search engine:
Hardin County Clerk
150 North Provident
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 1030
Elizabethtown, KY 42702
Phone: (270) 765-2171
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Hardin County
Hardin County marriage records are open to the public under Kentucky law. Interested individuals can visit the Vital Records Office in Frankfort for records on file since June 1958 or contact the Hardin County Clerk. The County Clerk can also provide older marriage records. Copies of a Hardin County marriage record cost $6 if requested from the state office. The County Clerk operates a search function for Hardin County Wills and Marriage records. For more inquiries, the record seeker can contact the Clerk's office:
Hardin County Clerk
150 North Provident
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 1030
Elizabethtown, KY 42702
Phone: (270) 765-2171
To obtain records from the Kentucky Vital Records Office, the requester can apply by mail, phone, fax, or send a Marriage Record Application form to:
Office of Vital Statistics
275, E. Main Street
1E-A
Frankfort, KY 40621
Where and How to Find Hardin County Birth Records
The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics issues Hardin birth certificates for events recorded since January 1911. An interested individual can order a copy of a birth record for a non-refundable $10 fee. Hardin birth records are confidential information under Kentucky law. The Vital Records Office will require the registrant’s birth name, birth date and location, mother's maiden name, father's name, the applicant's name, address, and a valid I.D. or proof of relationship. Eligible parties can purchase Hardin County birth records online, via mail, fax, or can fill out a Birth Certificate Copy Application and submit through mail or in-person to:
Office of Vital Statistics
275, E. Main Street
1E-A
Frankfort, KY 40621
For mail requests, the requester should enclose a check or money in a self-addressed stamped envelope. The state office will send requested copies to the provided address after confirming the application.
Where and How to Find Hardin County Death Records
Hardin County death records are available at Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The State Department has records filed since 1911. Interested persons can purchase copies of Hardin County death certificates for a non-refundable $6 fee. Credit Card transaction fees may apply. In Kentucky, death records are available for public inspection. Anyone in need of a death record can obtain copies online, via phone, fax, or by submitting a Kentucky Death Records Application Form in person or by mail to:
Office of Vital Statistics
275, E. Main Street
1E-A
Frankfort, KY 40621
Requesters must provide a return address on the request envelope when submitting it to the vital records office.
