Jefferson County Inmate Search
An inmate search is only possible when a person has been arrested and detained in any of the Jefferson County jails. Before a person can be arrested, they must have intentionally or wantonly committed a felony or misdemeanor. Per Ky. Rev. Stat. § 431.005, a police officer can make an arrest with or without warrants.
After being arrested, the police officer will take the offender to a Jefferson County jail. A booking process will be conducted where the offender’s fingerprint, mugshot, and basic information like name, address, and date of birth will be obtained. A physical and health screening will also be conducted. The arrested person will be searched for contraband and given a jail uniform to change into. The arrested person will also be allowed to call family or friends.
After the booking process, the arrested person (defendant) can opt for a pretrial interview to determine if they will be released from jail. This pretrial interview is not mandatory. The pretrial staff is responsible for running a background check and risk assessment on the defendant. This helps to determine if the defendant should appear in court or be rearrested if released from jail while the case is pending.
During 12 hours of incarceration, the information gathered by the pretrial officer will be used to determine if the defendant is eligible to be released on their recognizance without contacting a judge (per Administrative Release Program). If this is not the case, the judge will be informed to decide on pretrial release. The judge may ask that the defendant be held in jail till trial or offer any of the following pretrial release options:
- Release on Recognizance
- Unsecured Release
- Third-Party Surety Release
- Financial release options like cash, property, and partially secured.
After the judge decides, the jail where the defendant is housed and the Jefferson County Office of Circuit Court Clerk will be notified. The next step is an arraignment, where the defendant will appear in court, and the judge will read the charges against them. The defendant can plead “guilty” or “not guilty. The defendant can decide to enter into a plea agreement with the County attorney, and the case will not go to trial. However, the case will go to trial if there is no plea agreement.
The defense and County attorneys will present their case before a jury or judge at trial. They will present their evidence and cross-examine witnesses. If the defendant is found guilty, the judge will impose a sentence that may include fines and imprisonment.
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and therefore are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
Jefferson County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
About 29,709 people were arrested in Jefferson County in 2021. About 15,098 of these people were arrested for Group A crimes like assault, drug/narcotic, stolen property, weapon law violation, larceny, vandalism of property, and burglary. Approximately 14,611 of those arrested in Jefferson County committed Group B crimes like DUI, family offenses, disorderly conduct, and drunkenness. A large number of the arrestees were adults.
Jefferson County Prison System
The Louisville Metro Department of Corrections (LMDC) oversees the prison system in Jefferson County. About 30,000 bookings occurred at LMDC over the last 5 years. The prison system consists of:
- Louisville Metro Department of Corrections Main Jail
- Louisville Metro Department of Corrections Hall of Justice
About 16,713 offenders were booked in Jefferson County jails in 2021. The average monthly booking was 1,393, and the average daily booking was 46. The average length of stay at in-bed detention was 32 days and 65 days for home incarceration. About 16,936 inmates were released in 2021. The average monthly and daily releases were 1,411 and 46, respectively.
How to Find an Inmate in Jefferson County
Individuals can find inmates in Jefferson County online or in person at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections (LMDC) office. Online requests can be made by going to the LMDC website and clicking on “Inmate Search” at the left bar. Then, click on the link provided on the Inmate Search page. Conduct a search by name or age range. Ensure the CAPTCHA authentication is entered correctly to view search results. In-person requests can be made at the LMDC office during business hours. Requesters must provide the inmate’s name or booking number to conduct a search. The Office is located at:
Louisville Metro Department of Corrections
400 S. Sixth Street
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: (502) 574-8477
How Does a Jefferson County Inmate Search Work?
The Kentucky Open Records Act allows inmate records to be available to the general public. Therefore, individuals can inspect and obtain copies of such records by conducting inmate searches. However, certain inmate records may be withheld from the public unless a court order requests their release. Examples of such records are juvenile and investigatory records. Below is the kind of information that can be found during a Jefferson County inmate search:
- Booking details (number, date, and time)
- Inmate details (full name, number, gender, date of birth, age, race, birthplace, height, and weight)
- Physical details (eye color)
- Inmate mugshot
- Visitation information (date, time, and location)
- Charge detail
Where to Find a Jefferson County Inmate Locator
Most law enforcement agencies have inmate locators that can be used to find inmates housed in county, state, and federal prisons or jails. For instance, a requester can find a Jefferson County Inmate Locator on the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections (LMDC) website. With this locator, a person can conduct a search by name or age range. Also, individuals can just click any letter on the search page, and information regarding inmates whose last name starts with that letter will appear.
At the state level, a record seeker can find an Inmate Locator on the Kentucky Department of Corrections website. A search can be conducted by the offender’s name. Requesters can narrow their search by conducting an advanced search. The search results reveal the offender’s personal, inmate, alias, conviction, and parole information.
At the federal level, an inquirer can find an Inmate Locator on the Federal Bureau of Prisons website. To find the inmate locator, click “Inmates” at the top bar of the homepage. Click on the “Find an Inmate” link from the drop-down menu and conduct a search by number or name. The search result will reveal an inmate's first and last name, register number, age, race, sex, and release date.
Alternatively, an individual can find inmate locators on third-party websites. The inmate’s basic information, like name, booking number, and location (including state and county), will be needed to initiate the search. After filling in the inmate’s information in the appropriate search boxes, a fee may be requested to complete the search.
How to Send Money to a Jefferson County Inmate
An individual needs to have an inmate’s name and CIN# to send money to them. Those unsure of an inmate’s CIN# can call (800) 511-1670. Money can be deposited into an inmate’s account in the following ways:
- Online: The Louisville Metro Department of Corrections (LMDC) partners with a third-party service platform where individuals can send money online to inmates.
- Payment kiosks: Physical payment kiosks are located at jails where individuals can deposit money 24/7. Individuals cannot make payments with money orders or check at the kiosks. Only Visa/MasterCard Debit/Credit are acceptable. The main jail kiosk accepts cash, and a credit card machine is available to inmates at booking in the Intake Room at the Main Jail.
- Mailed or paid in person: Money orders can be mailed or dropped off in person at the main jail from Monday – Friday, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Only money orders sent to the jails via the United States Postal Service are acceptable. It takes about 4 business days for money orders to be credited to inmate accounts. Individuals must make money orders to the MCIF (Metro Corrections Inmate Fund) and include the inmate’s name and CIN #. Individuals can also mail USPS Money orders to:
Louisville Metro Department of Corrections
Attention: Property
400 S. 6th Street
Louisville, KY 40202
How to Visit a Jefferson County Inmate
Although individuals are allowed to visit an inmate in jail, an inmate can refuse the visit. When inmates are admitted into the jail, they participate in orientation. It is during this orientation that inmates are assigned to a permanent floor in the jail, where they will receive their visitation schedule. The visitation schedule (time and location) depends on the offender's housing facility and status or classification. Visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. After scheduling a visit, an e-mail containing the visit date and time, PIN, and terminal number to log in for a visit will be sent to intending visitors.
Inmate visitation can be in person or online. Remote video visitation costs $5 for 20 minutes, while onsite visits are free. Onsite video visits are initiated from video terminals located inside the jails in each housing area and in the public lobby. Inmates in Jefferson County jails can have onsite video visits twice a week, but remote visits can be unlimited.
The visitors must register upon entrance to the facilities. Only 2 visitors are allowed per visit, which could be 2 adult visitors or 1 adult and 1 minor. Each floor of the jails has designated booths for attorney visits. Clergy visitors must present a Certificate of Ordination before visiting an inmate. The Louisville Metro Department of Corrections allows limited inmate-to-inmate visits between immediate family members like a spouse, mother, father, sister, brother, son, or daughter. A written request for an inmate-to-inmate visit must be submitted to the classification staff and approved by the Director/designee. Review the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections Inmate Handbook for more information on inmate visitation.
How to Send Jail Mail in Jefferson County
Louisville Metro Department of Corrections (LMDC) allows inmates to send and receive mail through the U.S. Postal Service. An inmate can send or receive any amount of mail since the LMDC is not responsible for the postage cost. Inmates can receive or send mail from Monday through Friday except on holidays. Indigent inmates can submit a commissary order form to request 2 stamped envelopes and 2 sheets of paper every 2 weeks.
All incoming mail (excluding privileged mail) will be inspected before delivery to the inmate. Privileged mail will only be inspected for contraband in the recipient's presence. The LMDC does not accept the following publications or correspondence via mail:
- Materials or letters that contain plans for escape
- Materials expressive of cults
- Sexually explicit photographs
- Materials that are racially or sexually explicit
- Mail that contains obscene language or drawings
- Any illegal reproduction of published material
- Correspondence written in code, suggesting an affiliation with a gang, or depicting gang symbols
- Mail that contains threats of physical harm against any person or threats of criminal activity
- Publications containing material likely to pose a threat to the jail’s security
Unless upon approval, LMDC inmates are not permitted to send mail to inmates housed in any LMDC facility or any other detention/correctional facility.
Jefferson County Jails and Prisons
Below are the names, addresses, and contact information of all the jail facilities, prisons, and detention centers in Jefferson County:
Louisville Metro Department of Corrections
400 South 6th Street,
Louisville, KY 40202
Hall of Justice
600 W. Jefferson Street,
Louisville, KY 40202
Audubon Youth Development Center
8711 La Grange Road
Lyndon, KY, 40242
Phone: (502) 429-7287
Jefferson County Community Correctional Center
316 East Chestnut Street
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: (502) 574-8477
Fax: (502) 574-2184
Louisville Metro Youth Detention Center
700 West Jefferson Street
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: (502) 574-6177
Fax: (502) 574-6486
Menifee County Jail
382 Alley Rd
Wellington, KY40387
Phone: (606) 768-9046
Fax: (606) 768-3954
