Find Letcher County Arrest Records
Letcher County maintains arrest records through its jail and sheriff's office in Whitesburg, located in the mountains of southeastern Kentucky. The county has a population of roughly 20,100 residents. The Letcher County Jail operates from the basement of the courthouse at 156 Main Street in Whitesburg, with a capacity of 54 beds. Jailer Bert Slone oversees daily operations at the facility, which can be reached at 606-633-5163. Arrest records created in Letcher County become part of the public record under Kentucky's Open Records Act. The county's remote location in Appalachian Kentucky means its justice system serves a spread-out population across mountainous terrain.
Whitesburg Jail Facility
The Letcher County Jail sits in the basement of the Letcher County Courthouse at 156 Main Street in Whitesburg. This arrangement is unusual but not unique in rural Kentucky. The facility has 54 beds and serves as the county's only booking location. Jailer Bert Slone manages the facility and its staff. The jail phone number is 606-633-5163.
Visitors and individuals with business at the jail should use the back south-east entrance of the courthouse rather than the front entrance. This access point leads directly to the jail level without passing through the main courthouse floors. Following this instruction helps visitors arrive at the correct location and avoids confusion with court offices above.
With only 54 beds, the Letcher County Jail has limited capacity. Inmates facing lengthy pretrial detention or those sentenced to terms beyond what the local facility can accommodate may be transferred to neighboring county jails or state facilities. Pike County to the east and Perry County to the west both operate larger detention centers. These transfers create records in multiple jurisdictions, which can complicate searches for individuals who were originally arrested in Letcher County.
Booking procedures at the Whitesburg jail follow Kentucky standards. Officers record charges, capture photographs, and document personal information. Bond is set according to the charges and any applicable court guidelines. Each booking generates a record that remains on file with the jail and becomes accessible through open records requests.
Letcher County Court System
Criminal cases in Letcher County move through the state court system after an arrest. District Court in Whitesburg handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, and preliminary hearings. Circuit Court manages felony trials, civil disputes, and domestic matters. Both courts are housed in the Letcher County Courthouse, the same building that contains the jail.
The image below shows the Kentucky Court of Justice page for Letcher County, which provides contact information for judges, clerks, and court staff.
Kentucky Court of Justice - Letcher County
Court records in Letcher County tie directly to arrest records. After booking, the case enters the court docket. Arraignment dates are typically set within a few days of arrest. The progression from arraignment through trial or plea creates a paper trail that documents the outcome of the original arrest. Court clerks maintain these files and can provide copies upon request.
Accessing Arrest Records
Kentucky's Open Records Act gives the public the right to inspect government documents, including arrest records. To request Letcher County arrest records, a person must submit a written request to the agency holding the records. For jail booking data, the request goes to the Letcher County Jail at 156 Main Street. For arrest reports and incident documentation, the Letcher County Sheriff's Office is the appropriate contact.
Agencies must respond within three business days under KRS 61.872. The response either provides the requested records, states when they will be available, or explains why the request is being denied. Denied requests must cite a specific statutory exemption. Active criminal investigations and certain personal information are common bases for partial denials in Letcher County, consistent with practice across Kentucky.
In-person requests at the courthouse are practical for Whitesburg residents. Those living in remote parts of Letcher County may prefer to submit requests by mail. Phone inquiries to the jail at 606-633-5163 can confirm basic custody information, but formal records typically require a written request. The cost of copies is governed by state law and is generally modest.
Kentucky Offender Search
The Kentucky Department of Corrections maintains KOOL, a free online database of offenders in state custody or under supervision. Individuals who were arrested in Letcher County and later sentenced to state prison appear in KOOL. The system provides sentence details, facility assignments, and projected release dates. It does not list people held in the Letcher County Jail awaiting trial or serving short local sentences.
The screenshot below shows the KOOL search portal, which covers all Kentucky counties including Letcher.
Kentucky Online Offender Lookup (KOOL)
VINE complements KOOL by providing custody status notifications. Crime victims and other interested parties can register for alerts when an offender is released, transferred, or escapes from any Kentucky facility. This includes the Letcher County Jail and state prisons. Registration is free and available online, by phone, or through a mobile app.
Southeastern Kentucky Context
Letcher County sits in the heart of Appalachian Kentucky. Its neighbors include Pike County to the east, Knott County to the northwest, Perry County to the west, Harlan County to the south, and Leslie County to the southwest. Each of these counties maintains its own jail and law enforcement agencies. The mountainous terrain means that travel between county seats can take significant time, and law enforcement jurisdictions are shaped by geography as much as by boundary lines.
The region's smaller population base means that Letcher County's jail and court system handle fewer cases than urban areas. However, the types of records generated are the same. Arrest records, booking data, court filings, and sentencing documents all follow statewide standards. Under KRS 431.076, individuals with eligible arrest records in Letcher County can pursue expungement through the local court system.
Because of the limited jail capacity in Whitesburg, cooperation between southeastern Kentucky counties is common. Inmates may be housed in neighboring facilities when the Letcher County Jail reaches capacity. This means that someone arrested in Letcher County could be physically located in Pike, Perry, or Knott County. Checking statewide databases and contacting multiple county facilities can help locate individuals whose exact holding location is unknown.
Nearby Counties
These counties neighbor Letcher County. Each maintains separate arrest records and detention facilities.