Search Nelson County Arrest Records
Nelson County has a population of about 48,706. Bardstown serves as the county seat. The Nelson County Sheriff's Office operates as a full-time law enforcement agency with 18 Patrol Deputies, 4 Sergeants, and 5 Detectives. Arrest records from Nelson County are maintained by both the sheriff's office and the Nelson County Correctional Center. These records include booking photographs, charges, bond information, and court dates. Public access is guaranteed under Kentucky's open records law. The correctional center also provides an online inmate search tool for checking custody status.
Nelson County Sheriff Records
The Nelson County Sheriff's Office is located at 10 Plaza Drive, Bardstown, KY 40004. The office phone number is 502-348-1840. Deputies patrol the county, serve warrants, and respond to calls for service. With its team of patrol deputies, sergeants, and detectives, the agency handles investigations ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies. Each arrest produces a record that documents the circumstances, charges, and arresting officer information.
The Nelson County Sheriff's Office website is shown below.
From this site, residents can access contact information and learn about the services the sheriff's office provides. The office handles civil process, court security, and prisoner transport in addition to its patrol functions. Arrest records generated by deputies are forwarded to the Nelson County Correctional Center when the individual is brought in for booking.
The sheriff's office maintains its own files on each arrest. These records can be requested directly from the office on Plaza Drive. Written requests that include names, approximate dates, and case numbers receive the fastest response. Standard copy fees apply to all open records requests in Nelson County.
Correctional Center Booking Data
The Nelson County Correctional Center is located at 810 W Stephen Foster Ave, Bardstown, KY 40004. Jailer Justin Hall oversees the facility. The phone number is 502-348-1860. Staff at the correctional center describe their mission as setting the standard as a model correctional agency. All individuals arrested in Nelson County are processed through this facility. Booking procedures include fingerprinting, photographing the individual, recording personal details, and entering charges into the records management system.
The Nelson County Correctional Center website is shown below.
The facility's website provides information about visitation policies, inmate phone access, and commissary deposits. Families can find details on how to communicate with someone in custody. The site also notes that circumstances may change without notice, so visitors should verify schedules before traveling to the facility.
Nelson County arrest records at the correctional center track each inmate from intake through release. Bond amounts appear once a judge sets them. Court dates are recorded as they get scheduled. If charges are modified or additional counts are filed, the booking record is updated to reflect those changes. Release information populates when an inmate posts bail, completes a sentence, or is transferred to another facility. The correctional center processes arrests from the Bardstown Police Department, Kentucky State Police, and other agencies operating within Nelson County.
Inmate Search Tool
The Nelson County Correctional Center offers an online inmate search on its website. This tool allows the public to look up individuals currently in custody. Users can search by name to find booking details, charges, and bond information. The search results update as new bookings and releases are processed throughout the day.
The Nelson County inmate search page provides the search interface where users enter a last name to pull up matching records. Results display the inmate's charges, booking date, and custody status. This resource is useful for attorneys, bonding agents, and family members who need to confirm whether someone is currently held at the Nelson County facility.
The search tool shows only current inmates. Historical arrest records require a formal request to the correctional center or sheriff's office. For individuals transferred to state custody, the statewide Kentucky Online Offender Lookup offers additional tracking capabilities beyond the local system.
Courts and County Government
Nelson County's court system processes the criminal cases that originate from local arrest records. The Nelson County courts page on the Kentucky Court of Justice website provides information about court locations, judges, and contact details for the circuit and district courts in Bardstown. Felony cases go through circuit court while misdemeanor charges are handled in district court. Both courts rely on the arrest records created at the correctional center as the starting point for criminal proceedings.
The Nelson County government website is shown below.
This portal connects residents to county offices including the county clerk, fiscal court, and property valuation administrator. For questions about arrest records that fall outside law enforcement, such as court dispositions or case outcomes, the circuit court clerk's office in Bardstown maintains those files.
Requesting Arrest Records
Under KRS 431.076, Kentucky law governs the expungement and sealing of certain criminal records. Nelson County residents seeking copies of arrest records can submit open records requests to either the sheriff's office at 10 Plaza Drive or the correctional center at 810 W Stephen Foster Ave. Requests should include as much identifying information as possible. Agencies must respond within five business days. Standard copy fees apply to all requests.
Some arrest records may be restricted from public access. Sealed or expunged records, active investigation files, and certain juvenile documents are exempt from disclosure under Kentucky law. When an agency denies a request, it must provide the specific statutory basis for the denial. Partial denials still require release of any non-exempt portions of the requested record.
Note: Arrest records document charges filed at the time of booking. An arrest does not establish guilt. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Nearby Counties
These counties neighbor Nelson County. Each maintains separate arrest records and detention facilities.