Find Perry County Arrest Records
Perry County is located in eastern Kentucky's coalfield region with a population of about 26,739. The county seat is Hazard. Sheriff Joe Engle leads law enforcement from the office on Main Street, while the Kentucky River Regional Jail serves Perry County and three neighboring counties. Arrest records from Perry County include booking photos, charges, bond amounts, and court dates. The sheriff's office accepts open records requests by email. All arrest records are public under Kentucky law and can be accessed through multiple channels.
Perry County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Joe Engle operates from 481 Main St, Suite 200 in Hazard, KY 41701. The office phone number is (606) 439-4523. Deputies handle patrol, warrant service, criminal investigations, and court security throughout Perry County. Each arrest produces records that flow into the regional jail's booking system and become part of the public record.
The Perry County Sheriff's Office website is shown below.
This site provides contact information, office details, and links to submit open records requests. The sheriff's office maintains an open records request form on its website. Completed forms should be sent to records@perrysheriff.org. Under KRS 61.872, requesters must include a residency certification as required by KRS 431.076.
Perry County arrest records from the sheriff's office cover the entire county. They document incidents in Hazard and throughout the rural areas of eastern Perry County. The sheriff coordinates with state police and municipal departments on joint investigations that produce shared records.
Kentucky River Regional Jail
The Kentucky River Regional Jail is a multi-county facility that serves Perry, Knott, Breathitt, and Leslie counties. Jailer Minor Allen manages the facility, which is located at 200 Justice Drive in Hazard. The jail has multiple phone lines for different purposes. The administration number is (606) 436-0622. Booking inquiries go to (606) 436-1008. Inmate information is available at (606) 436-4032.
Because the regional jail serves four counties, its booking records include arrests from across a wide geographic area. Perry County arrest records are mixed in with records from the other three counties. The jail processes all bookings and creates records that include fingerprints, mugshots, charge details, and bond amounts. Staff update these records as court orders come in and custody status changes.
The Kentucky River Regional Jail website provides facility information, visitation rules, and inmate lookup tools. Families can check this site for current visitation schedules and learn about phone call procedures and commissary accounts. The jail operates around the clock and accepts new bookings at any time.
Note: Because the regional jail serves four counties, call the inmate information line at (606) 436-4032 to confirm which county's records apply to a specific inmate.
Hazard Arrest Records Online
The Perry County government website links to various county departments and services.
This central site serves as a starting point for accessing public records, contacting officials, and finding information about local government operations. It links to the sheriff's office, jail, courts, and other departments that generate or maintain arrest records.
The Perry County jail information page provides additional details about the regional jail and its role in the local justice system.
This page explains how the regional jail model works and why Perry County shares a facility with neighboring counties. It also provides direct links to inmate search tools and facility contact information.
For offenders transferred to state custody, the Kentucky Online Offender Lookup provides statewide tracking. KOOL covers inmates in state prisons and those under community supervision. It does not include people held only at the regional jail. Both tools together give a complete picture of someone's status in the Kentucky justice system.
Open Records Requests
Perry County handles open records requests through the sheriff's office. The process begins with the request form available on the sheriff's website. Requesters must fill out the form and email it to records@perrysheriff.org. Kentucky law requires requesters to include a certification of residency per KRS 61.870(10). This requirement applies specifically to requests for certain law enforcement records.
Agencies must respond within three business days. The response will either provide the requested records, explain when they will be available, or cite a specific legal exemption for denial. Under KRS 61.880, denied requests can be appealed to the Kentucky Attorney General. The AG reviews the denial and issues a binding opinion on whether the records should be released.
Copying fees follow the standard rates set by Kentucky law. Most agencies charge $0.10 per page for paper copies. Electronic copies may be provided at lower cost or no charge depending on the agency's policy. Perry County arrest records requests that include specific names, dates, and case numbers are processed most efficiently.
Perry County Court System
Circuit Court Clerk Charles Patterson manages court records for Perry County. The Kentucky Court of Justice page for Perry County lists judges, court schedules, and contact information. Court records connect to arrest records because every criminal case begins with an arrest and booking at the regional jail.
Perry County District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. Circuit Court manages felony trials, civil cases, and appeals. Both courts maintain records that show what happened after the initial arrest. These include case filings, hearing transcripts, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and final dispositions. Residents who need certified copies of court documents can visit the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Hazard.
Under KRS 431.078, certain eligible individuals may petition to have arrest records expunged after meeting specific conditions. Expungement removes the record from public access. The process requires a court filing in the county where the arrest occurred. All persons named in Perry County arrest records are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Nearby Counties with Arrest Records
These counties neighbor Perry County. Each maintains separate arrest records and detention facilities.