Warren County Public Records / Warren County Arrest Records

Warren County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Warren County

Arrest records in Warren County, Kentucky, are generally considered public records under state law. Pursuant to the Kentucky Open Records Act, codified at § 61.870 through § 61.884 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes, members of the public are entitled to inspect and obtain copies of public agency records, including those maintained by law enforcement agencies. The Warren County government has affirmed its intent to conform with these requirements through its open records request process.

An important legal distinction exists between arrest records and conviction records. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not constitute evidence of guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under current Kentucky law, arrest records that did not result in conviction may be subject to expungement, whereas conviction records carry separate retention and disclosure rules. Members of the public seeking law enforcement records from the Kentucky State Police may submit a formal open records request through that agency's designated process.

What's in Warren County Arrest Records

Warren County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and maintained by the arresting agency. The following categories represent the information typically documented within an arrest record:

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and any known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Physical descriptors including height, weight, eye color, and hair color
Race and gender
Last known residential address

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of the arrest
Name and badge number of the arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Warren County Sheriff's Office, Bowling Green Police Department)
Incident or case number

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed at the time of arrest
Statute citations for each charge
Classification of offense (felony, misdemeanor, or violation)

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Jurisdiction of the warrant

Booking Information:

Date and time of booking at the Warren County Regional Jail
Booking number assigned to the individual
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) notation

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (cash, surety, or release on recognizance)
Bond amount set by the court
Bond status and any conditions of release

Court Information:

Assigned court division and case number
Scheduled arraignment or hearing dates
Presiding judge or magistrate

Custody Status:

Current custody status (held, released, or transferred)
Release date and method of release if applicable

Additional Information May Include:

Co-defendants listed in the same incident
Narrative summary of the arresting officer
Vehicle information if relevant to the offense
Prior arrest history references

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Warren County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Warren County arrest records through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process for accessing these records:

Identify the Holding Agency. Determine which agency made the arrest — the Warren County Sheriff's Office, the Bowling Green Police Department, or another local law enforcement entity — as each agency maintains its own records.
Submit an Open Records Request to Warren County. Requests directed to Warren County government agencies are processed in accordance with KRS § 61.880, which requires agencies to respond within five business days. Requesters may submit written requests to the Warren County Judge/Executive's office or the relevant department.

Warren County Judge/Executive's Office 429 E. 10th Ave., Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 842-9416 Warren County Kentucky

Contact the Warren County Regional Jail. Booking records and custody information are maintained by the jail. Members of the public may contact the facility directly during business hours.

Warren County Regional Jail 1001 Center St., Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 842-1633

Request Records from the Bowling Green Police Department. Arrest records originating from city law enforcement are maintained separately.

Bowling Green Police Department 911 Kentucky St., Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 393-4000 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Submit a Written Request. All requests must be submitted in writing, identifying the records sought with reasonable particularity. Fees for copies are governed by KRS § 61.874, which permits agencies to charge no more than ten cents per page for standard paper copies.

How To Find Warren County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to Warren County arrest-related information without requiring an in-person visit.

Warren County Open Records Portal. The Warren County government accepts and processes open records requests through its official website. Members of the public may submit requests electronically via the Warren County open records page.
Kentucky Court of Justice – CourtNet. Court case information, including charges arising from arrests, is accessible through the Kentucky Court of Justice. The Warren County court information page provides contact details for the Circuit Court Clerk, who maintains case records for all court divisions in the county.

Warren County Circuit Court Clerk 429 E. 10th Ave., Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 746-7430 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Warren – Kentucky Court of Justice

Kentucky Offender Online Lookup (KOOL). The Kentucky Department of Corrections operates the Kentucky Offender Search system, which allows members of the public to search for individuals currently or previously held in state correctional facilities, including the Warren County Jail and Warren Regional Juvenile Detention Center.
Kentucky State Police Background Checks. The Kentucky State Police maintains statewide criminal history records. Members of the public may request background checks through the KSP, including FBI-level nationwide searches that require fingerprinting.

How To Search Warren County Arrest Records for Free?

Several no-cost methods are currently available for searching Warren County arrest records through official government sources.

Kentucky Court of Justice Online Portal. The Kentucky Court of Justice provides free public access to case information through its online case search tool. Members of the public may search by name to locate charges, case numbers, and court dispositions associated with arrests in Warren County.
Kentucky Offender Online Lookup (KOOL). The Kentucky Department of Corrections offender search tool is available to the public at no charge and provides current custody status, facility location, and offense information for individuals in the state corrections system.
In-Person Inspection at Government Offices. Under KRS § 61.872, members of the public have the right to inspect public records in person at no cost. Inspection of records at the Warren County Clerk's office, the Circuit Court Clerk's office, or the Bowling Green Police Department does not require payment of copying fees unless copies are requested.
Warren County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office may provide basic arrest log information at no charge upon written request.

Warren County Sheriff's Office 429 E. 10th Ave., Suite 100, Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 842-1633 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Warren County

Kentucky law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement (legal erasure of the record) and sealing (restricting public access while preserving the record for law enforcement purposes). These are distinct remedies with different eligibility criteria and legal effects.

Expungement results in the destruction or erasure of the record, as though the arrest never occurred. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes, individuals may be eligible for expungement in the following circumstances:

The charges were dismissed or the individual was acquitted at trial
The arrest did not result in an indictment
The offense was a misdemeanor or certain Class D felonies, and the individual has completed all sentencing requirements
A specified waiting period has elapsed with no subsequent criminal activity

Sealing restricts access to the record from public view but does not destroy it. Law enforcement agencies and courts may still access sealed records for official purposes.

Steps to Pursue Expungement in Warren County:

Obtain a copy of the criminal record from the Warren County Circuit Court Clerk to confirm eligibility.
Complete the appropriate petition form, available through the Warren County Circuit Court Clerk's office.
File the petition with the Warren County Circuit Court and pay the applicable filing fee (currently $100 for eligible misdemeanors; fees vary for felonies).
Attend the scheduled hearing, at which the court will determine whether expungement is warranted.
If granted, the court issues an order directing all relevant agencies to expunge or seal the record.

Warren County Circuit Court 429 E. 10th Ave., Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 746-7430 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

What Happens After Arrest in Warren County?

The criminal justice process in Warren County follows a defined sequence of steps from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and Booking. Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Warren County Regional Jail for booking. Booking involves recording personal information, photographing, fingerprinting, and formally logging the charges.
Initial Appearance. Within 48 hours of arrest, the individual is brought before a District Court judge for an initial appearance. At this stage, the judge reviews the charges, advises the individual of their rights, and sets bond conditions.
Preliminary Hearing or Grand Jury. For felony charges, the case proceeds either to a preliminary hearing in District Court or to a grand jury in Circuit Court, which determines whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial.
Arraignment. The defendant is formally presented with the charges and enters a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
Pre-Trial Proceedings. Both parties engage in discovery, motions practice, and potential plea negotiations. The Warren County Circuit Court handles felony matters, while the District Court handles misdemeanors.
Trial or Plea Disposition. If no plea agreement is reached, the case proceeds to trial. Upon conviction or a guilty plea, the court schedules a sentencing hearing.
Sentencing and Post-Conviction. The court imposes a sentence, which may include incarceration, probation, fines, or community service. Post-conviction remedies, including appeals and expungement petitions, may be pursued thereafter.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Warren County?

Arrest records in Warren County are subject to retention schedules established under Kentucky state law and applicable administrative regulations. The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) publishes official retention schedules governing public agency records, including those maintained by law enforcement.

Under current Kentucky law and KDLA retention schedules:

Arrest logs and booking records maintained by local law enforcement are generally retained for a minimum of five years from the date of creation, though many agencies retain these records indefinitely.
Criminal history records maintained by the Kentucky State Police are retained in accordance with state and federal requirements and are not subject to routine destruction unless an expungement order is issued by a court.
Court records associated with arrests, including case files maintained by the Warren County Circuit Court Clerk, are subject to separate judicial retention schedules and may be retained for periods ranging from five years to permanently, depending on the nature and disposition of the case.
Records retention preserves evidence and accountability, ensuring that law enforcement agencies, courts, and the public have access to accurate historical information for investigative, legal, and administrative purposes.

Different agencies within Warren County maintain independent retention schedules, and members of the public seeking information about a specific record's retention status may direct inquiries to the custodial agency.

How to Find Mugshots in Warren County

What Mugshots Are A mugshot is a standardized photographic image taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. Mugshots are part of the official arrest record and are maintained as a component of the booking file created upon an individual's intake at the Warren County Regional Jail.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots are primarily maintained by the Warren County Regional Jail and the arresting law enforcement agency. The Kentucky State Police also retains photographs as part of statewide criminal history records.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request mugshots through a formal open records request submitted to the Warren County Regional Jail or the relevant arresting agency. Requests must be submitted in writing and identify the individual and approximate date of arrest with reasonable particularity.

Can They Be Found Online At present, Warren County does not operate a publicly accessible online mugshot database through official government channels. Some third-party websites aggregate and publish booking photographs; however, these sources are not official government repositories and may not reflect current or accurate information.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially To obtain a mugshot through official channels, members of the public should submit a written open records request to:

Warren County Regional Jail 1001 Center St., Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 842-1633 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Mugshots associated with juvenile arrests are not subject to public disclosure under Kentucky law. Additionally, if an individual's arrest record has been expunged by court order, the associated mugshot is likewise subject to removal from agency files and may not be disclosed to the public.