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West Liberty Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in West Liberty, Kentucky?

Arrest records are public documents in West Liberty, Kentucky, pursuant to the Kentucky Open Records Act (KRS 61.870 to 61.884). This legislation establishes that all public records maintained by government agencies, including law enforcement entities, shall be accessible to the general public unless specifically exempted by statute. The Kentucky Open Records Act serves to promote governmental transparency and accountability by ensuring citizens have access to various public records, including those pertaining to arrests made within the jurisdiction of West Liberty.

Members of the public should be aware that while arrest records are generally available, certain information may be redacted to protect ongoing investigations, juvenile records, or personal identifying information as specified under KRS 61.878. The custodian of records must respond to requests within five business days, as mandated by state law.

How to Look Up West Liberty Arrest Records in 2025

Several official methods are available for obtaining arrest records in West Liberty, Kentucky:

Visit the West Liberty Police Department: Citizens may request arrest records in person at the department headquarters. Proper identification is required, and applicable fees may apply for document reproduction.

West Liberty Police Department
561 Main Street
West Liberty, KY 41472
(606) 743-4385
West Liberty City Services
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Morgan County Sheriff's Office: The county sheriff maintains records of arrests conducted by their deputies within Morgan County, including West Liberty.

Morgan County Sheriff's Office
450 Prestonsburg Street
West Liberty, KY 41472
(606) 743-3613
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Morgan County Judicial Center: Court records related to arrests that proceeded to court action are available through the Circuit Court Clerk's office.

Morgan County Judicial Center
261 Court Street
West Liberty, KY 41472
(606) 743-3763
Kentucky Court of Justice - Morgan County
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Online Resources: The Kentucky Court of Justice provides limited online access to court records through their public portal. Local law enforcement agencies may also maintain online databases of recent arrests.

Requestors should note that pursuant to KRS 61.874, agencies may charge reasonable fees for copies of records, not to exceed the actual cost of reproduction.

Contents of a West Liberty Arrest Record

Standard arrest records maintained by West Liberty law enforcement agencies typically contain the following information as required by Kentucky state regulations:

Demographic Information: Full legal name of the arrestee, date of birth, gender, race, and physical description
Arrest Details: Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Offense Information: Nature and description of the alleged offense(s), including applicable Kentucky Revised Statute violations
Case Identification: Arrest case number and any associated incident report numbers
Arresting Agency: Name and badge number of the arresting officer and the law enforcement agency
Booking Information: Processing details, including time of booking and temporary detention facility
Biometric Data: Fingerprints and mugshot photographs
Court Information: Initial appearance date, bail or bond amount set, and preliminary hearing schedule
Disposition Status: Current status of the case within the criminal justice system

In accordance with KRS 17.150, certain information may be withheld if disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy or might compromise an ongoing investigation.

Legal Framework for Arrest Records in West Liberty

The management and accessibility of arrest records in West Liberty operate within a comprehensive legal framework established by Kentucky state law. The Kentucky Open Records Act (KRS 61.870-61.884) serves as the primary legislation governing public access to arrest records. Under this act, all public agencies, including the West Liberty Police Department and Morgan County Sheriff's Office, must maintain records of their official activities and make these records available for public inspection.

Kentucky Revised Statute § 17.150 specifically addresses the dissemination of criminal history record information, establishing guidelines for what information may be released and under what circumstances. Law enforcement agencies in West Liberty must comply with these regulations when processing requests for arrest records.

The City of West Liberty ordinances may contain additional provisions regarding records management and public access to municipal documents, including arrest records. These local regulations operate in conjunction with state law to establish procedures for requesting and obtaining arrest information.

Pursuant to KRS 61.872, public agencies must establish rules and regulations for providing copies of public records, including reasonable fees not exceeding the actual cost of reproduction. The West Liberty Police Department has implemented such procedures in accordance with these statutory requirements.

Limitations on Access to Arrest Records

While arrest records in West Liberty are generally public, several statutory exemptions limit access to certain information:

Juvenile Records: Pursuant to KRS 610.320, records pertaining to juvenile offenders (under 18 years of age) are confidential and not subject to public disclosure except under specific court orders.
Expunged Records: Records that have been legally expunged under KRS 431.073 are removed from public access and treated as if the arrest or conviction never occurred.
Active Investigations: Information that might compromise ongoing investigations may be temporarily withheld under KRS 61.878(1)(h).
Personal Privacy: Information that would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy may be redacted under KRS 61.878(1)(a).
Victim Information: Details that might identify victims of certain offenses, particularly those of a sexual nature, may be withheld to protect victim privacy.
Confidential Informants: Information that might reveal the identity of confidential informants is protected from disclosure.

Law enforcement agencies in West Liberty must balance the public's right to information against these statutory protections when processing requests for arrest records.

Expungement of Arrest Records in West Liberty

The Commonwealth of Kentucky provides a legal pathway for the expungement of certain arrest records through KRS 431.073 and 431.076. Individuals who were arrested in West Liberty but not convicted, or whose charges were dismissed, may petition for expungement of those records after a specified waiting period.

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Morgan County Circuit Court. Eligibility criteria include:

Charges that were dismissed with prejudice
Cases resulting in acquittal
Arrests that did not result in indictment within specified time periods
Certain Class D felonies after completion of sentence and a five-year waiting period
Misdemeanors after completion of sentence and a five-year waiting period

The petition must be filed with the court that handled the original case, accompanied by a filing fee of $100 as established by statute. The Morgan County Circuit Court is located at:

Morgan County Judicial Center
261 Court Street
West Liberty, KY 41472
(606) 743-3763
Kentucky Court of Justice - Morgan County

Upon successful expungement, all records of the arrest are sealed from public view and the individual may legally state that the arrest never occurred. Law enforcement agencies in West Liberty, including the police department and sheriff's office, must comply with court-ordered expungements by removing these records from public access.