The Ancestor Hunt regularly adds and updates new collection links, as well as searches for and fixes broken links.
(This page's most recent update is January 2025)
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Another type of genealogy record that provides tremendous value is criminal records. Some of our ancestors unfortunately got in trouble with the law. Records were kept, from arrests through court cases to prison documents. Now, more and more of these records are being digitized or transcribed and are being made available online.
Types of Records
- Criminal court proceedings
- Police reports
- Prison and jail admission registers
- Arrest records
- Mug books
- Pardon and discharge information
- Hospital record books
- Workhouse records
Types of Information
- Name
- Age
- Birth date
- Height
- Weight
- Complexion
- Eye color
- Hair color
- Nationality
- Occupation
- Education
- Habits (alcohol use)
- Relations (parents living)
- Date incarcerated
- Court where charged
- Recommitments
- How and when discharged
Note: Some links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
Listed below are links to criminal records that are available for free online for the state; the first list is for multi-state collections:
Kentucky Criminal Records
United States
- Before the Needles, Executions in America Database
- Death Penalty USA, Executions 1607-1976 (by state)
- Federal Bureau of Prisons, Inmate Search 1982-
- Freedmen’s Bureau Records Relating to Murders and Outrages
Kentucky
- Anderson County, Civil & Criminal Case Files – Plaintiff and Defendant Indexes, 1825-1955
- Ballard County, Minutes, 1857-1861
- Bell County, Court Orders, 1875-1901
- Bourbon County, Letters, 1785-1880; Indexes, 1785-1977
- Bourbon County, Order Books, 1870-1922
- Boyd County, Case File Indexes, 1910-1977
- Breathitt County, Order Books, 1838-1937
- Breathitt County, Order Books, 1890-1892
- Butler County, Court Docket, (Criminal and Civil), 1811-1847
- Clark County, Defendant Index to Criminal Case Files, 1793-1978
- Crittenden County, Order Books, 1842-1944
- Executions at Eddyville Prison
- Executions in Kentucky
- Floyd County, Order Books, 1808-1925; Index, 1808-1940
- Franklin County, Penitentiary Grounds Cemetery
- Fulton County, Order Books, 1856-1861
- Graves County, Miscellaneous Records
- Harrison County, Case Files, 1796-1977
- Jessamine County, County Jail Cemetery
- Kentucky Executions Prior to Lethal Injections
- Kentucky Lynchings 1882 – 1921
- Kentucky, Institutions, 1900 Federal Census: Soundex
- Kentucky, Institutions, 1900 Federal Census: Soundex
- Kentucky, Kentucky Historic Institutions
- Kentucky, Kentucky State Reformatory Inmate Death Index
- Kentucky, U.S. Narcotic Farm Inmate Death Index
- LaRue County, Order Books, 1876-1921
- Lyon County, Eddyville State Penitentiary Cemetery
- Madison County, Indexes to Court Records, 1787-1852
- Magoffin County, Execution Books, Criminal and Civil, 1860-1887
- Magoffin County, Minute Books [of] Criminal and Civil Cases, 1872-1888
- Magoffin County, Order Books, 1876-1886
- Meade County, Order Books, 1824-1905; Index, 1824-1977, 1824-1977
- Meade County, Order Books, 1824-1938
- Oldham County, Order Books, 1828-1884; Indexes, 1824-1940, 1828-1940
- Warren County, Criminal Order Book, 1861-1945
- Warren County, Indictments, Criminal Division, 1804-1948
- Wayne County, Case Files, 1819-1930
- World War I Draft Registration Cards: Prisoners, Indians, Insane, in Hospitals & Late Registrants, Kansas & Kentucky
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!