How to Get a Background Check in Kentucky Online or by Mail

To get a background check in Kentucky, you have two main channels: the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), which produces a $25 report from District and Circuit Court records in all 120 counties, and the Kentucky State Police (KSP), which runs a $20 name-based check or a fingerprint-based check against the state’s centralized criminal history database and, when needed, the FBI. The AOC’s online FastCheck portal is the fastest route for most people. KSP is the right route when an employer, licensing board, or regulation specifically requires a state police or fingerprint-based check.

AOC or KSP: Which One You Need

The two agencies pull from different data pools. The AOC Records Unit generates reports from case information filed in Kentucky’s District and Circuit Courts across all 120 counties. The KSP Criminal Identification and Records Branch maintains the state’s centralized criminal history record information system under KRS 17.150, compiled from reports by law enforcement and criminal justice agencies statewide, and it handles fingerprint checks and the link to the FBI’s national database.1Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Revised Statutes KRS 17.150 – Reports by Law Enforcement Officers and Criminal Justice Agencies

Many employers and licensing boards accept either report, but some requirements specify one. Ask before you pay. If the position involves vulnerable populations, such as childcare workers or long-term care staff, a fingerprint-based check is usually required rather than a name search.2Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. 922 KAR 1:290 – Background Checks for Private Child-Caring or Child-Placing Staff Members

What to Have Ready Before You Submit

Both agencies require the same identifying information: the subject’s full legal name, any aliases or maiden names, date of birth, and Social Security number. A current address helps distinguish the subject from other people with similar names. Errors in these fields are the most common reason requests are rejected or delayed, so verify everything before submitting.

If someone else is requesting your records, you sign the consent portion of the form. The AOC uses a Criminal Record Request Form; the KSP uses a Request for Conviction Records form.3Kentucky Court of Justice. Background Checks Missing or illegible signatures lead to immediate rejection. Fingerprint-based checks also require properly completed fingerprint cards or a live scan appointment.

Requesting an AOC Report Online Through FastCheck

The fastest way to get a Kentucky criminal record report is the AOC FastCheck online portal. You create an account, select the report type, enter the subject’s identifying details, and pay by credit card or e-check.3Kentucky Court of Justice. Background Checks A confirmation email with a tracking number follows. Results typically come back in days rather than weeks.

The report costs $25 per request and covers Kentucky state court activity only, pulling case information from all 120 counties.4Kentucky Board of Licensure for Private Investigators. Licensing Request Form – The Process to Obtain Kentucky Criminal Background Checks Through the Administrative Office of the Courts It does not include federal cases, out-of-state records, or expunged cases.

Requesting a KSP Check by Mail

For a KSP name-based check, complete the Request for Conviction Records form and mail it with a $20 check or money order payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer.5Kentucky State Police. Background Checks The KSP Records Division is currently operating from a temporary location at 1050 US 127, Frankfort, KY 40601 during renovations. Confirm the mailing address on the KSP website before sending anything; an outdated address can add weeks of delay.

Paper submissions are entered and matched manually against the KSP criminal history archives, so expect several weeks for a response. Use a security envelope to protect the Social Security number on the form.

Fingerprint-Based and FBI Checks

Fingerprint checks match biometric data instead of names and dates, so they return fewer false hits than name-based searches. Kentucky routes them through the KSP Criminal Identification and Records Branch, which also connects to the FBI’s national database when a federal-level check is required. Most licensing boards require this route when accuracy is critical.

Costs stack because multiple fees apply. A combined state-and-FBI fingerprint check runs roughly $51.25: a $20 state fee, a $13.25 FBI fee, and an $18 processing fee charged by the electronic fingerprinting vendor, IDEMIA. A state-only fingerprint check costs about $38, and an FBI-only check about $31.25.6Kentucky State Police. Kentucky Fingerprint and Background Check Services FAQ Volunteers pay slightly reduced FBI fees.

If you need a standalone FBI Identity History Summary Check, sometimes required for international employment, adoption, or immigration, you can request one directly from the FBI for $18 whether submitted electronically or by mail.7Federal Bureau of Investigation. Identity History Summary Checks Frequently Asked Questions Electronic submissions through an FBI-approved channeler often return results within a few business days; mailed requests take significantly longer.

Fees and Turnaround at a Glance

All fees are non-refundable, even when the search returns no records. AOC online requests typically arrive in days. KSP mail-in and fingerprint-based checks typically take several weeks due to manual processing and mailing time.

What the Report Will Show

An AOC report lists traffic offenses, misdemeanors, felony charges, and circuit criminal cases filed in any Kentucky county. Each entry includes the county of origin, case number, original charge, any amendments, the disposition, and the charge and disposition dates. Memos added by the local circuit court clerk may also appear.3Kentucky Court of Justice. Background Checks Federal court cases, out-of-state records, and expunged cases are not included.

A KSP fingerprint-based report draws from the state’s centralized criminal history record information system and, when requested, the FBI’s national database, which means it can capture records beyond Kentucky’s borders. Fingerprint matching also eliminates false hits from people who share your name.

Intelligence and investigative reports held by criminal justice agencies have limited public availability. Under KRS 17.150, portions can be withheld if disclosure would identify a confidential informant, endanger law enforcement personnel, or compromise a prospective law enforcement action.1Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Revised Statutes KRS 17.150 – Reports by Law Enforcement Officers and Criminal Justice Agencies

Fixing an Error on Your Report

Mistakes happen: mismatched names, records belonging to someone else, or expunged convictions that still appear. How you correct an error depends on where it originated.

If the error is on a state-level report, contact the source agency directly. For an AOC report, the correction typically has to come from the circuit court clerk in the county where the case was filed, since the AOC generates its reports from local court data. For KSP records, contact the Criminal Identification and Records Branch in Frankfort. Challenging an FBI Identity History Summary is free and can be initiated through the FBI directly.7Federal Bureau of Investigation. Identity History Summary Checks Frequently Asked Questions

If the error appears on a report pulled by a third-party screening company, you have the right to file a formal dispute under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. The reporting agency has 30 days to investigate, must forward your evidence to whoever supplied the information, and that source must conduct its own investigation. If the information is inaccurate, the source must notify all three major credit bureaus so the correction spreads across your records.8Federal Trade Commission. Disputing Errors on Your Credit Reports The reporting agency cannot dodge this obligation by demanding extra documentation beyond what the law requires.9Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2022-07 – Reasonable Investigation of Consumer Reporting Disputes Act quickly. If an employer is making a hiring decision based on wrong information, that window is small.