Graves County Public Records /Graves County Inmate Search

Graves County Inmate Search

What Is Inmate Records In Graves County?

Inmate records in Graves County are official documents created and maintained by the Graves County Jail and Restricted Custody Center, as well as the Graves County Sheriff's Office, to document the custody status and history of individuals held within the county's correctional system. These records are distinct from court records: while the Graves Circuit Court and District Court maintain case files, docket entries, and judicial orders, the jail maintains custody records that track an individual's physical detention from the moment of booking through release.

The record creation process begins at intake, when a person is booked into the facility. At that point, staff collect identifying information, document the charges, record bond conditions, and photograph the individual. Records are updated continuously throughout the period of incarceration to reflect changes in housing assignment, disciplinary actions, medical notes (where applicable), and court appearances. Upon release, the record is closed and archived in accordance with Kentucky's records retention schedules.

Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.870–61.884, commonly known as the Kentucky Open Records Act, public agencies are required to maintain and make available records generated in the course of official business, including those produced by correctional facilities. The Graves County Jail and Restricted Custody Center operates as the primary custodian of local inmate records.

Are Inmate Records Public In Graves County?

Inmate records maintained by Graves County correctional facilities are generally considered public records under Kentucky law. Pursuant to KRS § 61.872, any person may inspect public records during the regular business hours of the public agency. The Kentucky Open Records Act establishes a presumption of openness, meaning records are accessible unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

Under current law, the following categories of inmate information are publicly accessible:

Current inmate roster — a list of individuals presently held in the facility
Booking and arrest records — date, time, and circumstances of intake
Charges filed — criminal charges associated with the current custody period
Mugshots — booking photographs taken at intake
Bond and bail amounts — conditions set by the court for pretrial release
Expected release dates — projected or scheduled release information
Housing facility — the specific facility where the individual is currently held

Certain information may be withheld where disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, endanger an individual, or interfere with an ongoing law enforcement investigation, as provided under KRS § 61.878. Medical records, mental health evaluations, and juvenile records are among the categories typically exempt from public disclosure.

What's Included in Inmate Records in Graves County

Inmate records maintained by Graves County correctional facilities contain a comprehensive set of data fields compiled from booking through release. The following categories represent the standard components of a complete inmate record:

Basic Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth
Race, sex, height, and weight
Physical descriptors and identifying marks
Booking photograph (mugshot)

Custody Information:

Booking date and time
Arresting agency
Current housing assignment and cell location
Custody status (pretrial, sentenced, hold)

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges (felony, misdemeanor, or violation)
Statute cited for each charge
Offense date and jurisdiction

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (cash, surety, personal recognizance)
Bond amount set by the court
Bond conditions imposed

Court Information:

Scheduled court dates and hearing types
Presiding court (Circuit or District)
Case number associated with each charge

Sentence Information (if convicted and serving sentence):

Length of sentence imposed
Credit for time served
Eligibility for good-time credit or early release programs

Release Information:

Projected release date
Actual release date and time
Release type (bond, sentence completion, transfer, court order)

Graves County Prison System

Graves County operates a local jail system designed to house individuals at various stages of the criminal justice process, including pretrial detainees awaiting court proceedings and sentenced individuals serving terms typically not exceeding twelve months. The county jail is distinct from Kentucky state prisons, which are administered by the Kentucky Department of Corrections and house individuals convicted of felonies carrying sentences of more than one year.

The Graves County Sheriff's Office oversees law enforcement operations throughout the county and works in coordination with the jail facility. The Sheriff's Office is responsible for arrests, transport of inmates to court, and service of process.

Graves County Sheriff's Office 101 E. South Street, Mayfield, KY 42066 (270) 247-4501 Graves County Sheriff's Office

Graves County Jail and Restricted Custody Center 101 E. South Street, Mayfield, KY 42066 (270) 247-4501 Jail and Restricted Custody Center – Graves County Fiscal Court

Types of Correctional Facilities In Graves County

Graves County's correctional infrastructure consists of the following facility types currently serving the local population:

Graves County Jail and Restricted Custody Center The primary detention facility for Graves County, this jail houses pretrial detainees, individuals serving short-term sentences, and persons held on behalf of other jurisdictions. The facility also operates a restricted custody component for individuals requiring a lower-security environment with structured programming.

101 E. South Street, Mayfield, KY 42066 (270) 247-4501 Jail and Restricted Custody Center – Graves County Fiscal Court

Individuals sentenced to state prison terms are transferred to facilities administered by the Kentucky Department of Corrections. The Kentucky Offender Online Lookup (KOOL) system maintained by the Department of Corrections provides public access to information on state-supervised offenders, including those who may have originated from Graves County.

Kentucky Department of Corrections — Central Office 500 Mero Street, Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 564-3266 Kentucky Department of Corrections

Who's in Prison In Graves County

The Graves County Jail and Restricted Custody Center houses several distinct populations at any given time. Members of the public seeking to understand who may be incarcerated locally should be aware of the following categories:

Pretrial detainees — individuals arrested and charged with a criminal offense who have not yet been convicted and are awaiting arraignment, preliminary hearing, or trial
Sentenced misdemeanants — persons convicted of misdemeanor offenses and serving sentences of up to twelve months
Sentenced felons (short-term) — individuals convicted of lower-level felonies who may serve a portion of their sentence locally under a state-local agreement
Federal or interstate holds — individuals held on behalf of federal agencies or other states pending transfer
Civil commitments and court-ordered holds — persons detained pursuant to court orders unrelated to criminal conviction
Probation and parole violators — individuals detained pending a revocation hearing

How To Search for Inmate Records In Graves County in 2026

Members of the public may access inmate records through several official channels. The following steps outline the available methods:

Online Search:

Visit the Kentucky Offender Search portal maintained by the Kentucky Department of Corrections.
Enter the individual's last name, first name, or middle name in the designated fields.
Apply filters such as offender type (incarcerated inmates, parolees) or facility name (Graves County Jail) to narrow results.
Review the returned records, which include custody status, charges, and facility location.
The Kentucky Department of Corrections Offender Online Lookup System allows searches by name with sortable results.

In-Person Request:

Visit the Graves County Jail and Restricted Custody Center during regular business hours.
Submit a written Open Records request pursuant to KRS § 61.872, identifying the records sought with reasonable particularity.
The agency is required to respond within five business days of receiving the request.
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.

By Telephone:

Contact the Graves County Jail directly at (270) 247-4501.
Provide the full name and date of birth of the individual being sought.
Staff may confirm current custody status and basic booking information verbally.

How To Find an Inmate in Graves County for Free?

Several no-cost methods are currently available for locating an inmate held within Graves County or the Kentucky state correctional system.

Kentucky Offender Online Lookup (KOOL): The KOOL system is a free, publicly accessible database that allows searches by name, alias, and facility. Users may filter results to display only incarcerated inmates or include those on supervision.
Graves County Jail Direct Contact: Members of the public may call the jail at (270) 247-4501 at no charge to inquire about an individual's current custody status.
Kentucky Department of Corrections KOOL Portal: The Kentucky Department of Corrections offender search page provides access to the KOOL system along with a disclaimer and instructions for use.
Graves County Fiscal Court Website: The Graves County Jail and Restricted Custody Center page provides facility contact information and general custody information at no cost.

No registration, account creation, or payment is required to use the KOOL system or to make a telephone inquiry to the jail.

How To Visit an Inmate In Graves County

Visitation at the Graves County Jail and Restricted Custody Center is governed by facility rules established by jail administration. Members of the public wishing to visit an incarcerated individual must comply with all applicable procedures.

Visit Rules and Procedures:

All visitors must be on the inmate's approved visitor list prior to the visit.
Visitors must present a valid, government-issued photo identification at the time of the visit.
Visitors are subject to search upon entry to the facility.

Visit Schedule:

Visitation schedules are set by the facility and may vary by housing unit or inmate classification. Members of the public should contact the jail directly at (270) 247-4501 to confirm current visitation hours.

What to Bring:

Valid government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, or passport)

What NOT to Bring:

Weapons, controlled substances, or drug paraphernalia
Unauthorized food, beverages, or packages
Electronic devices not expressly permitted by facility policy
Cash or valuables beyond what is permitted by facility rules

Dress Code:

Visitors must dress appropriately. Clothing that resembles inmate uniforms, exposes excessive skin, or contains offensive imagery may result in denial of entry.

Visit Types:

In-person contact visits — where permitted by the inmate's classification level
Non-contact visits — conducted through a barrier with telephone communication
Video visitation — remote visits conducted via approved video platforms, where available

Visit Restrictions:

Individuals with active warrants, prior felony convictions, or who are on probation or parole may be subject to additional screening or denial of visitation privileges.
Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and must also appear on the approved visitor list.
Visitation privileges may be suspended as a disciplinary measure.

How To Send Money to a Graves County Inmate

Funds may be deposited into an inmate's commissary account to allow the individual to purchase approved items such as hygiene products, snacks, writing materials, and telephone credits. The following methods and rules apply at the Graves County Jail and Restricted Custody Center.

Accepted Methods:

Kiosk deposits — funds may be deposited via kiosk located at the facility, where available
Online deposits — through the facility's approved third-party payment provider (members of the public should contact the jail at (270) 247-4501 to confirm the current approved provider)
Money order — mailed to the facility made payable to the inmate's full legal name and booking number

Amount Limits:

Deposit limits per transaction or per week may be set by facility policy. Members of the public should confirm current limits directly with the jail.

Fees:

Third-party payment processors typically charge a transaction fee. The fee amount varies by provider and payment method.

What You Cannot Send:

Cash sent through the mail is not accepted and will be returned or confiscated.
Personal checks are generally not accepted.
Funds from unverified or anonymous sources may be rejected.

What the Money Can and Cannot Be Used For:

Funds may be used to purchase items from the jail commissary, pay for telephone calls, and cover approved personal expenses.
Funds may not be used to pay fines, court costs, or restitution directly through the commissary account unless specifically authorized by the court.

How To Send Jail Mail In Graves County

Correspondence sent to inmates at the Graves County Jail and Restricted Custody Center is subject to inspection pursuant to facility security policies and applicable Kentucky law. All incoming and outgoing mail may be read and reviewed by jail staff, with the exception of properly marked legal mail, which receives additional protections under established constitutional standards.

Mailing Address: All general correspondence should be addressed as follows: Inmate Full Legal Name, Booking Number Graves County Jail and Restricted Custody Center 101 E. South Street Mayfield, KY 42066

Rules for Sending Mail:

All envelopes must include the sender's full name and return address.
Letters must be written on plain white paper. Colored paper, stickers, glitter, or other embellishments are typically prohibited.
Photographs may be permitted subject to facility guidelines; Polaroid or instant-print photographs are generally not accepted.
Cards must be flat and unadorned; pop-up or padded cards are typically rejected.
Books and magazines, if permitted, must be sent directly from a publisher or approved retailer, not from a private individual.
Mail containing contraband, coded language, or threatening content will be confiscated and may result in disciplinary action or criminal referral.

Legal Mail: Correspondence from attorneys and courts must be clearly marked as "Legal Mail — Attorney-Client Privileged" on the outside of the envelope. Such mail is opened only in the presence of the inmate and is not read by staff, consistent with protections recognized under federal and Kentucky law.

Prohibited Items:

Cash, checks, or money orders enclosed in envelopes
Controlled substances or drug-soaked paper
Sexually explicit material, unless specifically authorized by facility policy
Items that could be used to facilitate escape or harm