Circuit Criminal Division

Circuit Criminal Division
Office of Circuit Court Clerk
Jefferson County Judicial Center
Room 331
700 W. Jefferson St.
Louisville, Ky. 40202

Phone 502-595-3009, Fax 502-595-4128

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The Circuit Criminal Division maintains felony grand jury indictments and information cases. This division accepts payments for probation and parole fees, court costs, fines and restitution ordered in Circuit Criminal cases. This division also assists in processing and refunding bail bonds.

Space is provided for attorneys and the public to review court records. Public terminals are available to assist in the research of information.

Motion hour for Circuit Court cases are held each Monday with some exceptions. For more information, you may reference the Jefferson Circuit Court Local Rules of Practice and Procedure, Rule 3 or call the Court Administrator’s Office at 502-595-4588.

Motions are heard according to the schedule below. The local rules of procedure require all motions to be filed with the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk by noon on the Thursday preceding the date of the motion hour unless a holiday interrupts this schedule.

Arraignments for cases indicted by the grand jury and rocket docket cases are heard in Circuit Court according to the schedule below. Arraignments are generally held on Monday with an occasional exception to accommodate the rocket docket. For more information, refer to the Jefferson Circuit Court Local Rules of Practice and Procedure or call the Court Administrator’s Office at
502-595-4588.

You can also access indictment information on the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s website (www.louisvilleprosecutor.com). Click on Information then on Circuit Court Reports.

General Bond Procedures
Bail bonds may be posted between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Property bonds are not taken after 3 p.m. All bail bonds, with the exception of property bonds, may be posted after hours at the Criminal Traffic Division located on the first floor of the Hall of Justice.

There is a $25 non-refundable bond filing fee that will be collected on any bail bond.

You must have a signed photo ID to post a bond.

When you post a bond, you are guaranteeing that the defendant will appear for all court appearances and abide by all non-financial conditions. Any cash or property posted is subject to forfeiture if the defendant fails to comply with all orders of the court.

Keep your receipt.

Posting a Property Bond
A judge must approve the posting of a property bond.

The property must be located within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Property located outside Jefferson County may require additional steps.

The value of the property less any encumbrance, lien and/or mortgage must be more than double the amount of the original cash bond.

We will provide certified copies of the bond papers that you must take to the County Clerk’s Office to record the lien on the property being posted (fees apply). You must be in County Clerk’s Office before 4 p.m. No liens are recorded after that time.

After the lien has been recorded on the property, you must bring the receipt from the County Clerk’s Office back to our office. We will keep the original receipt and give you a copy for your records.
We will then provide the necessary paperwork for you to deliver to the jail to have the defendant released from custody.

After the written court order releasing the bond is received, we will request that the County Clerk’s Office release the lien. We will mail you a copy of that request.

Documents Required to Post a Property Bond
The original deed or a copy certified by the County Clerk’s Office. All owners of the property must be present and each must have a signed, state-issued photo ID.

If any owner is deceased, you must have a death certificate for the decedent.

If you have a quit claim deed, you must have a certified copy of the deed prior to the quit claim deed.

If you are the power of attorney (POA) for the property owner, you must have a copy of the POA that gives you the authority to post the property. The POA must be recorded with the County Clerk’s Office.

A current statement for each encumbrance, lien and/or mortgage on the property showing the outstanding balance.

A Current Assessment Form issued by the Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) of the county where the property is posted. The form must be signed by a PVA deputy and must be issued on the same day the bond is posted.

Posting a Cash Bond
You can post a bond with cash, certified check or cashier’s check made payable to David L. Nicholson, Circuit Court Clerk or Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk.

If a bond is posted with a certified check or cashier’s check, the person posting the bond must be the remitter/purchaser of the check.

Posting a Partially Secured or Percentage Bond
If the money you are required to post is a percentage of the full amount of the bond, you are still responsible for the full amount of the bond.

If the defendant fails to comply with the court, you could lose the amount you posted in addition to the remaining amount of the bond.

If the defendant is found guilty, the court will keep 10 percent (but not less than $5) of the amount you posted as a service fee. If the defendant is found not guilty, the full amount of the bond will be returned to you.

When Bond Has Been Released
A bond may be released or refunded upon disposition of the case or amendment of the bond only by judicial order.

Bonds will be released from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Bonds will not be released on weekends or holidays.

You must return to the Circuit Criminal Division in
Room 331 on the third floor of the Jefferson County Judicial Center, 700 W. Jefferson Street, to begin the process of having a bond released or refunded. If you have posted a property bond, you do not need to return to the office as the lien will be automatically released.

You must have a signed photo ID and your receipt to get the bond refunded.

You can have your bond refund mailed to you. Please ask the deputy clerk assisting you for the details.

Only the surety (individual that posted the bond) is eligible for the bond refund.

All bond refunds will be distributed by check.

Court Ordered Payments
You can make the following payments through the Circuit Criminal Division. Payments may be made in cash, money order, certified check or cashier’s check. Personal checks and money orders are not accepted when posting a bail bond.

• Supervision fees (probation and parole fees).
• Court costs ($130 is assessed in felony cases).
• Felony fines ($1,000 is assessed in felony cases).
• Fines associated with non-felony offenses.
• Restitution by order of Jefferson Circuit Court only.
• Public defender fees may be assessed by the court when public advocates are appointed to represent a defendant.
• Cash bail bonds ($25 filing fee per bail bond posted).
• Property bail bonds ($25 per each property posted).
• Notice of Appeal filing fee ($150).

Acceptable Forms of Payment for Circuit Criminal

Paying in Person
Cash, certified checks, cashier checks and money orders are accepted. We do not accept personal or business checks unless written by an attorney office. American Express, Discover and MasterCard credit cards and most debit cards are also accepted. Visa credit cards are not accepted at the counter of any Kentucky Office of the Circuit Court Clerk due to Visa’s convenience fee policy.

Paying by Mail
Certified checks, cashier’s checks, money orders, personal checks and business checks (in most circumstances) are accepted. Cash is accepted but not recommended.

Paying by Phone
Payments for costs, fines, fees and restitution are accepted by phone using either a debit or credit card. Bail bonds may not be paid by phone.

Criminal Circuit Appeals
When filing an appeal, a $150 filing fee must be paid through the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk or a judge must declare the appellant indigent, thus allowing the appeal to proceed without cost. Only after the filing fee has been paid or an order of indigence entered, will the tendered notice of appeal be filed and certified within 30 days. Once the record has been certified, it will be transferred to the appellate court upon request. 

How to Order Copies
You can order copies by mail, fax or phone. Please make your request as specific as possible.

Cases that are not housed in our office will be ordered from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives in Frankfort, Ky. Please allow one week for delivery. Some cases are also stored in our local Archives and Records Division. To find out where the cases are located, visit the Archives and Records Division.

Copies are 25 cents per page. Faxes cost $2 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Documents can be certified for $5 per document. All copies must be paid for in advance. Postage will be charged as applicable.

Q. How can I find out the balance for my probation/parole supervision payments?
A. Contact your probation/parole officer.

Q. How do I redocket a circuit criminal case?
A. The Office of the Circuit Court Clerk does not have the authority to redocket circuit criminal cases. You can obtain an attorney, who will contact the court to schedule a hearing. The Office of the Circuit Court Clerk does not have the authority to appoint an attorney for you.

Q. How do I know if I have been indicted?
A. You can access that information at www.louisvilleprosecutor.com or contact the grand jury section of the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. You can also find this information on the public terminals located in the Louis D. Brandeis Hall of Justice and the Jefferson County Judicial Center.

Q. How do I know if I have an outstanding warrant of arrest?
A. You can request this information in person from the Criminal Circuit Division, Room 331, Jefferson County Judicial Center, 700 W. Jefferson St. This information is not available by phone.

Q. How much restitution do I owe?
A. You may ask for a copy of your payment history in the Accounting Department, Room 2018, Hall of Justice, 600 W. Jefferson St. The cost is .25 cents per page or you may request to review the file in the Criminal Circuit Division, Room 331, Jefferson County Judicial Center, 700 W. Jefferson St.

Q. How do I receive a copy of a motion filed by mail?
A. If you want a copy of a filed motion, you must include a duplicate motion with a self- addressed stamped envelope or enclose an envelope and check made out to David L. Nicholson, Circuit Court Clerk or the Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk to cover the cost of copies. Copies are 25 cents per page.

Arraignment. The initial step in a criminal prosecution whereby the defendant is brought before the court to hear charges and to enter a plea.

Indictment. The formal written accusation of a crime, made by a grand jury and presented to a court for prosecution against an accused person

Information/Rocket Docket. A formal criminal charge made by a prosecutor without a grand jury indictment.
Restitution. Return or restoration of some specific thing to its rightful owner or status.