Lee District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, violations, juvenile matters and the opening of every felony. A felony needs an indictment from at least nine of twelve grand jurors to reach Circuit Court, which then arraigns the defendant and moves toward a plea, dismissal or trial. The circuit judge rotates among Beattyville, Irvine and Booneville.

Look the case up on KYeCourts public case search or call 606-464-8400. Recheck the day before, because dockets move. Leave time for screening at the Main Street entrance. If you truly can't make it, call the clerk ahead of the hearing; an unexplained absence can result in a bench warrant.

The sheriff serves the warrants issued here, and you can call 606-464-4120 to ask whether a name is on file. Families can then check court cases statewide on the free KYeCourts guest login: with the county picked, type the name and set an event date range to see which hearings are coming up or were recently missed.

Lee warrants are cleared by surrender at the Three Forks Regional Jail, 2221 Fairground Ridge Road, Beattyville, KY 41311, and it's wise to let counsel speak with the judge about release first. The circuit clerk at 256 Main St., Beattyville, KY 41311, answers at 606-464-8400.

The second-floor office, open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, takes currency, money orders or a card (plus a surcharge) toward fines but turns away personal checks; ePay covers some fines online. Someone facing a balance they can't clear at once should raise a payment plan before sentencing ends. Our bail page covers bond.

A Lee arrest is made by deputies, Beattyville police or state troopers, and the person is booked at Three Forks and screened by pretrial staff (bail guide). Arraignment happens in Lee District Court. A felony earns a preliminary hearing, 10 days out if the defendant is jailed or 20 if free, and an indictment moves it to Circuit Court.

The Lee County Attorney (190 Main Street, Beattyville, KY 41311 (606-464-9966)) prosecutes District Court matters and youth offenses and carries each felony until the grand jury votes. The 23rd Circuit's Commonwealth's Attorney in Irvine (116 Main St., Irvine, KY 40336 (606-726-0127)) takes indicted felonies from Lee, Estill and Owsley. Victims start with the Main Street office, then work with Irvine after a grand jury acts.

Beattyville's circuit clerk (606-464-8400) can explain how a count is graded. A Beattyville judge can give up to 12 months and $500 for a Class A misdemeanor, or 90 days and $250 for Class B (KRS 532.090). A violation brings only a fine of $250 or less (KRS 534.040). Felony terms run 1 to 5 years for Class D, 5 to 10 for Class C, 10 to 20 for Class B, and 20 to 50 years or life for Class A (KRS 532.060).

KYeCourts public case search offers a free guest login showing charges and hearings. Certified copies carry a fee; follow the records request guide or call 606-464-8400. Sealed and juvenile files aren't open to the public. About warrants, ask the sheriff at 606-464-4120.

At the first appearance, the judge asks whether you can afford a lawyer. If not, you complete a sworn financial form, and the Stanton Trial Office of the Department of Public Advocacy (452 Washington St., Stanton, KY 40380; 833-895-0582) takes the case. Then call the Stanton office, read off your case number, and get the assigned lawyer's name and a time to meet ahead of the next setting.

At the Three Forks Regional Jail, 2221 Fairground Ridge Road, Beattyville, KY 41311, phone 606-464-2598. Our guides cover calls, mail, visiting, email, money and commissary. Staff on Fairground Ridge Road can confirm custody and booked charges for a named defendant.

Lee's federal cases go to the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, 101 Barr Street, Lexington, KY 40507, 859-233-2503. Lexington's magistrates hold a detention hearing to settle whether a defendant waits for trial in custody, and the U.S. Marshals pick the contract jail. People already serving federal time are listed in the Bureau of Prisons locator.

Yes. Some convictions can cause deportation or block a green card, regardless of how minor they seem locally. Get an immigration lawyer's opinion before you accept an offer. An ICE detainer asks Three Forks to keep a Lee County prisoner up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released (8 CFR 287.7(d)). The ICE online detainee locator shows people in ICE custody.

State sentences start with classification, followed by a bed at a prison or a county jail with state inmates. The Kentucky DOC offender lookup gives the current location, and our guide to Kentucky prisons lists phone numbers. Records can trail a transfer.