District Court hears McCracken's traffic, misdemeanor and juvenile cases along with first felony hearings. Indictment by a 12-member grand jury, with 9 votes needed, moves a felony to Circuit Court, where trials and plea deals on felonies take place. Appeals from District Court and felony sentencing belong to Circuit Court as well.

Use KYeCourts public access for dates, or call criminal district court at 270-575-7272 or circuit court at 270-575-7280. Look again the day before a hearing in case of changes. Plan extra time for security at the courthouse entrance, and bring any papers your lawyer sent so you can show the case number.

Serving local court warrants is the sheriff's job, and a deputy at 270-444-4719 can say whether one has been issued for the person you're asking about. Then read the court file itself: Kentucky's statewide record on the free KYeCourts guest login shows every McCracken case after you accept the guest terms, and a birth date trims a common surname.

If there is a warrant, the McCracken County Jail is where it gets resolved, and many people call a lawyer first so bond can be set or reduced. After a missed date, the circuit clerk at 300 Clarence Gaines St., Paducah, KY 42003, is reachable at 270-575-7280.

The circuit clerk takes cash, checks and money orders, but bond must be cash. Parking is in the lot at Seventh and Washington streets. See our bail page for fees and refunds, and bring photo ID to the window.

Paducah arrestees are booked at the jail on Clarence Gaines Street, where a pretrial check comes before any release ruling (bail guide). McCracken District Court holds the arraignment. In a McCracken felony case the preliminary hearing must come within 10 days if the defendant is held or 20 if free, and McCracken grand jurors then vote on whether to indict.

Sheriff's deputies (270-444-4719), Paducah city police and Post 1 troopers bring arrests to the jail. The final section of our inmate guide lists each agency's address and phone. The arresting agency keeps the report and citation, and you can ask that agency for a copy under the open records law.

The McCracken County Attorney, on the courthouse's 1st floor at 300 Clarence Gaines Street, Paducah, KY 42003, 270-444-4709, handles misdemeanor and youth cases plus the opening stage of felonies. The 2nd Circuit Commonwealth's Attorney, one floor up at the same address, 270-575-7402, takes over after indictment. Both offices work inside the courthouse, and victims can ask either one for an advocate to explain hearings.

McCracken judges at the Paducah courthouse cannot sentence above these ceilings, and the clerk (270-575-7272) can tell you the class of a filed charge. The top penalty for a Class A misdemeanor is 12 months and $500, and for a Class B it is 90 days and $250 (KRS 532.090). Violations carry a fine of up to $250 that can be excused for poverty (KRS 534.040). Felony terms are 1 to 5 years for D, 5 to 10 for C, 10 to 20 for B, and 20 to 50 or life for A (KRS 532.060).

The records request help page explains how to order copies, or ask at the clerk's window. Bring the case number to speed up the search. Juvenile and sealed cases are closed. Warrant questions go to the McCracken County Sheriff's Office at 270-444-4719, and a lawyer can check quietly before a surrender.

The court can appoint the Paducah Trial Office of the public defender (405 Clarence Gaines Street, Paducah, KY 42003; 833-895-0577) for eligible defendants. A short form about income and bills is reviewed at arraignment. The office, also on Clarence Gaines Street, represents clients at every court level and stays with a client through sentencing.

In the McCracken County Jail: 400 Clarence Gaines Street, Paducah, KY 42003, 270-444-4730. See our guides to calls, mail, visits, messages and deposits for commissary. Both buildings share Clarence Gaines Street in Paducah.

The U.S. Marshals' Paducah office (270-415-1706) takes custody of federal defendants, some of whom are held at the county jail (270-444-4730) while the case runs. Federal charges are handled at the U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky, 501 Broadway, Paducah, KY 42001, 270-415-6400. Release is a magistrate judge's decision, sometimes after a detention hearing, and custody belongs to the U.S. Marshals. Federal judges use their own bail law, so the state rules on our bail page do not apply. After a sentence, look the person up with the federal prison locator.

The Paducah jail (270-444-4730) can confirm whether an immigration detainer is on file, and ICE's Louisville office answers at 502-625-6202. Those detainers sit outside the county case and may ask the Paducah jail to hold a McCracken defendant up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released, as 8 CFR 287.7(d) allows. Pleas can carry immigration effects such as removal, so check with an immigration lawyer before deciding. See the ICE finder.

Corrections picks the prison for state inmates after an intake review and classification. Some lower felony sentences are served in county jails. See the KOOL lookup for a location or our prisons in Kentucky for addresses and phone numbers.