Ohio County arrests are booked at the Ohio County Detention Center, 108 E. Washington St., Hartford, KY 42347, 270-298-4455, right in downtown Hartford beside the courthouse. The jail also houses state and out-of-county prisoners, so read off the legal name with birthday and say that the arrest was in Ohio County. The sheriff's office (270-298-4444) can confirm an arrest happened. The Hartford jail is one of the state's life safety jails, which the state auditor's 2019 bulletin says cannot house state inmates, so Corrections does not report its population. Ohio County grew slightly to 23,934 residents in the Census Bureau's 2025 estimate, from 23,770 at the 2020 base.

Yes, with the inmate roster. Search a surname, then line up birthday and arresting agency so a similar name doesn't confuse you. A new intake may not show yet; call 270-298-4455 if nothing turns up. VINELink sends release alerts, and KYeCourts guest portal lists hearings.

Call 270-298-4455 for current visiting days, how to sign up and what ID to bring. Children need a parent or guardian along, every visitor goes through screening, and the dress code is enforced. Show up early to allow time to check in. Our visitation guide lists general rules.

Ask the jail for the amount, then walk next door to the Community Center, where the circuit clerk (270-298-3671) accepts cash, cashier's checks, money orders or cards with ID. Many people are released with no payment after the pretrial interview. Our bail guide and money guide explain.

Detention center staff at 270-298-4455 can lay out deposit methods, per-deposit limits and fees. Match the name used at booking so the deposit isn't misapplied. Commissary and phone time draw on the balance, and what's unspent leaves with the inmate. Read our money guide and commissary guide.

Inmates call out using prepaid accounts, and staff can explain charges and how relatives top up an account. Calls are recorded and can be shared with prosecutors, so discuss the case only with the defense lawyer. Our phone guide and messaging guide have details.

Write the inmate's legal name as booked, then the detention center's East Washington Street address, and include a return address. Officers open each piece apart from attorney letters and return contraband. See our mail guide on photos, or ask 270-298-4455.

Call 270-298-4455, ask for the supervisor on duty, explain what's wrong and give the prisoner's full name and birthday. Property taken at intake is handled by that staff too. Attorneys with the Owensboro Trial Office of the Department of Public Advocacy (920 Frederica St., Suite 1006, Owensboro, KY 42301; 833-514-8980) can bring urgent matters to the judge. See our court page.

A failure-to-appear may be visible on KYeCourts guest portal; for anything else, call the sheriff's office at 270-298-4444. A lawyer can arrange a surrender ahead of time and argue bail before the judge.

Minors are kept apart from adults and aren't jailed in Hartford. A youth held in detention gets a hearing within 48 hours, weekends and holidays excluded (KRS 610.265). The Department of Juvenile Justice (502-573-2738) arranges placement, and Ohio District Court takes the case.

Yes, by written open records request to the jail in Hartford; list who was booked and when, and name the mugshot as the record wanted. Reporters may go through the sheriff's office for a news media copy. An ICE photo must be sought through the ICE FOIA page, and the Marshals post federal mugshots only when hunting fugitives.

Yes, if the Marshals have an agreement with it. Federal cases from Ohio County are filed in the U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky, 423 Frederica Street, Owensboro, KY 42301, 270-689-4400; an Owensboro magistrate's detention hearing sets pretrial custody, and the Marshals choose where a detainee sleeps. Sentenced federal inmates are listed in the federal inmate locator. Hartford relatives may reach the U.S. Marshals Owensboro office, 270-852-2645.

The Hartford detention center (270-298-4455) is the first call, because it keeps detainer paperwork for its prisoners. ICE's Louisville office can be reached at 502-625-6202.

1. ICE sends an I-247A detainer to the detention center.
2. After state custody ends, the jail can keep the person for up to 48 hours.
3. ICE agents should pick up the person inside that period.
4. If they don't, the person is let go.
5. Check the ICE detainee locator for transfers.

Release paperwork starts after bail is posted. Personal property and remaining funds are returned, minus fees. Ask 270-298-4455 how long it'll take and have someone waiting on Washington Street.

Search the Corrections KOOL lookup for the prison or contract jail now housing the person, and use our Kentucky prison directory for phone numbers. Moves can take days to post; the state number makes for a sharper search.

Each neighbor books arrests at a different jail. Daviess County has the Daviess County Detention Center in Owensboro, 270-685-8466. Breckinridge County uses the Breckinridge County Detention Center in Hardinsburg, 270-756-6244, which also takes Hancock County prisoners. Grayson County arrests go to the Grayson County Detention Center in Leitchfield, 270-259-3636, and Butler County arrests to the Butler County Jail in Morgantown, 270-526-3505. Arrests in McLean and Muhlenberg go to the Muhlenberg County Detention Center in Greenville, 270-338-2263.

• Hartford Police Department, reached through Hartford City Hall: 270-298-3612
• Beaver Dam Police Department, reached through Beaver Dam City Hall: 270-274-7106
• Centertown Police Department, reached through Centertown City Hall: 270-232-5067
• Ohio County Sheriff's Office, 301 S. Main St., Hartford, KY 42347: 270-298-4444
• Kentucky State Police Post 16, 8298 Keach Dr., Henderson, KY 42420: 270-826-3312

Deputies and state troopers patrol outside Hartford, Beaver Dam and Centertown, including McHenry, Fordsville and Rockport. For emergencies, call 911.