Kentucky District Attorneys

Two attorney groups handle criminal law violations in Kentucky:

1. Commonwealth's attorneys
2. County attorneys

The commonwealth's attorney prosecutes felony crimes in Kentucky. The position is like a district attorney or the state's attorney in other states.

The county attorney prosecutes misdemeanors that happen within the county.

Both positions are elected. Their support staff includes prosecuting attorneys, paralegals, and victim advocates.

These attorneys play pivotal roles in addressing criminal charges within their jurisdictions.

Commonwealth's Attorney

The commonwealth's attorney is an elected position with a tenure of six years. Each of Kentucky's 57 judicial circuits has a commonwealth's attorney. Each circuit court represents one to four counties. Commonwealth's attorneys prosecute circuit court cases.

The commonwealth's attorney's primary responsibility is to prosecute felonies such as:

• Homicide
• Robbery
• Assault
• Burglary
• Sexual assault
• Theft
• Drug-related crimes

The commonwealth's attorney's other responsibilities include:

• Presenting evidence to a grand jury
• Attending each circuit court in their assigned circuit
• Aiding law enforcement agencies with legal counsel and drafting warrants.

Commonwealth's attorneys also uphold victims' rights through the criminal justice system. This includes providing notifications about important developments in their cases.

County Attorneys

The county attorney addresses misdemeanor crimes that violate Kentucky's criminal laws.

The county attorney is an elected official whose tenure lasts for four years. They operate within the district court system.

The county attorney's responsibilities include:

• Prosecution of criminal cases
• Child support enforcement
• Cold check recovery program
• Domestic violence
• DUI and DUI diversion program
• Collecting delinquent property taxes and coordinating with the county clerk on tax-related issues
• Helping families with disability guardianship and involuntary mental health treatment for loved ones
• Breaches of county ordinances, including property maintenance

The county attorney offers legal advice and representation to county boards and commissions.

The county attorney offers support to victims of crime. The county attorney's office keeps victims updated on criminal complaints and proceedings. The office also helps them get restitution and provides information about community resources.

The Kentucky Attorney General

The Kentucky attorney general (A.G.) is the top lawyer for the state. The AG represents Kentucky in court.

The Kentucky attorney general gives legal advice to state agencies and public officials when they ask.

The office also looks into and deals with lawbreakers, from businesses tricking people to serious crimes.

Kentucky Commonwealth's Attorneys: Directory

Below is a listing of the commonwealth's attorneys for each judicial circuit and the counties included in each circuit.

Kentucky County Attorneys: Directory

Below is a chart with links to each county where you will find contact information for the county attorney.

Note: We strive to provide the most current contact and website information for the D.A. offices in this state. But this information is subject to change. If you have found contact or website information that is not current, please contact us.

Charged With a Criminal Offense? A Local Attorney Can Help

Is a commonwealth's attorney or county attorney claiming you violated the law? If so, you should seek legal advice to help you better understand your rights and responsibilities. The best way to do that is to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney near you.