Kentucky College Student Emergency Contacts: What to Do...

The First 24 Hours After Your College Student’s Arrest Are the Most Critical

The first 24 hours after a Kentucky college student is arrested set the trajectory for everything that follows — the criminal case, the campus conduct proceeding, scholarship preservation, and long-term career protection. Mistakes made in these first hours — talking to police without an attorney, posting about the arrest on social media, or panicking and contacting the university without legal guidance — can cause damage that even the best attorney struggles to undo later.

At Clark + Harris, we’ve developed this emergency action guide for Kentucky college students and their parents. Save our number — 859-474-0001 — in your phone now, before you need it.

Hour 0-1: The Arrest

If your child is being arrested or has just been arrested:

Stay calm — cooperate with officers physically but exercise all legal rights
Invoke the right to remain silent — say: “I am invoking my right to remain silent and I want an attorney”
Do not consent to searches — of phone, car, dorm room, or person. Say: “I do not consent to a search”
Do not resist arrest — even if the arrest seems unfair. Resisting adds charges and can escalate the situation dangerously
Remember badge numbers and officer names — or ask someone nearby to note them
Call a parent or trusted adult — from the jail phone if necessary

Hours 1-6: Getting Out of Jail

Determine bond — find out what bond has been set and what the options are for release
Contact a bail bondsman — if cash bond isn’t feasible, a bondsman charges 10% (non-refundable) to post the full amount
Call Clark + Harris at 859-474-0001 — we can begin working on the case immediately, even before your child is released
Do not discuss the case on the phone — jail phone calls are recorded and can be used as evidence

Hours 6-12: Immediate Aftermath

Preserve all evidence — screenshot text messages, save social media posts, note witness names and contact information
Do not post on social media — about the arrest, the charges, or anything related to the incident
Do not contact the alleged victim — if there is one. No contact orders may be in place, and any contact can result in additional charges
Secure your child’s phone — if police did not confiscate it, back up all data immediately in case a search warrant is later executed
Identify surveillance footage — if the incident occurred at a bar, restaurant, or public area, surveillance footage may be overwritten within 24-72 hours. Your attorney needs to know about potential video evidence immediately

Hours 12-24: Strategic Planning

Attorney consultation — meet with your attorney (in person or by phone) to discuss the charges, the evidence, and the initial defense strategy
Campus notification assessment — determine whether the university has been notified and anticipate the conduct process timeline
Scholarship and financial aid review — identify any immediate threats to funding and communicate with the attorney about preservation strategies
Housing assessment — if your child lives on campus, determine whether housing is at risk
Academic obligations — ensure your child attends classes and continues academic work unless instructed otherwise by the attorney or university

Key Emergency Contacts for Kentucky College Students

Legal Defense

Clark + Harris: 859-474-0001 — criminal defense and campus conduct defense for Kentucky college students. Available for emergency consultations. Serving students at UK, UofL, EKU, WKU, NKU, Murray State, Morehead State, KSU, Centre, Transylvania, and all Kentucky colleges from our Lexington and Louisville offices.

Kentucky County Jails

If your child has been arrested, they will be held at the county jail in the county where the arrest occurred. Major county detention centers include Fayette County Detention Center (Lexington), Louisville Metro Department of Corrections, Madison County Detention Center (Richmond), Warren County Regional Jail (Bowling Green), and Campbell County Detention Center (Northern Kentucky).

Save This Number Now — 859-474-0001

You may never need to use it. But if you do, having Clark + Harris on speed dial could make the difference between a managed crisis and a catastrophe. Save 859-474-0001 in your phone today.

Clark + Harris — Kentucky’s emergency criminal defense resource for college students and families. Call 859-474-0001.

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon should I contact Clark + Harris after being charged in Kentucky?

As soon as possible. Early representation protects your rights during questioning, preserves evidence, and often leads to better outcomes. Call 859-474-0001 — we respond promptly to new inquiries.

Does Clark + Harris represent clients throughout Kentucky?

Yes. We represent clients in all 120 Kentucky counties, both state District and Circuit courts, and federal courts in the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky.

What happens during a free consultation with Clark + Harris?

We review the specific charges and evidence, discuss available defenses, explain the likely process in the relevant court, and give you a clear roadmap of next steps — at no cost to you.

Related Resources

If this information applied to your situation, the following Clark + Harris guides may also be helpful:

Kentucky College Student Emergency Contacts: What to Do in the First 24 Hours After an Arrest