'Pattern of behavior.' Kentucky lawmaker wants registry of domestic violence offenders

John Cheves, Lexington Herald-Leader on Sep 3, 2026

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentuckians convicted of domestic violence would have their names, dates of birth and photographs placed in an online registry, to be made public after a second offense, under a bill being proposed by a state lawmaker.

The bill also would require online dating services operating in Kentucky to conduct criminal background checks and flag profiles on their sites for any users who have domestic violence convictions.

“The purpose of this bill is information. Domestic violence frequently occurs as a pattern of behavior rather than as an isolated incident,” state Rep. Kim Holloway, R-Mayfield, told the Interim Joint Committee on the Judiciary on Thursday.

Kentucky and all other states already have sex offender registries that allow the public to identify people convicted of sex crimes. But so far, only Tennessee has a domestic violence registry, launched this year.

Only those found guilty of domestic violence would have to register under the bill with the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, Holloway told her colleagues.

“We are not attempting to create a registry of people who have merely been accused of domestic violence,” she said. “An allegation does not put a person on this registry. An arrest does not put a person on this registry. The filing of a protective order does not put a person on this registry. Registration follows a criminal conviction.”

“A person beginning a relationship may have no practical way of knowing that the one sitting across the table from them has multiple criminal convictions for violence against previous partners,” she said. “Technically, many criminal convictions are already public record. Practically, that does not mean they are readily available to the average Kentuckian.”

State Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, asked Holloway why the registry would not make public the names of first offenders.

Under Holloway’s proposed bill, first offenders’ names in the registry only would be available to law enforcement. The public part of the registry would begin with those convicted of multiple offenses.

“That’s a valid question,” Holloway said. “Just to allow some grace for a person who may have made a decision that they are willing to learn from and come out of, and instead of publicly shaming a person, we’re willing to give them the opportunity to change themselves.”

“Well, thank you for that answer, but I don’t think they deserve any grace,” Marzian replied.

During this interim period when the legislature is not in session, lawmakers only discuss issues and proposed bills, so there was no vote or other action Thursday. The legislature returns to Frankfort in January to start passing bills in the 2027 General Assembly.

Holloway filed an earlier version of her bill in March, during the 2026 General Assembly, shortly after Tennessee enacted its registry. But no action was taken on it at the time.

Holloway said she has heard concerns about a public registry from some domestic violence awareness groups who say it could discourage abused partners from filing charges over fears they would stigmatize their abusers, making it impossible for them to find jobs and housing in the future.

Alternatively, she said, a registry could give people a false sense of security if they don’t find a dating partner listed who is, in fact, violent.

With Tennessee’s inaugural domestic registry less than a year old, research should be conducted to see how well these public databases perform, Holloway said.

“Kentucky should collect data about how often the registry is being accessed, whether registration affects reporting or prosecution, whether repeat offending changes, and whether victim service organizations identify unintended consequences,” she said.

“We should be willing to make changes when evidence indicates the necessity to do so,” she continued. “But the absence of perfect information should not require us to conceal information we already possess about demonstrated patterns of criminal violence.”

One of the witnesses Holloway brought with her to testify Thursday was Heather Kenson of Mayfield, a survivor of domestic violence.

Kenson said she didn’t initially believe stories she heard about her partner having a violent past — “He said the women before me were crazy, and they were lying” — and nothing showed up when she attempted a criminal background check. But soon, he was chasing, beating and choking her, seriously injuring her, Kenson said.

“When I went to finally report, he said, ‘I already have a place dug for your body,’” she said.

“So a registry will not fix everything or replace enforcement, advocates, counseling, meaningful consequences,” she told the committee. “But it can give another woman something I didn’t have, which is a warning. To several exes, he’s done this to every single one of them, and every single one of them was intimidated to not tell their story. It can show them that they might not be the first. A registry can be an answer.”

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