Ohio Arrest Records

In Ohio, an arrest is the temporary detention of an individual on suspicion of criminal involvement. According to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2935, law enforcement may execute arrests with or without warrants if they have reasonable suspicions that individuals have committed arrestable offenses.

After arrest, law enforcement officers take the suspect to a local police station or jail for booking. During this process, the arresting agency generates arrest records with detailed information about the arrest. These records contain:

• The suspect's details and information about the alleged offense
• The location of the arrest
• The date and the officer or agency responsible for the arrest.

The suspect remains in custody pending a bond or bail hearing.

Ohio arrest records do not prove their subjects guilty of alleged crimes. Nonetheless, prosecutors may use arrest records to initiate criminal charges against individuals. In a bond hearing, courts may also consider the specifics of an arrest and details in the arrest record when determining whether to grant bail to a defendant pending trial.

Besides juridical uses, arrest records are excellent sources of information when seeking to learn more about arrests, such as the reason for the arrest.

Access to Ohio's arrest records is through the Ohio Attorney General's Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), local and municipal courts, and law enforcement agencies such as:

• Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department
• Hamilton County Sheriff's Office
• Columbus Division of Police.

Ohio Arrest Statistics

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) arrest data, 185,490 arrests were reported by law enforcement agencies in Ohio in 2023. The arrest statistics include:

• 124,113 males
• 60,512 females
• 171,034 adults
• 13,591 juveniles.

Are Arrest Records Public in Ohio?

Yes, Ohio arrest records are public. Ohio Sunshine Laws define "public records" as documents maintained by public offices within the state. Since law enforcement agencies in Ohio generate and maintain arrest records and are regarded as public agencies, all records they produce, including arrest records, are typically accessible to the public. Hence, anyone may query a local or state law enforcement agency in Ohio to access relevant arrest records.

Notwithstanding, Ohio Sunshine laws also provide several exemptions that may restrict public access to certain arrest records or information. Such records are considered confidential and are only released to eligible persons or entities bearing a subpoena (court order). Some examples of these records include:

• Law enforcement investigatory records on criminal, quasi-criminal, civil, or administrative cases, as defined by ORC § 149.43(2), and whose disclosure may:
  • Identify a suspect not charged with the offense specified on the record
  • Reveal the identity of a confidential witness or source
  • Reveal confidential investigatory techniques or procedures
  • Endanger the safety or life of law enforcement personnel
• Juvenile information
• Information whose release may jeopardize law enforcement proceedings or investigations.

Find Public Arrest Records in Ohio

In Ohio, individuals may query local law enforcement agencies such as county sheriff's offices and municipal police departments to access arrest records in their possession. While the processes may be unique to each agency, the following steps typically apply:

• Ascertain the record's custodian: Ohio law enforcement agencies exclusively maintain arrest records for the jurisdictions under their control, specifically for arrests they made. Hence, record seekers should direct their inquiries for arrest records to the law enforcement agency that is responsible for the arrest
• Find out the custodian's process for requesting records (including fees): Most law enforcement agencies in Ohio provide information on how interested persons may request public records (including arrest records) they maintain and their associated fees on their website. These details are usually published in the public record section of the agency's website. Some examples include the Franklin Sheriff's Office Public Record Page and the Columbus Division of Police Public Records Page. The process typically involves providing information about the sought-after record on a request form (usually provided on the agency's website). This information would aid the custodian in identifying the desired record. Although record seekers are required to provide their contact information, under ORC 149.43 (B)(5), providing personal information such as one's name is optional.
  Meanwhile, Ohio law enforcement agencies typically charge record seekers the cost of making copies of a requested public record, which usually amounts to $0.05. However, some agencies may charge more. For instance, the Canton Police Department charges $1 for each copy of an arrest record. Agencies like the Clermont County Sheriff's Office also host directories containing recent arrests
• Request the desired record: This involves submitting a request and paying applicable fees to the appropriate custodian to access the specific arrest record. Depending on what the custodian allows, record seekers may submit requests by mail, phone, email, online, or in-person visits to the appropriate office. Where walk-in requests are permissible, requests are best during office hours at the agencies' offices. If there are other options, record seekers may submit their requests and pay all applicable fees through dedicated phone numbers, email addresses, and online portals. For instance, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office provides an online public records request portal for public record requests. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies like the Franklin County Sheriff's Office use a dedicated email address (fcsopublicrecords@Franklincountyohio.gov) as their primary means of receiving public records requests.

Requesters may have to wait a few days after submitting their requests while custodian agencies process them. Once the agency approves the request, it will send the record to the requester. If an agency denies a request or redacts part of a record, it must explain the reason to the requester.

If a record is restricted for confidentiality reasons, the inquirer may be able to access it by subpoenaing the record. A subpoena is a court order that authorizes the person to whom it is directed to perform a specific task, such as producing records, attending a court hearing, or providing testimony. A court usually issues a subpoena in a case where it needs confidential records or testimony to resolve the case. To obtain a subpoena, an eligible individual or entity may file a subpoena request form and pay the required fees to a court with appropriate jurisdiction. Once the court reviews, approves, and issues the subpoena, an attorney, a law enforcement official (such as a sheriff, constable, marshal, or municipal or township police officer), or any other person the order designates may serve it.

How to Look Up Arrest Records Online in Ohio

Interested persons may look for Ohio's arrest records online through law enforcement agencies and third-party websites. Some agencies host directories on their official websites or dedicated web pages where inquirers may access information about their recent arrests. For instance, the Clermont County Sheriff's Office Weekly Offense and Arrest Report directory. Law enforcement agencies may also offer online tools for recent arrest and detention information searches. Some examples include the Franklin County Sheriff's Office Inmate Information tools and the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office Inmate Search tools.

Third-party websites also provide online tools that allow inquirers to search for public arrest records using subjects' names, case numbers, or other criteria. Most third-party websites charge users a one-time fee or a recurring subscription to access search results. However, users should be cautious when sourcing documents from non-official repositories. These platforms are independent and do not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of their papers.

What is Included in Ohio Arrest Records?

Ohio arrest records provide comprehensive details of arrests within Ohio. Generally, these documents contain the following information:

• The arrestees' personal information and physical descriptions, such as their:
  • Full names
  • Ethnicities
  • Genders
  • Dates of birth
  • Mugshots
  • Addresses
• Arrest information;
  • Dates, times, and locations of arrests
• Arresting agency and officer's information
• Charge details:
  • Types and descriptions of alleged offenses
  • Offense levels
• Warrant information (if any).

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Ohio?

Ohio state statutes do not specify a general timeframe for retaining arrest records. However, government entities establish their record retention schedules. For instance, the Oberlin Police Department permanently maintains arrest reports and documents. The Springboro Police Department keeps arrest reports for 50 years, according to its municipal records retention schedule. The Dublin Police Department retains adult and juvenile arrest information until the subject passes away, turns 80, or the records are expunged. Therefore, Ohio arrest records may be retained indefinitely or for the timeframe specified in the record retention schedule that the record custodian follows.

Expunge an Arrest Record in Ohio

In Ohio, a court may seal or expunge an arrest record depending on the subject and the nature of the offense. The fundamental distinction is that sealing a record removes it from public access, while expunging a record destroys it.

An arrestee who was never charged may submit a written letter to the police chief in the community where the arrest occurred to request that the record be sealed. However, if an arrest results in a conviction, the convict is required to observe a specified waiting period before applying for expungement. The expungement waiting period varies with the type of conviction and case outcome. According to ORC § 2953.32, the expungement waiting period for a felony conviction is three years following the case's termination, while a misdemeanor conviction requires a one-year wait. When a grand jury issues a no-bill of charges against an individual following an arrest, the expungement waiting period is two years from the day the bill was reported.

However, there is no waiting period for arrests that result in an acquittal. Therefore, individuals in such cases may file for expungement after their trial concludes.

Individuals may file expungement petitions with the courts where they were prosecuted, provided their conviction qualifies to be sealed. These petitions should include records sealing application forms, and payments for applicable filing fees. Applicants may obtain sealing application forms through the Ohio courts' websites or the clerk's offices. There are no filing costs for arrests that resulted in dismissals or no-bill charges. In other cases, the filing fee is usually no more than $50. Petitioners who cannot pay the expungement fees in full when filing their application may submit "Poverty Affidavit" forms with their

sealing application forms. After submission and payment of applicable fees, the courts set hearing dates between 45 and 90 days after the filing dates. If a judge approves an application after a hearing, the court and other government agencies may take up to six months to seal the petition record.

ORC § 2953.32 generally makes certain convictions and their associated records, including arrest records, ineligible for expungement. Therefore, the court cannot remove records of arrests relating to these convictions. These include:

• First and second-degree felony convictions
• Convictions for offenses where the victim was less than 13 years old
• Certain third-degree felony convictions.

How Do I Find Recent Arrests in Ohio?

Some law enforcement agencies in Ohio host online tools on their websites that allow inquirers to find information about the agency's recent arrests. Depending on the agency, these tools may cover varying timeframes, such as days, weeks, or months. Examples of such tools include the Weekly Offense and Arrest Report directory provided by the Clermont County Sheriff's Office and the Piqua Police Department's Police Public Information Activity Log.

Are Ohio Arrest Records Free?

Depending on the request method and document type, individuals may access Ohio arrest records at no cost. They may find free arrest records through online resources that some law enforcement agencies in the state provide on their official websites. However, agencies generally charge a fee when individuals request arrest copies of records or reports. Similarly, third-party websites also charge a fee for access to their records or reports.