Athens County Arrest Records

Law enforcement in Athens County is permitted by law to apprehend and take any person accused of committing a crime into custody. Chapter 2935 of the Ohio Revised Code gives law enforcement this authority.

In Ohio, crimes are classified as felonies and misdemeanors under Chapter 2901 of the Ohio Revised Code. After an arrest, the offender is typically processed at the sheriff’s office and taken to stand before a judge. Depending on the case's specifics, the judge determines if the offender is taken to jail to await trial or released on bail. The Southeastern Regional Jail serves several counties in Ohio and is the main holding jail for offenders arrested in Athens County.

The arresting agency in Athens County typically generates an offender’s arrest records. Interested parties may obtain these records as part of criminal records from law enforcement, such as the Athens County Sheriff and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Arrest records may also be available as Athens County Court Records maintained by Athens County and the state judiciary.

Are Arrest Records Public in Athens County?

Arrest records for Athens County are considered public records under the Ohio Open Record Law. According to the law, anyone may access public records from a records custodian except when specifically restricted by law. Some records are classified as confidential and are restricted from public access under the law. Examples of such records include the following.

• Trial preparation records
• Records expunged or sealed by a court order
• Confidential law enforcement investigatory records
• Arrest records concerning juveniles and minors
• Any records made confidential under state and federal statutes
• Personal information the release of which would be a violation of personal privacy
• Records confidential under some type of privilege, such as medical records under doctor-patient privilege

Although these records may be restricted from public view, law enforcement and other government agencies may still be able to access them.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records generally contain information about the suspect, information about the arrest, and some details taken during booking after the arrest. The specific details may be different between agencies, but an arrest record will generally contain the following information.

• The name and physical description of the subject on the record
• Details of the crime, including the location, times, date, charges filed, statutes violated, and arresting agency
• Information generated during the booking process, such as fingerprints, mugshots, booking numbers, and bond details
• Some arrest records include court case information such as court dates, case numbers, and the final disposition of the case

Athens County Arrest Statistics

The FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program collects crime data from local law enforcement agencies. This data may be accessed for free on the FBI Crime Data Explorer. According to the data, the Athens County Sheriff’s Office reported 491 arrests in 2023. The total included 112 arrests for simple assaults, 86 arrests for drugs and narcotics offenses, 50 arrests for disorderly conduct, 27 arrests for larceny, 19 arrests for burglary, 12 arrests for vandalism, nine arrests for weapons violations, eight arrests for aggravated assault, five arrests for motor vehicle theft, and two arrests for homicide-related offenses.

Find Athens County Arrest Records

Record seekers may find Athens County arrest records and inmate information at the Athens County Sheriff’s Office and the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail. Record seekers may request records or information about obtaining records by contacting the Records Department of the sheriff’s office via the following methods.

• By calling (740) 566-4305
• Emailing the request or questions to slightner@athenssheriff.com
• Faxing (740) 593-3673
• Mail and in person at requests to:

Athens County Sheriff

13 W. Washington Street
Athens, Ohio 45701

The Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail houses inmates from Athens and surrounding counties. Record seekers may obtain inmate records using the contact information available on the jail website. Inmate records may also be viewed on the jail’s online Inmates Roster.

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction is the repository for state-wide inmate records. Interested parties may obtain inmate records by contacting the department directly or using the online Offender Search. Users may use the offender search tool to look up inmates serving prison time in an Ohio prison, judicially released, or under department supervision.

Free Arrest Record Search in Athens County

Free arrest record searches and inmate information checks may be available from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Interested parties may call the sheriff’s office at (740) 566-4305 and inquire about arrangements to view records in person. Viewing records in person may be free, but obtaining copies of the records will require copy fees. Online options for viewing inmate/arrest records, such as the Offender Search and Inmate Roster, are usually options for free record searches.

Some third-party record websites offer public record searches for free. Users may look up records for free and download the results directly to an internet-capable smart device. However, the results from these websites cannot be verified as they have no links to official government resources.

Athens County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Although arrest and criminal records are both records of dealings with law enforcement, there are a few differences between them. Arrest records for Athens County typically only document the details concerning a person’s arrests. This includes the charges filed, personal information, date, and location. These records are generated and maintained by the arresting law enforcement agency.

Criminal records, on the other hand, cover a much broader range of information and detail arrests, charges, court cases, convictions, and any sentences related to an individual. Different agencies will generate this record, including the arresting agencies, law enforcement, the courts, and prison services.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Ohio, an arrest may remain on your records indefinitely unless you take certain legal steps to seal or remove them. An arrest record may qualify to be sealed or expunged under Ohio’s laws. Arrest records for various types of crimes typically have a waiting period before they qualify to be expunged. For example, a misdemeanor arrest may qualify to be sealed or expunged a year after all prison or supervision sentences are completed.

Expunge Athens County Arrest Records

Expungement or sealing are legal options available in Ohio to remove or restrict access to a criminal record, such as an arrest. Expungement in Ohio is governed by Chapter 2953 in Title 29 of the Ohio Revised Code. When a record is expunged or sealed, it is restricted from access to the general public, but under certain conditions, law enforcement and judicial agencies may still access it.

Different crimes qualify for expungement under different conditions. For example, while certain felonies and misdemeanors qualify for expungement, violent offenses, crimes against minors, and certain trafficking crimes are ineligible for expungement. Most crimes also have waiting periods before they become eligible. Non-convictions such as dismissals and acquittals qualify immediately after the case is closed, misdemeanors have a one-year waiting period from completion of all sentences and/or probation, and felonies qualify three years after completion of any sentences or probations.

Some guidelines for the expungement process in Athens County are listed below.

• Obtain a certified copy of the final judgment of the record to be expunged from the clerk at the court where sentencing took place. This will usually require a fee.
• Fill out a Motion to Expunge Record form. Depending on the court to be petitioned, these are available from the court clerk or the Ohio Judiciary website.
• File the motion/petition at the court where the conviction was passed. Submit it along with any supporting documents and pay the filing fee. The filing fee is usually about $50, which may be waived if the applicant is eligible.
• After filing, the court will set a date for the court hearing. Government agencies such as the arresting agency and prosecutor’s office will be notified of the application. These agencies may choose to object/challenge the petition.
• Attend the court hearing and plead your case. The judge at the hearing will determine if the applicant’s interests exceed the need to keep the record public.
• If the judge grants the petition, an expungement or sealing order will be granted. Applicants should keep a copy and ensure the court clerk sends copies to all record custodians to destroy or seal the record.

Although you can perform this process on your own, it is advisable to consult with an attorney or legal aid organization to ensure it is smooth and error-free.

Athens County Arrest Warrants

An Athens County arrest warrant is a legal document that authorizes its bearer to take into custody a person accused of a crime. For a warrant to be issued, an affidavit must be filed with a court showing proof/probable cause that the person on the warrant committed a crime. A licensed peace officer or a private individual may file this complaint. When satisfied that the complaint shows probable cause that a crime was committed by the person on the warrant, a judge, clerk, or magistrate may issue an arrest warrant.

An arrest warrant issued in Ohio will generally contain the following information.

• The name or any alias of the suspect and a reasonable description
• Details of the crime charged in the complaint and numerical designation of the state laws violated by the crime
• Whether the warrant is being issued before the suspect has appeared or was scheduled to appear in court
• Instructions that the suspect be arrested and brought before the court
• Bail instructions and amount, if applicable
• The name, title, and signature of the official who issued the warrant
• A copy of the original complaint should also be attached to the warrant

Do Athens County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants in Athen County and the rest of Ohio do not expire. They remain active permanently and have no statutes of limitations. Once a warrant is issued, it will remain active until it is executed or recalled by a judge. The subject of a warrant has the option to file a motion in the court to cancel or recall the warrant.