Belmont County Arrest Records

Local law enforcement departments in Belmont County perform arrests when an individual is caught committing a crime or when the court issues a warrant for arrest. The Belmont County Sheriff is the primary law enforcement department in the county, working with local police departments and overseeing the county jail housing adult arrestees. Juvenile offenders are kept in the Sargus Juvenile Detention Center. The Sargus Juvenile Detention Center serves several counties including Belmont, Harrison, Guernsey, and Monroe.

Law enforcement agencies are required to create an arrest record for every arrest they make. The record serves as the official documentation of the arrest, detailing pertinent information about the event. Arrest information is usually also found in Belmont County court records. This is because arrest records are integral to court proceedings and are used during the trial process when prosecution happens.

Are Arrest Records Public in Belmont County?

Yes. The arrest information of individuals in Belmont County is generally considered public record pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 149.43 (The Public Records Act). Belmont County local law enforcement agencies are expected to receive and process arrest record access requests at their earliest convenience. Public bodies are required to maintain a copy of their record retention schedule in a location easily accessible to the public. An example is the Sheriff’s Records Retention Schedule. This helps individuals determine which records are currently maintained by the agency.

However, certain arrest records are confidential and inaccessible to the public. Only authorized persons (by state law or court order) are privy to such records. Examples of arrest records that fall into the confidential category include:

• Arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies on juveniles
• Sensitive personal information such as social security, driver’s license, or state ID numbers
• Information that will constitute a breach of bodily or integrity of a crime victim
• Medical-related records
• Police investigatory reports
• Identifying information on confidential informants

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Certain details within a Belmont County arrest record are generally not restricted and are available for public examination. These typically include basic identifying information about the arrestee, such as their name, age, race, gender, physical description, and arrest photograph (commonly referred to as a mugshot). Public arrest records also provide the arrest and custody details, including the arrest date, arresting agency, charges filed, booking number, bail amount, and release date.

Belmont County Arrest Statistics

The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) is responsible for compiling and providing statewide crime statistics to the public. The OCJS receives data from local law enforcement agencies in all 88 counties through the Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System (OIBRS). Researchers can access crime data from all counties on the OCJS Research and Data page. State or county statistics however are not disclosed on the platform. Researchers may need to contact individual local law enforcement agencies in Belmont County to obtain the county’s arrest statistics.

Find Belmont County Arrest Records

An arrest record is generally maintained by the originating agency. That is the local law enforcement agency that made the arrest and created the arrest record. Inquirers seeking these records can make requests in person at the department’s office or, in some cases, via mail, depending on the department. Individuals can also look through the Sheriff’s Jail Roster to locate an inmate currently in the county jail.

Records for inmates in state prisons are maintained by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC). These records can be accessed remotely through the DRC’s Offender Search portal. Users can search by providing the inmate’s offender number, last name, or both first and last names. The portal also includes filters to narrow search results, such as the county of commitment, residential county, custody status, and the date of the next parole board hearing.

Additionally, The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) manages the records of individuals incarcerated in federal correctional facilities. The public can search for these records via the BOP’s Inmate Locator. Inmates can be located by name or unique identification numbers on the portal. The locator provides information on persons who have been in BOP custody (current and released) from 1982 to the present.

Free Arrest Record Search in Belmont County

The arrest records of jail inmates can be accessed for free on the Sheriff’s Jail Roster page. However, the roster only contains the details of persons presently in jail. Individuals seeking the arrest records of out-of-jail persons can search for the records on third-party platforms. A significant advantage of using third-party resources is their ease of access and broad record database. These platforms often allow users to easily search for arrest records across Belmont County, regardless of which local agency holds the specific record. Arrest information may be obtained without cost depending on the resource used. Nevertheless, only public Belmont County arrest records can be found on third-party databases.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Forever. When an individual is arrested in Belmont County, the proceeding arrest record becomes part of their criminal history. The record is permanently maintained and accessible to the public unless sealed or expunged. To have an arrest record sealed or expunged, the individual must petition the court. If the arrest meets the eligibility criteria and any imposed sentence has been fully completed, the court may approve the request.

Expunge Belmont County Arrest Records

Ohio Revised Code § 2953.31 through Ohio Revised Code § 2953.61 governs the sealing and expungement of arrest records in Belmont County. When an arrest record is sealed, it becomes confidential and publicly inaccessible. On the other hand, an expungement permanently erases a record from all databases except the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation. The bureau maintains a copy of the expunged record solely for determining if an individual is eligible for law enforcement employment in the future.

Individuals who were arrested and had the arrest charges dismissed or received a not guilty verdict can petition the court at any time to seal or expunge their arrest record. They may also file a petition if they received a pardon or no charges were filed within two years. Individuals convicted of these eligible offenses may petition for expungement, provided that the required waiting period has passed following their final discharge.

• Improper compensation solicitation offenses after seven years
• Third-degree felony offenses after three years
• Fourth-degree or fifth-degree felony offenses after one year
• Misdemeanor offenses after one year
• Minor misdemeanors after six months

Offenses that are ineligible for sealing or expungement are:

• Violent felony offenses
• First or second-degree felony offenses
• Sexually oriented offenses
• Offenses involving victims under 13 years (except for certain child support violations)
• Third-degree felonies if multiple convictions exist

Several nuances may exist even if an offense is generally considered eligible or ineligible. Individuals who want to file for the sealing or expungement of their records may contact their attorney for legal guidance.

Belmont County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are documents issued by the court ordering the arrest and detention of a person. A warrant is issued after a complaint has been made to the court, and the sitting judge finds probable cause. For a complaint to establish probable cause, it must state the offense and furnish facts that reasonably prove that the defendant has committed a crime. An inability to establish probable cause will lead to the request being denied. For felony accusations, the judge may refer the matter to the prosecuting attorney for investigation if the initial complaint provides insufficient evidence.

When an individual is arrested in Belmont County under a warrant, they are to be brought to the court immediately. If the court is not in session, the clerk may set bail for the arrestee to appear before the court at a reasonable time. The clerk may not set bail if the arrest was for a serious offense. If the arrest took place without a warrant, the judge may issue a warrant after an affidavit which establishes probable cause is filed. The warrant will be issued to the arresting officer or, in the case of a citizen’s arrest, to the officer to assume custody of the individual.

A warrant issued by a Belmont County court will usually detail the defendant’s name, the offense committed, and the peace officer to whom the warrant is directed. The warrant must also detail the name and title of the issuing judge. Inquirers can check the Sheriff’s Department Wanted List to find individuals with an active warrant in the county.

Do Belmont County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Expiry dates are not specified for arrest warrants. A peace office will execute a warrant as long as the arrest order remains valid. Under Ohio Revised Code § 2935.10 an arrest warrant for a misdemeanor offense not executed within two years may be withdrawn by the court. A warrant can also be withdrawn if issues are found with the warrant or an arrest is no longer necessary.