Are Criminal Records in Butler County Publicly Accessible?

Yes, Butler County criminal records are publicly accessible. Access is granted by Section 149.43 of the Ohio Revised Code. Ohio laws grant access to Butler County arrest records and other case documents. Notwithstanding, access to Butler County criminal records is subject to exemptions and restrictions.

The public cannot access criminal records relating to:

• Sealed or expunged records
• Juvenile offenders
• Ongoing investigations
• Victim or witness information.

Who is Eligible to Access Criminal Records in Butler County, Ohio?

Per the Ohio Public Records Act, Butler County criminal records are accessible to:

• Individuals
• Employers
• Attorneys
• Law enforcement agencies.

However, access to Butler County criminal records may be subject to restrictions and depends on the type of documents. Only the subjects of Butler County criminal records, law enforcement agencies, judicial officers, authorized agencies (such as licensing agencies and child welfare boards), and attorneys can request access to sealed Butler County criminal records.

How to Request Criminal Records in Butler County

There are several options for Butler County criminal records requests. Inquirers can request local criminal records through the Butler County Clerk of Courts Office, the Butler County Sheriff's Office, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).

Individuals seeking access to Butler County criminal records should:

• Log into the Butler County Clerk of Courts Office Court Records Search Portal, enter the necessary criteria into the search tools, and submit
• Visit or send mail requests to the Butler County Clerk of Courts Office at:

Butler County Clerk of Courts
315 High Street, 5th Floor,
Hamilton,
OH 45011.

Alternatively, visit the nearest BCI Webcheck® location in Butler County or search for Butler County criminal records through independent online platforms like Ohiocourtrecords.us and other private websites.

What Information Is Contained in Butler County Criminal Records?

Butler County criminal records are comprehensive details of criminal prosecutions and their outcomes within Butler County, OH. These documents contain arrest information and case files on criminal trials within the various Butler County courts. A typical Butler County criminal record contains the following information:

• Name, gender, date of birth, ethnicity, and address of the subject
• Arrest history (this includes information like dates of arrest, names of arresting agencies, and bail/bond details)
• Criminal charges against the owner of the criminal record
• Case numbers
• Mugshots
• Court records (this encompasses information relating to trials. For instance, docket entries, pleas, trial dates, and judgments)
• Dates of convictions
• Length of incarcerations
• Names and locations of prison facilities
• Jail or prison admission and release dates
• Arrest warrants (if any)
• Expungement or sealing status (if applicable).

Butler County criminal record seekers should note that they cannot access sealed, juvenile, and expunged criminal records.

Are There Restrictions on Accessing Criminal Records in Butler County?

Yes, there are restrictions to some Butler County criminal records. Ohio laws do not permit access to sealed, expunged, and juvenile criminal records. Also, individuals cannot access criminal records if there are judicial restrictions or they relate to:

• Active law enforcement or judicial investigations
• Witness or victim information
• Undercover law enforcement agents
• Grand jury proceedings
• Medical or mental health history.

Record custodians may redact information whose public disclosure may compromise public safety. Nonetheless, law enforcement agencies and courts can access restricted Butler County criminal records.

What Happens if My Request for Criminal Records is Denied in Butler County?

The Butler County Clerk of Courts Office and other custodian agencies may deny requesters access to a criminal record if:

• The criminal record is sealed or expunged
• The owner of the record was a minor at the time of the crime
• The agency does not have the requested document
• There is a court restriction on the criminal record
• The criminal record relates to an active investigation.

If a custodian agency denies a requester access to non-confidential criminal records, the individual should apply the following steps to access the documents:

• Request official clarification for the reasons for denial from the custodian agency
• Ensure eligibility to access the specific records, procedural compliance, payment of all applicable dues, and submission of the request through a proper channel
• Modify the request and resubmit the request (if applicable), and write a formal appeal to the agency to reconsider the denial
• If the agency insists on restricting access, gather all applicable documents and petition the Ohio Attorney General's Office - Public Records Unit at:

30 E. Broad Street, 14th Floor,
Columbus,
OH 43215

• Consider legal actions if all other options fail.

How to Expunge or Seal Butler County Criminal Records

Owners of criminal records in Butler County can petition the Butler County Common Pleas Court or the Butler County municipal courts to seal or remove their criminal convictions if:

• The criminal records are for eligible misdemeanors or non-violent felonies
• The convicts complete their sentences for the crimes
• The owners of the record undergo rehabilitation and reintegration, and the sealing of the criminal records is in the public interest.
• The petitioners observe the applicable waiting periods, have no pending criminal trials, and pay all court-imposed fines.

The following steps outline the process for sealing or removing Butler County criminal records:

• Verify eligibility for sealing or expunging the specific criminal record
• Gather the necessary information relating to the criminal record (this includes case numbers, offense details, and dates of completion of sentences)
• File petition at the Butler County Common Pleas Court Clerk's Office (for felony crimes) or the specific Butler County municipal court clerk's office (for misdemeanor cases)
• Serve notice of the petition to the Butler County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and the prosecuting law enforcement agency.
• Attend the court hearing relating to the petition
• Wait for the court's decision. If the petition is successful, the court will notify the relevant agencies to update their databases.