Find Ohio Inmate Records

Inmate records contain information about incarcerated offenders at Ohio State correctional facilities. Persons who break the state's laws may be punished by imprisonment in accordance with the rule of law. Such records document and maintain the inmate's name, gender, race, age, fingerprints, residential address, and criminal history.

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction keeps and disseminates inmate records of persons incarcerated in Ohio state prisons. Records of inmates incarcerated in Ohio county and city jails are managed by the county Sheriff's Office.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in Ohio?

Under Ohio state laws, not all inmate records are available to the public for copying and inspection. Records on probation and parole proceedings of inmates are inaccessible to the general public. The medical records of inmates, including their medical history, diagnosis, and medical condition, that are generated during medical treatment, are also not considered public information. However, their attorney or physician may obtain inmates' medical records upon request. Although inmate records may be released to the Department of Youth Services or a court of record for their restricted use, they are generally deemed confidential under section 5120.21 of the Ohio Revised Code.

What Information is Contained in an Ohio Inmate Record?

Information in inmate records may comprise inmates' personal details and criminal history. Such information may include:

• Names
• Offender identification number upon incarceration.
• Pictures/mugshots
• Residence address
• Gender
• Date of birth and age
• Race of inmates
• Date of admission into a facility
• The facility where an inmate is incarcerated
• Incarceration status
• Degree of a felony or misdemeanor offense
• Stated prison term
• Expiration of the stated prison term

Where do I Look Up an Inmate in Ohio?

Interested persons may look up inmates in Ohio through the following options:

• DRC website: Inmate information and details are generated by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and may be found on their website. Information may be obtained on currently incarcerated offenders, offenders under DRC supervision, judicially released offenders, and deceased offenders who died of natural causes.
• Sheriff's Office: The various Sheriff's Offices in Ohio are tasked with collating and managing inmate records in the county jails. Interested persons may obtain details of inmates in person from the records department of the Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's office may also provide an online search tool to retrieve inmate information.
• Third-party websites: Inmate information may also be found on some non-governmental websites that maintain such information.

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in Ohio?

Inmate information may be searched online with the DRC offender search tool. The Sheriff's Office of Ohio counties may provide an online search tool, hosted on the Sheriff's site, to obtain information on inmates incarcerated in the county's correctional center. Interested persons may also access inmate information on reliable third-party websites that offer such services. To access inmate information online, interested persons may input the personal details of inmates in relevant search boxes to produce results.

The personal details of inmates that may be used to search inmate information include:

• Name Search: Searches may be done using the last names of inmates. If the inmate's first name is known, searches may also be done with both the first and last names to narrow results.
• Offender Number: Searches may be completed with the offender's identification number. A prefix (A, R, W) may be added to search for inmate information. A and R are added to the identification number to narrow results to show only male offenders, and W may be added to an identification number to produce results of female offenders.
• County of Commitment Search: Interested persons may search by county to produce results of inmates incarcerated in a particular county correctional center.
• Residential County or Zip Code Search: This search method only produces results on offenders who are under parole supervision and those who have violated their parole or probation supervision.
• Next Parole Board Hearing Date Search: Interested persons may enter a particular year and month in this search box to retrieve information on offenders scheduled for a hearing on the selected day.

Interested individuals may also request copies of inmate records from the Sheriff's Office of the county where the offender was incarcerated. Requests may be made in person by visiting the Sheriff's Office and following the given procedures to retrieve inmate records or by sending a written request via mail to the Sheriff's Office. Charges may apply for the retrieval of records. The location and contact details of all Sheriff offices in Ohio counties may be accessed on the Ohio Sheriffs' directory maintained by the state's Attorney General's office.

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in Ohio?

Interested persons may obtain inmate information at no cost using an online offender search locator. DCR's Offender Search site may be used to look up inmates at no cost. Sheriff's offices in Ohio counties also provide an online search tool that can be accessed for free. For example, the Lorain County Sheriff's Office offers online lists for the public to look up inmates incarcerated in the Lorain County jail.

How to Find Old Inmate Records in Ohio

The Inmate Locator allows users to access records of previously incarcerated offenders. Interested persons can obtain such records by inputting the required details of such offenders in the appropriate search boxes to retrieve results.

The search for public records can be conducted through multiple channels. While official repositories such as courts, Sheriff's offices, and registrars are the most reliable, private websites have become popular alternatives. These third-party services collect and present records from different jurisdictions in user-friendly search engines. They are invaluable when the precise location of a record is not known, as they eliminate the geographic limitations of government-run systems. To begin a search, a requester must usually enter the person's name connected to the record—unless that individual is a juvenile—and provide the location or likely jurisdiction where the document originated. It should be stressed that these private services are not government-sponsored, and their independence means that the quality, completeness, and timeliness of the information can differ. Therefore, while convenient, they should be regarded as complementary to official channels rather than replacements.

Inmate Release Date Lookup In Ohio

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) provides an offender search tool displaying release dates, parole eligibility, and custody details. Release dates may shift with earned credits or parole board determinations.

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
770 West Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43222
Phone: (614) 752-1159

How do I Conduct a Federal Prison Inmate Search?

FCI Elkton and RRM Cincinnati are federal prison facilities located in Ohio. Inmate information of both prison facilities may be obtained from the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator tool. Interested persons may search with the inmate's prison registration number, full name, race, age, and gender. Information that may be obtained includes inmates' personal information, location, and release date from incarceration. Requestors with trouble finding inmates with the Inmate Locator may contact the BOP. Inquiries may also be made in writing and addressed to:

Federal Bureau of Prisons
Attn: Inmate Locator
320 First St., N.W.
Washington, DC 20534

How Long Does It Take for An Inmate's Information to Be Published in Ohio Inmate Locator?

Upon admission into a DCR facility in Ohio, offenders' information is documented within the first two days of arrival. Information that may be obtained from the inmate locator is reported by the Records Office within the first day of admission and uploaded into the facility's computer data system for the public to access. However, the security threat level group identification and registration of offenders are done on the second day of arrival at the facility.

Why Is An Inmate Not Showing Up In Search?

In Ohio, the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction may take time to update records for newly admitted, transferred, or recently released inmates. Juvenile records are excluded from public searches by law. County jail inmates are not always included in the ODRC database, as counties maintain their records. Search difficulties also arise when incorrect names, identification numbers, or other data are entered into the system.