Franklin County Arrest Records

Law enforcement agents in Franklin County can take individuals into custody when there are reasonable grounds to believe they have broken the law. Officers may obtain arrest warrants before making an arrest, or they may detain offenders at the scene of an alleged crime. Regardless of how the events unfolded, the arresting officer must report the arrest and book the suspect. The information collected during the booking process makes up the suspect's arrest record.

Depending on the arrestee's progress through the criminal justice system, multiple local and state agencies, such as the sheriff's office, courts, the Bureau of Criminal Identification, and correctional facilities, can collect and maintain arrest information. For this reason, the information could appear in Franklin County court records, inmate records, and other publicly available files.

Being important public documents, arrest records may be available to various players. Employers and landlords may review them during background checks, law enforcement may need the records to investigate other crimes, and lawyers and judges can obtain the documents for court proceedings. Journalists, researchers, and other members of the public may also find these records when looking into a person's background.

Are Arrest Records Public in Franklin County?

Yes. Franklin County arrest records are available for public inspection and reproduction per the Ohio Public Records Act (ORC 149.43) and Ohio R. Superi. Ct. 45. However, state and federal laws restrict the public's access to certain records and information.

Records exempt from disclosure typically include the following:

• Sealed and expunged records
• Juvenile arrest records
• Investigation materials
• Information regarding victims, confidential informants, and witnesses to crimes

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Members of the public are generally allowed to view the following arrest information:

• Arrestee's name, address, physical description, and age
• Arrest warrant information
• Bail and bond details
• Offense and charges
• Arresting agency
• Presiding judge
• Court case details, such as case/docket number and hearing date

Franklin County Crime Rate

According to the Ohio Department of Criminal Justice Services, Franklin County law enforcement agencies reported 118,515 crimes to the OIBRS (Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System) in 2022. The county had an offense rate of 8,956 per 100,000 population. The highest recorded category of offenses in 2022 was crimes against property, with 66,944 reported incidents. Specifically, destruction/vandalism of property accounted for 17,991 reported offenses, the highest recorded by the county's law enforcement agencies.

Franklin County Arrest Statistics

Comprehensive arrest statistics for Franklin County, Ohio, are generally unavailable to the public online. Anyone researching arrest data within a specific municipality in Franklin is advised to visit or contact the regional law enforcement agency. Individuals can also seek statistics from Ohio state departments operating within the county. For example, the Ohio State Patrol publishes yearly arrest and crime figures for Franklin County on its website.

Find Franklin County Arrest Records

Franklin County arrest records can be obtained from various local and state agencies, depending on the arrestee's case status.

County Arrest Records

Interested parties have multiple options for checking arrest records at the local level. They can contact the local sheriff's records office or police department that executed the arrest.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Public Records Office maintains documents and details about arrests executed by the department. Requesters can contact the office at fcsopublicrecords@franklincountyohio.gov to view or copy records for free. However, people who want to obtain copies of documents must cover the reproduction costs. Paper copies cost 5 cents per page, while electronic files saved to compact discs cost $1 per disc. Individuals will also be required to pay fees for postage to their addresses.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office also dispenses information about inmates detained in county jails through its inmate search web portal. Individuals can search the system using an inmate's name. They can also input other details, such as age, to find exact matches. The database shows inmate arrest dates, booking numbers, offenses, case numbers, and court dates. It also displays their personal information, physical descriptions, and photographs.

One can also visit the Sheriff's Office or the corrections center where the inmate is being detained to find arrest information on detainees.

Another option is to visit other local police agencies in person, go to their websites to submit a public record request or inquire and order copies by phone or mail. For example, the Grove City Police Department allows members of the public to submit arrest records using its online public request page.

State Records

The Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC) provides an online inmate search system to view information on people serving time in state correctional facilities. They can access inmate offense data, such as where an individual was apprehended and the nature of their crime. Site visitors can search by name or inmate number. They can also filter search results by providing additional information, such as residential county, county of commitment, and status (whether an individual is currently incarcerated, under supervision, or wanted over violations).

Individuals can also contact the ODRC to request information on a state inmate.

Federal Records

Federal departments, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), and Bureau of Prisons (BOP), can arrest Franklin County residents suspected of breaking federal law.

Individuals can use the ATF FOIA portal to request arrest records on individuals apprehended for federal crimes related to alcohol, tobacco, and firearms.

Members of the public seeking information on people arrested for federal drug-related crimes can use the DEA's Public Access Link (PAL). They must register to use the online portal. Alternatively, they can send FOIA requests to the administration by mail or email using the following details:

Drug Enforcement Administration
Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Unit
Attn: Intake Sub-Unit
8701 Morrissette Drive
Springfield, Virginia 22152
Email: DEA.FOIA@dea.gov

The FBI releases arrest records to individuals it has arrested in the past. However, members of the public cannot request arrest information on other persons. For public arrest information, one may submit a FOIA request to the agency.

Further, anyone can use the Bureau of Prisons' online inmate locator to find basic information about federal inmates.

Free Arrest Record Search in Franklin County

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office's inmate search web application is free to members of the public who wish to find certain arrest records in Franklin County. Individuals can also submit inspection-only FOIA requests to local agencies to view arrest records at no charge. However, anyone looking to obtain copies of arrest records, whether from government or third-party sources, must pay the accompanying fees.

Get Franklin County Criminal Records

Criminal records document people's interactions with state and federal justice systems. They include arrests, charges, convictions, and probation and parole information.

One can find criminal information in Franklin County court records or by ordering criminal background searches from specific agencies.

Franklin County Court Records

Members of the public can approach the Franklin County Clerk of Courts to find felony criminal records generated in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division. The office provides online and offline resources for viewing and ordering case files.

People who use the online case system (Case Information Online) can view details about criminal cases, including charges, hearings, and case dispositions (how a case ended). The tool can be searched with different parameters, such as a defendant's name, case number, court type, or filing date.

Those seeking official court documents can use the clerk's public request webpage. They must indicate that they want to order criminal records and provide the case number, a detailed description of the case, and their mailing address. The Case Information Online system can be used to obtain a case number.

Individuals searching for misdemeanor criminal records can use resources provided by the presiding court, which may be the Franklin County Municipal Court (overseeing the City of Columbus) or a city mayor's court. These courts typically provide online case search portals for finding case information.

For example, the Franklin County Municipal Court has an online case search utility, which accepts record searches by name or case number. When conducting a name search, providing other details, including date of birth, case type, case status, ticket number, and case year, can improve search results. The following information about criminal defendants is displayed on the system:

• Physical description (height, eye color, ethnicity)
• Address
• Date of birth
• Offense date
• Ticket number
• Arresting officer
• Charges
• Case events
• Disposition

Individuals can also request official court documents from the court clerk's office.

State background checks

A background check is a process undertaken to view a person's criminal history (or RAP sheet), which includes their arrests and convictions.

Ohio law allows healthcare facilities, daycare centers, schools, and other private and public employers to perform background checks when evaluating potential employees. The background check process is also part of some professional license application processes.

Individuals looking to run the check can go through the Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). Applicants must submit fingerprints electronically through a fingerprint card scan or at an authorized WebCheck location. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is among one of such locations.

Individuals can conduct state and federal background checks at the Franklin County Sheriff's Office using the fingerprints of a criminal records subject. They must download, print, and fill out the WebCheck form and indicate whether they want to run a BCI or FBI background check, or both. Each background check costs $35, and applicants must submit their forms in person at:

James A. Karnes Building
410 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: (614) 525-5090

National Background Checks

The FBI provides a paid service called an Identity History Summary, also known as a criminal history or rap sheet. It lists information from fingerprint submissions related to arrests, as was submitted to the FBI. The summary includes the agency that submitted the information, the arrest date, charge(s), and the case outcome, if known.

Individuals can get their rap sheets by applying through the FBI website or sending their applications via mail. They can follow the instructions outlined on the Bureau's Identity History Summary page to send in requests.

Franklin County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records primarily show why, where, and when a person was arrested, plus other details like the arresting officer and bail information. It does not include the case disposition, i.e., whether the arrestee was found guilty or acquitted.

Criminal records, on the other hand, reveal the charge details, case events, and court sentences. These records are a more holistic representation of a person's criminal past, from the first time they were arrested to their most recent prosecution. In other words, the records can tell whether someone was found guilty of a crime.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Forever. Arrest information generally stays on a person's record until they obtain an expungement or seal their records.

Expunge Franklin County Arrest Records

Sealing and expunging arrest records do not mean the same thing in Franklin County. A sealed record is generally inaccessible to members of the public. However, certain criminal justice agencies will retain access and can use the record against its subject in future prosecutions. On the other hand, expunged records are permanently deleted and irretrievable.

Be that as it may, certain investigative records maintained by law enforcement, the inspector general, and the auditor of state do not qualify as official records that may be sealed or expunged. Still, these agencies are prohibited from releasing such records to the public.

Only the following individuals can have their records sealed or expunged under Ohio law:

• People whose cases were dismissed
• Individuals who were never charged
• Persons with no bill decisions from grand juries
• Individuals who may have been convicted of a crime as victims of human trafficking
• Anyone who successfully challenged their convictions per ORC 2953.21
• Individuals who have received pardons
• People convicted of low-level controlled substance offenses per ORC 2954.39
• People convicted of certain firearms-related violations

Any individual who received a pardon, had their charges dismissed, was found innocent, or had a "no bill" decision entered by a grand jury can follow these steps to seal or expunge their records per ORC 2953.33:

People arrested for cases outlined in ORC 2953.33 (C) can only seal their records.

Below is the process:

• Obtain the application form from the Franklin County Clerk of Courts or the other court clerk's office, depending on the court with jurisdiction over the case.
• File the petition to seal or expunge the record alongside accompanying documents, such as the arrest record and reason for the petition.

If a person received "no bill" documentation from a grand jury, they can only apply two years after the no bill was reported.

• The court will notify the prosecutor and schedule a hearing after 45 days and no later than 90 days after receiving the petition. The prosecutor can object to the application within 30 days of the hearing date.
• The judge will review the petition, the accompanying documents, and the prosecutor's objections to decide whether the petitioner's case is eligible for sealing or expungement.
• If the judge issues an order to seal the records, the Bureau of Criminal Identification, courts, and other agencies in possession of the records will make them inaccessible to the public and the individual can legally state that they were not convicted of the offense. An expungement order instructs every agency to permanently delete the individual's official records, as explained in ORC 29531.31 (3).

Most people convicted of crimes can also follow the procedures above. However, certain cases, such as petitions to seal conviction records for low-level controlled substance offenses, can only be brought by prosecutors.

Franklin County Arrest Warrants

Franklin County arrest warrants are legal orders issued by judges to arrest individuals. Law enforcement usually applies for warrants by submitting affidavits alongside evidence to convince the judge that a suspect has committed the crime. Judges only have to find probable cause to approve the warrant.

A judge can also release an arrest warrant from the bench, instructing law enforcement to detain defendants who have failed to appear in court, pay fines, or perform other judicial obligations, such as child support payment.

Arrest warrants typically include a defendant's name or description, their alleged offense, and the judge's signature.

Franklin County Arrest Warrant Search

To view and obtain Franklin County arrest warrants, people can access court case search resources provided by a court clerk's office (e.g., Franklin County Clerk of Courts), depending on which court issued the warrant.

Individuals can also contact the Franklin County Sheriff's Office by phone at (614) 525-7928 or (614) 525-3333. Alternatively, they may visit a local police precinct to verify whether someone is the subject of an arrest warrant.

Do Franklin County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants generally do not expire until a judge recalls or strikes it, law enforcement apprehends the subject, or the subject turns themselves in.

It is important to remember that many crimes have statutes of limitations, as listed in ORC 2901.13. Once such periods lapse, prosecutors are barred from charging suspects. However, these limitations do not affect the validity of an arrest warrant. It remains outstanding until the subject resolves it through a legal process.