Jefferson County Arrest Records

An arrest record is a documentation of everything that happens during the temporary detention of an individual on suspicion of committing a crime. In Jefferson County, an arrest is usually the first step in any criminal prosecution. Per the Ohio Revised Code, an arrest may be made with or without a warrant if there is reasonable ground to believe that a suspect committed an offense (O.R.C. 2935.07).

After an arrest, the suspect is transported to the Jefferson County Jail where they are booked before arraignment. At the county jail, there is a booking process where the officer collects biographical details, personal items, the suspect’s mugshot, fingerprints, and other necessary information. Once the booking is completed, the suspect will be placed in custody until hearing or bail. Adult offenders are incarcerated at the Jefferson County Adult Jail while under-aged offenders are kept at the Jefferson County Juvenile Center.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is responsible for keeping records of all arrests in the county. If an arrest proceeds to trial, additional information will be available in Jefferson County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Jefferson County?

Yes. Under Ohio Sunshine Laws, Jefferson County arrest records are public records. In other words, members of the public can submit requests to law enforcement agencies in the county to view or inspect arrest records. However, the law is subject only to the limitation that such inspection does not endanger the safety of the record or unreasonably interfere with the discharge of the record custodian’s duties.

Note that certain arrest information is not open to the public and, as such, is sealed or protected to keep the parties involved safe (O.R.C. 149.43). Examples of non-public arrest records include:

• Confidential law enforcement investigatory records
• Records containing information that is confidential under section 2710.03 or 4112.05 of the Revised Code
• Inmate records released under division (E) of section 5120.21 of the Revised Code
• Records the release of which is prohibited by state or federal law
• Juvenile information.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Jefferson County arrest records contain the following public information:

• The arrestee's personal information (full name, date of birth, address, mugshot, etc.)
• Physical description (skin color, height, hair color, etc.)
• Arrest information (date and time, location, name of arresting officer)
• Charge and offense details (type, level, description)
• Warrant information.

Jefferson County Arrest Statistics

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) publishes statistics of arrests in Ohio. The 2019 report shows 20,149 arrests for offenses from people under 18 and 205,987 arrests for offenses from people of all ages. The most prevalent arrests for people under 18 were for offenses like property crime (3,287), other assaults (4,684), larceny-theft (2,549), and all other offenses except traffic (5,410). The total arrests for all ages from the most prevalent offenses were property crime (29,869), other assaults (34,495), larceny-theft (25,142), and all other offenses except traffic (53,227).

Find Jefferson County Arrest Records

Interested members of the public can find arrest records on persons held in Jefferson County Jail by contacting the jail administration:

Jefferson County Jail
16001 State Route 7
Steubenville, OH 43952
Phone: (740) 283-8684 (Juvenile Detention)
Phone: (740) 284-3350 (Adult).

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (DRC) also provides an offender search tool that allows individuals to find incarcerated individuals currently serving time in any prison within the state. To complete a search on the DRC offender search tool, requestors may filter the database using the offender’s name. A successful search provides inmate information such as full names, mugshot, criminal history, sentence information, and other details of the holding correctional facility. For additional information, contact:

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections
4545 Fisher Road, Suite D
Columbus, Ohio 43228
Phone: (614) 752-1161

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) also maintains records of federal inmates incarcerated in various facilities currently or released after 1982. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) grants the public authority to request copies of federal inmate records. One can successfully search a federal inmate by name or by registration number.

To conduct a name-based federal inmate search, users will have to provide the inmate’s full name, race, sex, and age.

Free Arrest Record Search in Jefferson County

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office provides access to arrest records for free. Individuals may access these records in person or via request as they are available to anyone under the state laws and the Freedom of Information Act. These files may include Jefferson County police reports, bookings, and mugshots.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
16001 State Route 7
Steubenville Ohio 43952
Phone: (740) 283-8600

Alternatively, there are third-party websites that publish information on arrests that happen within Jefferson County. These online resources are not under the control of the government and as such, can easily be accessible to the public from different locations. However, record availability and accuracy on third-party sites vary. To access arrest records using the search tools on third-party sites, the requester may have to provide the names and locations of the record subjects.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

An arrest may stay on a person’s record indefinitely or for the timeframe specified in the record retention schedule for each record custodian in Jefferson County. Generally, a misdemeanor or felony is not automatically cleared from an arrest record over time. It may remain part of one’s criminal record unless expunged or sealed under a court order.

Expunge Jefferson County Arrest Records

Expunging a Jefferson County arrest record is the same as sealing the record. It is a court process that allows the defendant to clear all references to a criminal conviction and seal all court files. Under Ohio law, once the record is sealed, it is just as if the defendant were never convicted of the crime. Note that only eligible offenders can request expungement of arrest records.

To be eligible to expunge a conviction, the person should meet the following requirements:

• There are no pending criminal cases or warrants against the individual
• The conviction to be expunged does not involve a mandatory prison term
• The applicable waiting period has passed for the conviction in question
• There are no open traffic violations.

Note that certain crimes are not eligible for expungement in Ohio (O.R.C. 2953.32), including:

• All traffic offenses
• Felony offenses of violence that are not a sexually oriented offense
• Sexually oriented offenses when the defendant was subject to Chapter 2950 as a result of the conviction
• Any offense with a victim under 13, except for non-support
• Convictions of a felony of the first or second-degree
• Domestic violence or violating a protection order
• Convictions of a felony of the third degree if the offender has more than one other conviction of any felony or, if the person has exactly two convictions of a felony of the third degree.

To begin the expungement process, obtain a certified copy of the Judgement Order of Conviction from the Clerk of Court’s office. Next, complete the Application for Sealing of a Criminal Record and the Judgment Entry for Sealing included in the packet from the office. Furthermore, to apply for record expungement, the applicant will have to pay a fee of $50 to the court. In cases where the applicant cannot pay the fee, fill out the Poverty Affidavit form.

The applicant should make copies of each document before submitting the original and duplicates alongside the Poverty Affidavit or the $50 fee to the Clerk of Courts. The Clerk will take and stamp all copies before giving a copy back to the applicant. If the court approves the application, a hearing date will be set for between 45 to 90 days of the filing date.

Jefferson County Arrest Warrants

A Jefferson County arrest warrant is a court order that permits a law enforcement officer to make an arrest within the county. Following a complaint or official statement, a judge, clerk, or magistrate may issue a warrant (O.R.C. 2935.08). However, an arrest warrant is only issued upon probable cause.

An arrest warrant may contain the defendant's current full name, description of the alleged offense, the issuance date, the name of the issuing court, and the judge's name and signature.

Do Jefferson County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Jefferson County arrest warrants do not expire but remain active until an arrest happens or the court recalls the warrant. For instance, if an arrest warrant remains active for a while and no arrests have been made, a judge may review and recall the warrant at any time.