Are Criminal Records in Lucas County Publicly Accessible?

Yes, Lucas County criminal records are accessible to the general public unless they contain legally exempt information. The Ohio Revised Code 149.43 allows the public to inspect and obtain public records from government entities. In turn, these entities must provide copies of criminal records upon receiving requests from the public.

Generally, state law restricts public access to criminal records whose disclosure is not in the public interest. Examples of such records include:

• Criminal records whose release is prohibited by a court order or statute.
• Personal information about victims of criminal incidents.
• Restriction portions of a dashboard camera or body cam recording
• Identities of informants or suspects in a criminal investigation
• Confidential investigation techniques and procedures
• Information that may endanger the lives or safety of law enforcement agencies

How to Request Criminal Records in Lucas County

Interested parties can request Lucas County criminal records by following these steps:

• Find the agency holding the record
  Lucas County criminal records are under the purview of the following agencies:
  • The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC)
  • The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI).

Both agencies allow name- or fingerprint-based checks for criminal records.

• Find the available options for requesting criminal records from the agencies

The CJCC allows mail-based requests for criminal records, while the BCI offers both mail and in-person request options.

• Order Lucas County criminal records through the selected request option

To order criminal records from the CJCC, interested applicants must send a completed request form to:

Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC/NORIS)
One Government Center
Suite 1720
Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: (567) 200-6839
Fax: (567) 200-6858
Email: crimhist@noris.org

The request form must include the required fee as a money order or check. Note that the agency charges different rates for different criminal information. For instance, it charges $15 for criminal information documented in the county. However, applicants must pay $44 for accessing statewide criminal information.

Alternatively, applicants seeking to obtain criminal records from the BCI must follow these steps:

1. Schedule an appointment to get fingerprinted at the Lucas County sheriff’s office. To get fingerprinted, applicants must provide a valid ID, FBI/BCI code, and a mailing address.
2. Create a written request that includes the following:
3. Record subject’s complete name, current address, and physical description.
4. The record subject’s complete fingerprint.
5. A signed consent from the record subject (if you are a third-party requester).
6. Pay the required $22 fee as a money order or check made payable to the “Treasurer of State of Ohio”.
7. Mail or submit the record in person to the BCI at:

Bureau of Criminal Investigation
Identification Division
Civilian Unit
P.O. Box 365
London, Ohio 43140.

Lucas County criminal records are also obtainable through third-party search platforms like ohiocourtrecords.us. These sites have user-friendly interfaces that enable users to easily locate criminal records. Some platforms may allow users to download requested documents. Despite these benefits, third-party search sites are unregulated and may not offer accurate information on criminal records.

What Information Is Contained in Lucas County Criminal Records?

Lucas County's criminal records generally contain information on an individual's criminal history. The record may include the following details:

• Offender’s personal data, including the full name, known aliases, and physical description
• Mugshot
• Criminal conviction
• Arrest information, including arrest charges and booking date.
• Pending and final court disposition
• Prior and current indictment
• Criminal conviction information, such as the crime category, court judgment, and correctional facility

However, record custodians may redact access to the following data:

• Sealed or expunged criminal records
• Personal data, such as the social security number and address.
• Medical records.

Are There Restrictions on Accessing Criminal Records in Lucas County?

Yes, Ohio state laws generally restrict public access to criminal records whose disclosure may violate the safety or privacy of concerned parties. For example, public members are unable to access personal information of crime victims. Custodian agencies also redact juvenile criminal information from the general public.

While restricted records are not publicly accessible, the following parties are eligible to access them:

• The record subject
• Legal representatives
• Courts
• Local and state government entities, such as the county sheriff's office and the state's Bureau of Criminal Identification.
• Employers
• Third parties empowered by a court order.

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

Per Ohio Revised Code 149.43 (C)(1), you can take any of these actions if a record custodian denies your request for criminal records:

• File a complaint with the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas or the Court of Claims clerks’ offices.
• Start a mandamus action to get a judgment that forces the record custodian to release the requested information.

Upon receiving the complaint or action, the court will review the case and render a judgment.

In Lucas County, record custodians may deny criminal record requests under these conditions:

• The records are not under the purview of the agency.
• The record custodian is unable to locate the record.
• The inquirer does not have the legal right to access the records.

How to Expunge or Seal Lucas County Criminal Records

In Lucas County, offenders can expunge or seal criminal records by filing a petition at the county’s court of common pleas. The petition must include the following information:

• The offender’s personal information
• Criminal offense name and category
• The reasons for requesting an expungement.

Offenders must meet these criteria to expunge criminal records in Lucas County:

• There are no pending criminal cases.
• Your need to expunge the record does not outweigh the government's interest in maintaining the record.
• The statutory waiting period for expunging the crime has elapsed.
• The offender is not convicted for crimes in these categories:
  • Non-sexual felonies
  • First- or second-degree felony convictions
  • More than one third-degree felony conviction
  • Criminal records offenses in which the victim was less than 13 years old.

Per Section 2953.32, offenders can expunge criminal records after the following waiting period:

• It is more than three years after serving a court sentence for one or two third-degree felonies.
• It is more than seven years after completing a court sentence for offenses listed under Section 2921.43.
• It is more than six months after an official discharge for a minor misdemeanor offense.
• It is more than ten years after serving a felony sentence.