Morrow County Arrest Records

Morrow County arrest records are documents containing information on why, when, and where law enforcement took an individual into custody in Morrow County, Ohio. Generally, arrests in Morrow County happen when law enforcement has probable cause to believe the individual has violated the Ohio criminal code or Morrow County ordinances, a warrant has been issued for the person’s arrest, or there is reason to believe the individual is a danger to society.

The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office is the county's primary law enforcement agency and also the custodian of arrest records. These documents are created when a person is arrested. However, if the arrest proceeds to arraignment or trial, information about the criminal justice process and the case outcome will be available in Morrow County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Morrow County?

Yes. Morrow County arrest records are generally available to the public per the Ohio Public Records Act (Section 149.43). Under this Act, anyone may contact a public agency to obtain documents in the agency’s custody. This provision promotes accountability and transparency at all levels of government.

Note, however, that the Ohio Public Records Act is not blanket legislation. There are safeguards to protect individual privacy and the disclosure of sensitive information. For example, juvenile arrest records are generally exempt from disclosure. Likewise, records related to victims of sexual assault or domestic abuse, as well as information that may compromise the integrity of ongoing criminal investigations, are also exempt.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Persons who obtain Morrow County arrest records can expect to find information about the arrestee, the reasons for the arrest, the arrestee’s status, as well as bail conditions.

• Arrestee’s full name and aliases
• Booking photo
• Physical description (sex, height, weight, race, ethnicity, eye color, hair color, body markings and tattoos, piercings and body modifications, etc.)
• Date of birth
• Custody status
• Facility location
• Booking time and date
• Arrest date and time
• Charges and statutes violated
• Bond/bail conditions
• Scheduled court appearance.

NB: The content of arrest records will differ for each individual. For example, many of the aforementioned details will not be available if a person is released after arrest without booking.

Morrow County Arrest Statistics

According to data provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) uniform crime reporting program, the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office reported 240 arrests between 2019 and 2024, an average of seven per month. The common reason for arrest was simple assault (131), followed by aggravated assault (32), non-traffic offenses (31), disorderly conduct (11), and burglary (6). Male suspects made up the majority of arrestees (175, 73%).

Find Morrow County Arrest Records

The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of arrest records. To obtain arrest records, visit the agency during business hours or send a letter describing the record. Either way, requestors will need to provide identifying details to process a record request. This usually includes the arrestee’s name and the arrest date. The agency also accepts online requests. For additional information, contact:

Morrow County Sheriff's Office
101 Home Road
Mt. Gilead, OH 43338
Phone: (419) 947-4845
Email: reports@morrowcountysheriff.com

Free Arrest Record Search in Morrow County

While viewing arrest records at the Sheriff’s Office is free, the agency charges a nominal fee for making copies of arrest records. Requestors who cannot afford this fee may request a discretionary fee waiver from the Sheriff’s Office. Alternatively, look up the Sheriff’s Office online jail roster for arrest information.

Another way to obtain free Morrow County arrest records is to search databases maintained by third-party service providers. These service providers aggregate public records from several sources and make them available in one database, reducing the geographic limitation that many requestors face.

While many databases offer records for free, search results are often limited. To obtain more details, requestors may need to pay a one-time search fee or sign up for a subscription. Furthermore, because third-party websites are not affiliated with the Ohio or Morrow County governments, record accuracy and completeness may vary.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Permanently. Arrests remain on record even if the charges were dismissed or the individual was not arraigned unless the individual requests record sealing. Individuals with convictions may be eligible to have their arrest expunged if they qualify under Section 2953.3. of the Ohio Revised Code. Per the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission, arrests for the following offenses are not eligible for sealing:

• Traffic offenses, including DUIs
• Violent felonies
• Convicted sex offenses
• Offenses where the victim was a minor
• Domestic violence offenses.

Note that eligible persons still have to wait for a waiting period to elapse. This period ranges from six months to seven years, depending on the severity of the offense. For instance, arrests for minor misdemeanors are eligible after six months, while arrests for violent felonies are eligible after seven years. In addition to the wait time, the petitioner must not have any pending criminal charges.

Expunge Morrow County Arrest Records

The Ohio Sentencing Commission provides arrest and criminal record expungement instructions. Generally, to expunge arrests in Morrow County, file a petition at the Morrow County Court of Common Pleas. This involves completing an expungement order form, paying the filing fee, and attending a hearing if required. Additional information is available in the Ohio Legal Aid Society record sealing guide. For additional information, contact:

Morrow County Court of Common Pleas
48 East High Street
Mount Gilead, OH 43338
Phone: (419) 947-4515

Morrow County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a written order or statement issued by a judge authorizing law enforcement to take an individual into custody in Morrow County (Section 2953.08). Courts issue this document if there is substantive evidence or probable cause to believe the subject committed an offense. Generally, Morrow County arrest warrants contain the following details:

• Subject’s name and address
• Suspected charges
• City or county of warrant issue
• The name and signature of the issuing judge or magistrate
• The date and time of issuance
• A copy of the affidavit of complaint.

Do Morrow County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants in Morrow County remain active until executed or recalled. Generally, courts recall a warrant if there is reason to believe the warrant was wrongly issued, the subject is no longer a person of interest, or the subject dies. The warrant will remain active for valid unexecuted warrants even if the statute of limitation has elapsed for the underlying offense. In that case, however, quashing the warrant may require the services of an attorney.