Are Criminal Records in Muskingum County Publicly Accessible?

Yes, criminal records are publicly accessible in Muskingum County. Per Section 149.43 of the Ohio Revised Code, individuals can view or copy crime-related court case records, arrest records, inmate records, warrants, sex offender registry, and limited access to background history.

Although criminal records are public in Muskingum County, for privacy and safety considerations, custodian agencies will deny public access to juvenile criminal records, sealed/expunged cases, and documents relating to:

• Ongoing investigations
• Victim and witness confidential information
• Undercover law agents
• Medical and psychological reports
• Sealed warrants and affidavits
• Domestic violence and abuse.

Who is Eligible to Access Muskingum County Criminal Records in Ohio?

Any interested individual can access Muskingum County criminal records unless there are legal or judicial restrictions to public access. Muskingum County criminal records are accessible to:

• Private individuals
• Law enforcement agencies
• Court officials
• Attorneys
• Journalists
• Authorized agencies
• Researchers.

However, the level of access may depend on the case type and information. There are restrictions to Muskingum County criminal records if the documents violate privacy or compromise safety. Accessing some Muskingum County criminal records may require judicial orders or consent.

How to Request Criminal Records in Muskingum County

In Muskingum County, the following agencies are responsible for criminal records:

• Muskingum County Clerk of Courts - felony records
• Muskingum County Court - misdemeanors & traffic outside Zanesville
• Zanesville Municipal Court - City misdemeanors & traffic cases
• Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office - arrest records and background checks
• Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation - background checks.

Requesters seeking copies of Muskingum County criminal records should:

• Log into the Muskingum County Clerk of Courts Online Search Portal and search for criminal records by case numbers or visit or send mail requests to the Muskingum Court Clerk of Courts Office at:

Civil/Criminal Division
401 Main Street,
Zanesville,
Ohio 43701
Phone: (740) 455-7104

• Visit the Muskingum County Court CaseLook Notice Portal and look at the County criminal case calendar and schedules
• Request arrest records and local background checks through the Muskingum County Sheriff's Office at:

1840 East Pike,
Zanesville,
OH 43701
Phone: (740) 452-3637

• Visit the nearest Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation Webcheck® Location to obtain Muskingum County criminal background checks.
• Search for Muskingum County criminal records online through third-party platforms like Ohiocourtrecords.us or other private websites.

For misdemeanors and traffic offenses within Zanesville, visit or send mail requests to the Zanesville Municipal Court at:

332 South Street,
P.O. Box 566,
Zanesville,
OH 43701.

Requesters should note that accessing some Muskingum County criminal records requires legal authorization. Individuals seeking to verify their eligibility to access Muskingum County criminal records should submit valid government-issued identity documents to the Muskingum County Clerk of Courts Office, Muskingum County Sheriff's Office, or any of the Muskingum County criminal record custodians.

The wait time for processing Muskingum County criminal record requests from various custodian agencies may vary as follows:

• Muskingum County Clerk of Courts - 1 to 3 business days
• Muskingum County Court - 1 to 3 business days
• Zanesville Municipal Court - 1 to 3 business days
• Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office - 1 to 3 business days
• Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation - 1 to 5 business days for WebCheck© background check, and 1 to 2 weeks for Fingerprint-based checks.

Also, the following fees apply to copies of Muskingum County criminal records through the various custodian agencies:

Muskingum County Clerk of Courts, Muskingum County Court, and Zanesville Municipal Court:

• Online search - $0.00
• Non-certified copies - $1.00 per page
• Certified copies - $1.00 per page and an additional $3.00 to $5.00 certification fees

Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office - $5.00 to $10.00 per record

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation:

• Electronic fingerprint-based background checks through WebCheck© - $30.00 to $40.00 per request
• FBI Background Check - $30.00 to $50.00.

What Information Is Contained in Muskingum County Criminal Records?

Muskingum County criminal records contain personal details, arrest histories, and other information and documents relating to the prosecution, conviction, sentencing, and incarceration of criminal offenders within Muskingum County. A typical Muskingum County criminal record contains the following:

• Full name, known aliases, date of birth, gender, and ethnicity of the owner of the record
• Date and location of arrest, name of the arresting agency charges against the subject, mugshots, and bail/bond details
• Case number, trial dates, plea entered, judgment, and disposition
• Length of prison or jail term, fines and restrictions
• Appeal information, probation/parole terms, active warrants information (if applicable), and case status.

Requesters should note that information about juvenile, sealed, and expunged convictions is not public.

Are There Restrictions on Accessing Criminal Records in Muskingum County?

Yes, there are restrictions to assessing Muskingum County criminal records. Per Ohio and federal laws, sealed and expunged criminal records are inaccessible. Also, there are access limitations on Muskingum County juvenile criminal records and documents relating to ongoing investigations, domestic violence and abuse, and other crime-related documents protected by privacy laws.
Nonetheless, Ohio laws allow law enforcement agencies and the courts to access restricted Muskingum County criminal records.

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

A custodian agency may deny a request to access Muskingum County criminal records if:

• The requester does not have legal rights to access the documents (for instance, if the records are sealed/expunged or relate to ongoing investigations)
• Access to the information violates privacy and safety rules
• The documents are under court restrictions
• The records belong to a minor
• The details of the request are not complete
• The agency does not have the documents.

The following steps may be helpful to requesters seeking access to Muskingum County criminal records if custodian agencies deny them access:

• Ask the agency to provide a written explanation for the denial
• Verify the details of the request and ensure they are in order
• Modify and resubmit the request (if necessary)
• Appeal to the agency to reconsider its decision to deny access
• If the agency still refuses to grant access, file a complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims at:

65 South Front Street, 3rd Floor,
Columbus,
OH 43215

• If all options fail and there are reasons to believe the agency is wrong, consider legal action.

How to Expunge or Seal Muskingum County Criminal Records

Owners of Muskingum County criminal records can petition the Muskingum County Common Pleas Court, Muskingum County Court, or the Zanesville Municipal Court to seal their records if they fulfill the following requirements:

• The underlying crimes did not result in criminal convictions
• The offense is a minor misdemeanor or non-violent felony
• Grand jury refuses to indict
• The owner of the record completes a diversion or intervention program.

Also, applicants must observe applicable waiting periods and have no pending criminal trials to be eligible to seal their criminal records.

The following steps outline the procedure for sealing a Muskingum County criminal record:

• Confirm eligibility to seal criminal records
• Obtain the applicable criminal records petition forms from the Muskingum County Clerk of Courts Office
• Complete the petition forms with the relevant information (it should contain case number, charges, and reasons for requesting the sealing of the record)
• Pay all applicable fees
• Send notice of the petition to the Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office
• Wait for the court to decide on the application. If the court grants the petition, it will order the relevant agencies to seal the criminal record.