Ottawa County Arrest Records

An arrest in Ottawa County occurs when a law enforcement agency apprehends and takes an individual into custody for committing or suspected of committing an offense. While arrests are usually carried out with an arrest warrant, a law enforcement agent may carry out an arrest without a warrant when the offender commits a crime in the presence of the law enforcement agent.

The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, along with other local law enforcement agencies, such as police departments operating within the county, is primarily responsible for generating and maintaining arrest records. However, other public agencies may also maintain arrest records. For instance, one may find information regarding an arrest record in Ottawa County Court Records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Ottawa County?

Yes. RC §149.43(B)(2) requires all public records owned by state or local governments or their functional equivalents to be kept up to date and organized in a way that they can be made available for examination or copying. However, some records are specifically designated as confidential or non-public under another federal or state law, or they are exempt from the Public Records Act. They include

• Confidential law enforcement investigatory records
• Inmate records released by the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to the Department of Youth Services
• Juvenile related information
• Victim information that may be protected by law
• Personal identifying information such as social security or driver identification numbers
• Records containing confidential information.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following information can be obtained from public Ottawa County arrest records:

• Offender's name
• Offense date
• Booking date
• Arresting officer
• Arrest date
• Arresting agency
• Offender's age, eye color, height, weight, hair color, race
• Inmate classification
• Address
• Bond agency
• Mugshot.

Ottawa County Arrest Statistics

According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting arrest statistics for the state of Ohio, 218,433 arrests were made in 2018. 60,471 arrests were made for all other offenses (except traffic), 39,708 arrests were made for drug abuse violations, and 30,939 arrests were made for other assaults. 29,413 arrests were made for property crimes, 25,004 arrests were made for larceny-theft, and 13,733 arrests were made for driving under the influence.

Find Ottawa County Arrest Records

The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services, jail operations, and papers, amongst others, to the general public. Interested persons who desire to obtain inmate information may utilize the Jail Tracker online tool provided and maintained by the sheriff's office. To search, input the first and last name of the offender and click on search. Requests may also be made in writing or in person at:

Ottawa County Sheriff's Office
315 Madison Street, Room 110
Port Clinton, OH
Phone: (419) 734-4404

One may also visit local law enforcement agencies operating within the county to view the booking list. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction maintains a publicly accessible Offender Search online tool. To search, input the first and last name of the subject, choose the subject's status, and click Search.

Information regarding individuals who have been incarcerated by the FBI may be obtained by utilizing the Federal Inmate Locator maintained by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Searches can be completed by inputting a name or BOP register number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Ottawa County

Anyone seeking free resources for searching Ottawa County arrest records may look up inmate information on the Jail Tracker online portal maintained by the county sheriff's office. Searches may be carried out for free by inputting the name of the subject. Interested persons may also perform a search via the Offender Search page provided by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

Alternatively, one may utilize the services of third-party websites to access Ottawa County arrest records for free. Usually, a successful search requires the subject's full name along with other essential details. While basic searches are free, more in-depth searches could need registration, a subscription, or payment.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records in Ottawa County are retained based on the type and severity of the offense committed. For instance, arrest records connected to driving under the influence offenses are retained for 50 years after the date of the order of the court. Arrest records for misdemeanors are retained for 25 years after the date of the court's final order. Arrest records with crimes that end in death penalties are permanent records.

Expunge Ottawa County Arrest Records

Per ORC § 2953.32, an Ottawa County arrest record may be eligible for expungement or sealing based on the nature of the offense. The length of time a person must wait before applying to seal a record under Ohio expungement law is known as the "expungement waiting period” and depends on the type of conviction or how the case was handled. However, individuals who are acquitted do not have a waiting period. They have the option to request an expungement following the conclusion of their trial.

When an expungement application is filed in the court where the case was heard, the court may set a date for the hearing and notify the prosecutor and the victim of the offense. For cases that were dismissed, in which the defendant was found not guilty, or for which a no-bill charge was issued, there is no filing fee. The prosecutor may object to the offender's motion before the hearing.

The motion to expunge a record may be granted or denied by the judge, who will make the final decision based on the evidence and arguments presented during the hearing. An Order of Expungement and Sealing of Record may then be generated and forwarded to the appropriate agencies responsible for the records, requiring them to seal the records.

Ottawa County Arrest Warrants

An Ottawa County arrest warrant is a formal document issued by a judge or magistrate that authorizes a peace officer to arrest someone. Under Ohio Rev. Code § 2935.08, a law enforcement agent files an affidavit or complaint with a court describing an offense or probable cause for which an individual should be arrested.

Once reasonable grounds have been established, the judge, clerk, or magistrate issues an arrest warrant for the arresting peace officer to execute. If the arrest is made by a private citizen, it is issued to the most convenient peace officer who will be given custody of the apprehended individual.

An arrest warrant contains the following information:

• Subject’s first and last name
• A physical description of the subject if the name is unknown
• A description of the offense in question
• Whether the warrant is being issued before the defendant has appeared or was scheduled to appear
• The relevant statute or ordinance violated
• A copy of the complaint.

Do Ottawa County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Ottawa County arrest warrants do not expire. They will still be in effect until the accused criminal is taken into custody or the judge recalls them. When a warrant has been active for an extended period, it may appear as an outstanding warrant on background checks. Since law enforcement has access to all active warrants, the accused criminal may be taken into custody anywhere, at any time.