Pike County Arrest Records

In Pike County, law-enforcement officers may make an arrest with or without a warrant whenever they have probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed. Once the individual is taken into custody, the officer transports them to the Pike County Jail for booking and promptly arranges an arraignment before a magisterial district judge.

At the arraignment, the judge formally advises the defendant of the charges, considers bail, and schedules future proceedings—including the preliminary hearing or trial date. The arresting officer (or the prosecutor) then forwards the arrest report, charging documents, and related paperwork to the appropriate court—either the Pike County Magisterial District Court or the Court of Common Pleas. These filings open an official Pike County court record for the case.

From that point forward, every order, motion, and courtroom event is documented in the docket. Unless sealed by law, these records are open to the public and can be reviewed in person at the courthouse clerk’s office or—where electronic access is available—through the county’s online case-search portal.

Are Arrest Records Public in Pike County?

Yes, According to the Ohio Public Records Act, citizens are authorized to access arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies in the state. Hence, the Pike County Sheriff’s Office is mandated by law to release arrest records to members of the public. However, any record deemed confidential will not be open to them. Per OH Rev Code §149.43, the following arrest records are not open to public disclosure in Pike County:

• Inmate medical records
• Arrested person’s DNA records
• Probation and parole proceeding records
• Trial preparation records relating to an arrest
• Confidential law enforcement investigatory records
• Body-worn or dashboard camera recording associated with an arrest that contains confidential information.
• Any Inmate records that the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction releases to the Department of Youth Services.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Pike County public arrest records only contain information whose disclosure would not compromise a person’s safety. Record seekers should be able to view an arrested person’s first and last name, charges, and bond information in such records.

Pike County Arrest Statistics

The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) records about 10 felony arrests in Pike County in 2024 and 4 in the first four months of 2025. Individuals can contact the Pike County Sheriff’s Office at (740) 947-2111 to provide statistics on the number of persons in jail.

Find Pike County Arrest Records

Pike County residents can find arrest records of individuals housed in state and federal prisons at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction (DRC) and federal law enforcement agencies. The DRC provides arrest records online and in person at its local facilities during business hours. Online requesters can use the Offender Search portal to find arrest information maintained by the DRC. The search criteria for using this database are name, county, number, status, or hearing date.

Federal law enforcement agencies like the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), and United States Capitol Police (USCP) permit members of the public to conduct arrest record searches online and in person. The ICE has an Online Detainee Locator System and local field offices and detention facilities that requesters can visit to find records. Similarly, BOP provides arrest records online through its Inmate Locator and in person at its facilities.

Alternatively, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) only issues arrest records to individuals named on them. Such records can be copied online, by mail, or through approved channelers. Eligible individuals will have to pay $18 by money order, credit card using the Credit Card Payment Form, or certified check.

Free Arrest Record Search in Pike County

Record seekers can use the Inmate Lookup tool on the Pike County Sheriff’s Office website to find arrest records without charges. The tool provides a list of arrest information for all inmates held in the county jail. Users can scroll through to find their desired record. Alternatively, individuals can find arrest records for free on third-party websites. Free searches return basic arrest information sufficient to locate a record. However, users who need comprehensive arrest information would have to pay a small fee. Most third-party portals are unreliable compared to official websites because they sometimes contain errors. Therefore, users must be cautious of how they use the information they obtain from them.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests typically stay on a person’s records indefinitely unless they are expunged. However, not all arrest records can be expunged in Pike County. A good example is the criminal case files of an arrestee with a death penalty conviction. Additionally, some arrest records have a waiting period before they can be expunged. For example, individuals arrested for minor misdemeanors must wait six months before applying for expungement. Some arrest records have retention schedules as highlighted by the Ohio History Connection. For example, an arrestee’s criminal case file is usually kept for 50 years, while expunged records of dismissals and convictions are maintained for 110 years or seven years after death. Additionally, court and law enforcement compliance files are kept for about two (2) years.

Expunge Pike County Arrest Records

Under OH Rev Code §2151.355, an expungement is the erasure, deletion, and destruction of a person’s record such that it becomes permanently irretrievable. This process only applies to arrested persons who meet the eligibility criteria stated within the Ohio Revised Code § 2953. Eligible individuals can visit the Pike County Court of Common Pleas to obtain a copy of the expungement form. The completed form must be filed with the court clerk alongside a filing fee of $50. The court will get the prosecutor involved in the expungement application. If the court and prosecutor approve the expungement, the clerk will send the applicant’s expungement order and fingerprint records to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). After obtaining the expungement order, the BCI will expunge the applicant’s arrest records.

Pike County Arrest Warrants

Per OH Rev Code §2935.08, a judicial officer will issue an arrest warrant to a peace officer upon filing an affidavit or complaint. The warrant will be directed to a specific officer commanding them to arrest the accused (OH Rev Code § 2935.18). An arrest warrant must contain a description of the offense, the warrant issuing date, the county where it was issued, the defendant’s name or an identifying description, and the judge’s office and signature. According to OH Rev Code §2935.13, the arresting officer must bring the accused before the judicial officer who issued the warrant after the arrest.

Do Pike County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants issued in Pike County remain valid indefinitely and do not expire. They stay active until the individual is apprehended or the matter is otherwise resolved. Because these warrants have no expiration date, law enforcement officers can make an arrest at any time. As such, anyone who suspects a warrant may have been issued in their name should promptly address the situation responsibly. Unexecuted arrest warrants returned to the issuing court can be cancelled by the judge at the request of the prosecuting attorney.