Are Criminal Records in Portage County Publicly Accessible?

According to Section 149.43 of the Ohio Revised Code, Portage County criminal records are publicly accessible. Under Ohio laws, individuals and other entities may request copies of Portage County arrest histories and other crime-related documents from the Portage County Sheriff's Office and the Portage County Clerk of Courts Office.

However, due to privacy and safety concerns, there are exceptions. Portage County criminal records custodians will deny access to the documents that are sealed, expunged, or related to juvenile offenders.

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

The Ohio Public Information Act grants all individuals access to Portage County criminal records. These include:

• Private individuals
• Law enforcement agencies
• Employers
• The courts
• Attorneys and legal representatives
• Researchers
• Journalists
• Authorized agencies.

However, the type of accessible criminal records that are accessible depends on the documents and the requesting entity. There are legal restrictions on public access to some Portage County criminal records, and access may require court orders or special consent. For instance, Ohio laws do not permit public access to sealed and juvenile criminal records. These documents are accessible only to authorized entities and through judicial orders.

How to Request Criminal Records in Portage County

Requesters may access Portage County criminal records through the Portage County Clerk of Court or Sheriff's Office. Portage County criminal record seekers should:

• Log into the Portage County Clerk of Courts CourtView Court Records Portal and search for criminal records by names, case types, or case or citation numbers
• Request local county criminal records by email at afisher@portageco.com or tmaiorca@portageco.com, or Fax: (330) 298-2110
• Visit the Portage County Sheriff's Office or mail a request with the report number (if available), name of the subject, and date and location of the incident to the Portage County Sheriff's Office Records Division at:

8240 Infirmary Road,
Ravenna,
OH 44266
Phone: (330) 296-5100

• Request background checks for Portage County criminal records through any Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation Webcheck® locations.
• Search for county criminal records online through Ohiocourtrecords.us or other independent platforms.

Requesters should note that access to copies of Portage County criminal records may come at a fee. Copies of such records generally cost $0.10 per standard page and $1.00 per page for the certified documents. Also, applicants should note the wait time for delivery after payment depends on the complexity of the documents, request method, volume of requests, and delivery method. The timeline for delivering copies of county criminal records may vary between immediate access (if the documents are downloadable online) and 1 to 30 business days.

What Information Is Contained in Portage County Criminal Records?

A typical criminal record in Portage or any Ohio county contains the following information or more:

• Name, date of birth, gender, race, and address of the subject
• Arrest history (this includes information like dates of arrest, names of arresting agencies, and bail/bond details)
• Criminal charges
• Case numbers
• Mugshots
• Court records (this encompasses information relating to trials. For instance, docket entries, pleas, trial dates, and judgments)
• Names of the prosecuting and defending attorneys
• Dates of convictions
• Duration of incarcerations
• Names and locations of prison facilities
• Jail or prison admission and release dates

Portage County criminal records may also contain arrest warrants, expungement or sealing status, and probation or parole details. Generally, not all criminal records are publicly accessible, and documents relating to sealed, expunged, and juvenile convictions are restricted.

Are There Restrictions on Accessing Criminal Records in Portage County?

Yes, there are restrictions to some Portage County criminal records. Although the Ohio Public Information Act permits public disclosure of criminal records, such access must not violate privacy laws or endanger the public. Hence, there is restricted access to sealed and juvenile criminal records. Also, records of expunged criminal convictions are not accessible. However, sealed and juvenile criminal records are legally accessible to the courts, law enforcement agencies, and authorized entities.

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

Requesters may appeal the decisions of custodian agencies to deny them access to Portage County criminal records. The Portage County Clerk of Courts and other custodians may deny access to criminal records if the documents are sealed, the requester is ineligible, they do not have the records, or for several other reasons. Record seekers should do the following if a custodian agency denies them access to non-confidential records:

• Contact the agency and request a written explanation of the reasons for the denial
• Appeal to the agency to rescind their decision if there are reasons to believe it is wrong
• If the agency refuses to reconsider, file a complaint to the Ohio Attorney General's Office - Public Records Unit at:

30 E. Broad Street, 14th Floor,
Columbus,
OH 43215

• Seek professional advice and consider legal actions if other options fail.

How to Expunge or Seal Portage County Criminal Records

The following steps outline the process for sealing or expunging Portage County criminal records:

• Determine eligibility to seal or expunge the specific criminal record
• Gather documents that may aid the petition for the sealing or expunction (this arrest history, offense details, disposition documents, and dates of completion of sentences)
• File petition for sealing or expunction through the Portage County Clerk of Courts Office
• Pay the filing fees
• Notify the Portage County Prosecuting Attorney and the arresting agency about the petition.
• Wait for the court to decide on the petition. If it approves the sealing or expunction, the court will issue expunction or sealing orders and instruct the relevant agencies to seal or remove the records from their databases.

Applicants should note the following requirements for sealing or expunging criminal records in Portage County:

• The criminal records must be for an eligible crime
• The convicts must complete their sentences or undergo rehabilitation and reintegration into the society
• The applicants must observe the applicable waiting periods, have no pending criminal trials, and pay all court-imposed fines.