Ross County Arrest Records

The Ross County Sheriff's Office maintains records of arrests made by law enforcement officers within its jurisdiction. The records usually contain information about the arrested person and everything leading up to their arrest and subsequent detention in the Ross County jail. Individuals seeking access to arrest records may query the county Sheriff's office to request the record of interest—information about arrestees whose cases go to court may also be found within Ross County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Ross County?

Yes, according to the Ohio Public Records Act, arrest records are public in Ross County. This Act affords members of the public the right to request arrest records from law enforcement agencies in Ross County. However, these agencies are authorized to restrict public access to some arrest records for privacy reasons. Per OH Rev Code §149.43, juvenile arrest records, trial preparation, and records pertaining to probation and parole proceedings are deemed confidential. Arrest records whose disclosure will reveal the identity of a witness or endanger the life or physical safety of a crime victim or a confidential source are not considered public in Ross County.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records typically contain the following information:

• The arrested person's full name and mugshot
• Identifying information (race, gender, date of birth, eye color, hair color, weight, and height)
• Booking information (agency, location, and booking date and number)
• Arrest information (arrest date, agency, location, and arresting officer's name)
• Charge information (charge degree, description, and status)
• Court information (case number, court, judge's name, and next court date)
• Bail information (bail amount and type)
• Disposition information (disposition and date)

Ross County Arrest Statistics

The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) record shows that about 82 felony arrests occurred in Scioto County in 2023 and 124 arrests as of October 2024. The total number of offenders in the Ross County Jail is usually outlined on the Sheriff's Office online portal and is updated frequently.

Find Ross County Arrest Records

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction (ODRC) runs state prisons that house adults convicted of felonies whose prison terms are at least six months. Record seekers can find data on incarcerated individuals currently serving time in state prisons through the Offender Search portal. The search criteria are name, number, county, or hearing date. The ODRC has many facilities throughout the state that individuals can visit to request copies of arrest records.

Copies of Ross County arrest records can also be obtained in person at federal law enforcement agencies during business hours. The requester must provide a name, arrest date, or number so the staff can process the request. This service usually attracts a small fee. Below are other ways to find arrest records maintained by federal law enforcement agencies:

• The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) issues arrest records online to members of the public. The search parameters are a number or name.
• The United States Capitol Police (USCP) gives members of the public access to its arrest summary reports online and by mail. Users of the online portals can enter a CFN number, crime date, crime summary, or crime type in the search box to filter their searches. Mail requesters should complete a Request Form and send it to the USCP at:

United States Capitol Police
Reports Processing Section
Washington, DC 20510

• The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) provides access to arrest records online through the Online Detainee Locator System. A search can be conducted using an A-number or biographical information.
• The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) makes copies of arrest records available to subjects of records online, by mail, or through approved channelers. This service costs $18, payable by certified check, credit card, or money order.

Free Arrest Record Search in Ross County

The Ross County Sheriff's Office’s Inmate Roster provides information about incarcerated individuals. Users typically need to enter a last or first name in the appropriate search box to view an arrest record. They can also click on any of the letters available on the portal to view information on every inmate in custody whose last name begins with that letter.

Record seekers can conduct free arrest record searches on third-party portals. They would need a name or arrest date to find arrest information on these portals. After entering the appropiate search criteria in the available box, users can view a few pieces of information on an an arrest record for free. However, users can pay a small fee to view more information about an arrested person or download copies of records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

When a person is arrested in Ross County, the record of the arrest becomes permanently part of the person's criminal history. The arrest information is stored in various law enforcement agencies' databases and is accessible to members of the public. However, record holders have their arrest records expunged to remove them from the public eye.

The Ohio History Connection has a record retention schedule of law enforcement government agencies with custody of arrest records. For example:

• Electronic copies of weekly court disposition reports are kept for six months
• A Ross County law enforcement agency's compliance file is kept for two years.
• Criminal case transcripts and exhibit dispositions are kept for one year after the case is closed.
• Papered copies of weekly court disposition reports are kept for 110 years or seven years after death.
• Supplemental reports, criminal cases, crash reports, incidents, arrests, and warrants are kept for six years.
• An arrested person's criminal case files are kept for 50 years, and daily jail activity logs are kept for three (3) years.
• Transcripts, rap sheets, and rapback programs are kept for 2 years in paper form and 60 days if they are in electronic form.
• Expunged arrest records are deleted immediately when law enforcement agencies receive expungement orders from the court.
• Sealed and expunged records of dismissals and convictions are kept for 110 years or seven years after the death of the record holder.
• DNA samples remain in the record for 125 years from the collection date, but rejected samples are kept for one (1) year.

Expunge Ross County Arrest Records

To expunge means to destroy, delete, or erase a person's arrest records as though they never existed (OH Rev Code §2151.355). Those interested in having their records expunged must satisfy the provisions outlined in Ohio Revised Code § 2953. Records may be expunged in the following steps:

• STEP 1: Contact the Ross County Clerk of Courts to conduct a court record search. The search can be performed online or in person at the courthouse. The court record contains the case number, offense name, degree, conviction date, as well as the date their sentence was completed, which is required to complete the expungement form.
• STEP 2: Visit the court in person and request the appropiate expungement form. The applicant should also ask how many copies of the forms should be filed. Return a completed expungement and copies to the Clerk and pay a filing fee of $50.
• STEP 3: The Clerk will schedule a hearing date and notify the Ross County Prosecutor. The prosecutor can file an objection to the expungement request if they do not want the judge to grant it. If no objection is filed, the judge will conduct a hearing. If the judge grants the request, they will sign an expungement order and notify the applicant by mail.
• STEP 4: The Clerk will send the signed expungement order to all agencies with the applicant's arrest records in their custody. It takes these agencies about six weeks to delete the person's records from their databases.

Ross County Arrest Warrants

Per Ohio Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 4, a judicial officer issues an arrest warrant when they receive a written complaint or an affidavit(s) that a person has committed a criminal offense. They use the document to determine the probable cause to justify the warrant issuance. Ohio law permits a judicial officer to issue multiple arrest warrants on the same complaint. The warrant will contain the following information:

• The defendant's name or any name or identifying description if the name is unknown
• A description of the offense committed by the defendant
• A statement of whether the warrant is being issued before the accused has appeared or was scheduled to appear
• The numerical designation of the applicable statute or ordinance

The judge will attach a copy of the complaint to the warrant and give it to an authorized officer to execute. The officer can execute the warrant anywhere in the state of Ohio. After executing the warrant, the officer may be required to return it to the issuing court.

Do Ross County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Generally, a Ross County arrest warrant does not expire. It only becomes inactive when the person named on it is arrested.