Trumbull County Arrest Records

Per Ohio Revised Code, Title 29, Section 2935.04, law enforcement authorities may arrest someone if they have reasonable grounds to believe they are guilty of committing a crime. When a peace officer apprehends someone for violating a penal law, the suspect may be taken into police custody and booked for the associated felony, misdemeanor, or infraction.

Booking involves collecting the suspect's fingerprints, identifying information (name, age, gender, height, weight), mugshots, and personal property at the time of the arrest. These vital pieces of information collected at the Justice Center or other designated facility ultimately constitute the Trumbull County arrest records.

Law enforcement agencies are generally responsible for maintaining arrest records and similar reports. However, finding arrest information in other public offices and archives, such as the Trumbull County court records, criminal history information, and prosecutorial records is not unusual.

An arrest record is primarily needed to charge a suspect in court. However, it can also be retrieved for other purposes. For example, an attorney may review the record to grasp the circumstances surrounding their client's loss of freedom, proffer plea agreements, and argue criminal cases. Also, family members and legal guardians may request details about a person's arrest to make adequate preparations for their bail settlements or jail visitation.

Are Arrest Records Public in Trumbull County?

Yes, albeit with specific exceptions. Anyone can retrieve and make copies of Trumbull County arrest records under the Ohio Public Records Act and Ohio R. Superi. Ct. 45.

However, the following information is withdrawn from public perusal:

• Records containing confidential law enforcement investigatory materials where disclosure could impede the progress of the investigation
• Expunged or sealed records
• Arrest records of juveniles
• Information concerning crime victims, confidential informants, and witnesses
• Records that are confidential by statute
• The identity of a suspect yet to be charged with the offense for which they were arrested
• Information whose disclosure may threaten the life or physical safety of a crime victim, witness, or law enforcement officer
• Arrest records that may reveal the identity of a victim of domestic violence, victim of a sex offense, or victim of menacing by stalking

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Trumbull County criminal justice entities are authorized to disclose the following arrest information to members of the public:

• Arrestee's personal information and physical descriptors, such as their full name, gender, age, occupation, date of birth, hair color, race, mugshot, scars or tattoos
• Circumstances of the arrest, such as the date, time, and location
• Status of the case (released, in custody, pre-trial)
• Booking date, time, and identification number
• Bail information
• Arresting agency
• Alleged charge and charge description

Trumbull County Crime Rate

Crime reports from the Ohio Department of Criminal Justice Services showed 11,381 crimes reported to the OIBRS (Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System) by Trumbull County law enforcement agencies in 2022. The county had an offense rate of 6,778 per 100,000 population. Crimes against property had a total of 2,566 incidents, followed by crimes against persons with a total of 1,764 and crimes against society with a total of 1,219.

Trumbull County Arrest Statistics

The Ohio Department of Criminal Justice Services does not provide arrest statistics for any county in Ohio. Members of the public who need this information are advised to consult the police department that has jurisdiction over the region they wish to search.

Find Trumbull County Arrest Records

To find arrest information in Trumbull County, individuals must first determine the status of the arrest and the appropriate law enforcement agency to approach. The first point of call is usually the agency that performed the arrest. This may be the local Sheriff's office or a municipal police department like the Howland Township Police Department.

For example, the Trumbull Sheriff's Office provides several request options for individuals interested in knowing the whereabouts of their loved ones. Individuals can send written requests through the Public Records portal (Select "Record Request" under Services from the Sheriff's homepage). The web portal allows online users to conveniently submit requests for public arrest information and receive updates electronically for free. To begin, one can click the "Make New Request" button on the right-hand side of the screen and provide a record description (the name of the parties involved and the type/location of the incident).

Requesters can also seek records from the Sheriff's office at 150 High Street North West, Warren, Ohio 44481. However, a fee may apply to obtain copies of documents. Paper copies cost 5 cents per page, while electronic files saved to compact discs may attract a charge of $1 per disc.

The Trumbull County Sheriff's Office also maintains an inmate search web portal for people to find information on current and past county inmates, including arrest data. Basic search details include an inmate's name, date of birth, gender, case status, and race. The database shows the inmate's mugshot, booking ID, release date, charge description, holding facility, and arrest status.

People can also obtain information on individuals arrested in Trumbull County but incarcerated in state or federal prisons by querying the following entities:

• The Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC) provides an online offender search system for people to retrieve information on incarcerated individuals serving time in any Ohio correctional facility. One can search the database by name or offender number. They can also narrow the results by providing the residential county, commitment county, hearing date, next parole board, hearing date, and status (whether an individual is currently incarcerated, under supervision, or wanted over a violation).
• Finally, arrest information of persons sentenced to federal correctional facilities is accessible via the Federal Inmate Locator. One can also query the Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS) if the person in question is in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) custody.

Free Arrest Record Search in Trumbull County

Individuals can use the online inmate search portal provided by the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office to conduct a free arrest record search. This public records portal is available for public record inspection at no cost. Still, requests for printed copies may attract a nominal fee charged at the discretion of the Sheriff's Records Department.

Get Trumbull County Criminal Records

A criminal record (also called "criminal history record information" or "RAP sheet") encapsulates vital information regarding a person's contacts with the criminal justice system.

Anyone requesting criminal records within Trumbull County can explore the following options:

• The Sheriff's Office: Residents who need a local background check for employment, licensing, and other official purposes can request a Web Check and fingerprinting service from the Sheriff's office. To access the service, one should select "Fingerprinting" under Services from the Sheriff's Office website.

The office requires an appointment and a service payment fee. Fingerprinting costs are based on the depth of background check service required. For example, individuals requesting comprehensive information from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) or the FBI will be charged $35. On the other hand, requests for both BCI and FBI background checks may cost $70.

People can contact the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office for more information at:

Trumbull County Sheriff's Office
150 High Street North West
Warren, Ohio 44481
Phone: (330) 675-4040
Fax: (330) 675-7909
Email: Sheriff_CCW@co.trumbull.oh.us

• The Courts: Generally, people can also explore the offline and online options provided by the local courts for retrieving criminal court records. For example, the Trumbull County Clerk of Courts provides access to felony criminal records generated in the Trumbull County Common Pleas General Division. Similarly, the Central District Court offers access to information on misdemeanor criminal cases.

Both the Trumbull County Common Pleas Court's case information and the Central District's case record portal provide vital details about criminal cases adjudicated in each jurisdiction, including issued warrants, charges, and hearing information. These portals can typically be searched by a person's name or case number, although other parameters may be used to filter a search.

Requesters can also visit or contact the specific presiding court for certified or plain copies of criminal court records.

• The Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI): State background checks are often conducted to review a person's comprehensive criminal information, such as previous arrests, charges, convictions, and incarceration details. According to Ohio law, public and private entities such as daycare centers, schools, security companies, healthcare facilities, and licensing organizations can request background checks as part of their hiring procedure.

Applicants may book an appointment at an authorized Web Check location to submit their fingerprints electronically to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Alternatively, they can complete the process through a fingerprint card scan at any agency that provides the service. The Trumbull County Sheriff's Office is an approved web check vendor.

Background checks are performed by comparing fingerprints received from these web check locations against the state criminal repository to determine the existence of a criminal record.

Inquirers can review the BCI's Frequently Asked Questions or contact its Civilian Identification Department at (877) 224-0043 for more guidelines.

• The Federal Bureau of Investigation

One can perform a national background check through the FBI by requesting their Identity History Summary (or rap sheet). The summary lists fingerprint submissions related to one's arrests and criminal involvements, as compiled by the FBI. Applications are primarily received through the FBI's website or via mail.

Trumbull County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

One significant distinction between an arrest and a criminal record lies in the record's implications. An arrest record explains the offenses a person was arrested for and the circumstances of the suspect's arrest, detention, and release. However, it cannot be used to prove one's involvement in a crime.

Meanwhile, a criminal record encapsulates one's arrests, court dispositions, incarcerations, probations, and releases. The record is compiled as one progresses through the criminal justice system. A criminal record poses several difficulties for the owner, including international travel, bank loans, career, and license restrictions.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Basically, arrests in Trumbull County stay on an individual's record until death. The implication is that anyone can request access to such information through the appropriate channels. However, the State of Ohio authorizes eligible persons to expunge their arrest records.

Expunge Trumbull County Arrest Records

In Trumbull County, qualified subjects of records can apply to expunge or seal their arrest records. Sealing one's record obstructs public viewing of it. However, the record will still be available to criminal justice agencies. Meanwhile, an expungement permanently destroys a record.

Both processes allow defendants to clear eligible references to a prior arrest or criminal conviction. In a legal sense, it will be as if the case never happened, and the defendant can rightfully claim as much.

Under ORC 2953.01 et seq., only applicants who meet all the state's criteria can file for expungement, including:

• Where the conviction to be expunged is not among those precluded by statute
• Where the defendant was acquitted or had the charges dismissed
• Anyone with a no-bill decision from the grand jury
• Anyone previously convicted of firearms violations per ORC 2953.35
• Persons who were arrested but never charged with an offense.
• People who received a pardon from the government
• Defendants who have successfully challenged their convictions under ORC 2953.21
• Anyone who was sentenced for possession of a low-level controlled substance offense under ORC 2954.39

Qualified applicants can petition the court to seal or expunge their records per ORC 2953.33. They can obtain an application form from the court clerk's office where the case was filed or heard. The form and other required documentation should be filed with this office to request an expungement.

Afterward, the court may notify the prosecutor in charge of the case and also schedule a hearing 45 days after receiving the petition. The prosecutor has only 30 days to object to or approve the application before the scheduled hearing.

Next, the presiding judge will review the petition and associated documents, including the prosecutor's objections or approval claims, before deciding whether the applicant's petition should be granted.

If a petitioner's request is granted, the court will issue an expungement order to all relevant criminal justice agencies and repositories where the records are maintained. This order mandates that the agencies destroy or erase the person's arrest or conviction information.

Still, traces of one's arrest information may be found on third-party sites, which are not affected by the court order. Interested persons may contact the operators of these sites to erase the records from their databases.

Trumbull County Arrest Warrants

In Trumbull County, arrest warrants are official orders signed by a judicial officer authorizing law enforcement officers to restrict a person's freedom of movement.

To obtain an arrest warrant, the affiant (person requesting the warrant) must establish "probable cause" via an affidavit that the named person has committed the crime. The warrant, if issued, will state the offender's full name, the offense, the warrant type and issue date, and the judge's signature.

Aside from criminal offenses, arrest warrants can also be approved to apprehend defendants who have violated the terms of their probation, failed to comply with court orders, or failed to appear for their court hearings.

Trumbull County Arrest Warrant Search

Anyone who wants to conduct a Trumbull County arrest warrant search can utilize case search tools or other case retrieval resources provided by local courts. Researchers can also visit or call the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office at (330) 675-4040.

People who find pending or active arrest warrants are advised to seek legal advice immediately. Visiting the Sheriff's office or court in person could result in immediate apprehension.

Do Trumbull County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants remain active until the subjects are arrested. However, in some cases, the issuing authority may recall such an order.