Warren County Arrest Records

Warren County arrest records are maintained by law enforcement agencies and these detail people's arrests within the county. Such paperwork contains each arrestee's personal details, the location where they were arrested, and the alleged criminal offense(s), among other information.

People review arrest records to track down recently apprehended loved ones or determine the reason for someone's apprehension. Lawyers also use these records to set up bail arrangements and prepare legal defense. Subjects of arrest records may also obtain their arrest records to apply for expungement.

While arrest records provide sufficient information about an arrest, these documents cannot reveal what happened in the subsequent legal proceedings if charges were filed against the suspect. Individuals may review the Warren County court records for such details.

Are Arrest Records Public in Warren County?

Yes. Ohio Rev. Code § 149.43 (Ohio's public records law) allows people to view most police records, including arrest records, and lists information that is not accessible to the public.

Generally, the public cannot access arrest records expunged or sealed by court order, information connected to police investigations, most juvenile arrest records, and details about certain victims, witnesses, and confidential informants. Personal information like Social Security, passport, driver's license, debit/credit card, and bank account numbers are also sealed from public view.

Be that as it may, some entities, such as law enforcement agencies, case parties, and legal representatives of eligible parties, can access restricted records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Arrest information permitted by law for public release in Warren County includes the following data:

• Arrestee's name, date of birth, hair and eye color, height, weight, and photograph
• Booking number and date
• Arresting agency and officer
• Arrest location
• Arrest date
• Bail type and amount
• Charges, charge degree, and charge status
• Next court date

Warren County Crime Rate

The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services prepares reports for the Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System (OIBRS) using data received from various local law enforcement agencies. Per the 2023 report, the Warren County Sheriff's Office and other local agencies recorded the following crime incidents:

• Murder: 2
• Rape: 61
• Robbery: 11
• Aggravated Assault: 88

Violent Crime Total: 162

• Burglary/B&E: 171
• Larceny-Theft: 1,875
• Motor Vehicle Theft: 157

Property Crime Total: 2,203

Warren County Arrest Statistics

There are no online records of complete Warren County arrest statistics. However, people can contact or visit county agencies like the Sheriff's Office or local police departments to ask about recorded arrest data. One can also view the total Warren County arrests executed by the Ohio State Highway Patrol online.

Find Warren County Arrest Records

When seeking arrest records, the first custodians to approach are the Warren County Sheriff's Office and police departments covering different municipalities.

Most police departments have records clerks or divisions that people can contact to request records in person, by phone, or by email. For example, people looking for details about individuals arrested by the Lebanon Division of Police can contact its records clerk by email or telephone at (513) 932-2010.

Notably, the Sheriff's Office handles the county's jail and maintains information about every pretrial and sentenced inmate in the facility. People can search the office's online inmate database for details like an arrestee's name and personal description, booking number and date, arrest date, court appearance dates, bail information, arresting agency and officer, and the arrest location. To access the database, one can select the In-Custody Search tab from the main menu of the Sheriff's official website. Generally, individuals can search the platform with a person's name.

People can also request paper or electronic copies of arrest records maintained by the Sheriff's Office. The process involves submitting requests in person or sending emails, faxes, or mail to the Sheriff's Office Manager. Copies cost as follows:

• Paper copies: 5 cents per page (first 20 pages are free)
• Electronic documents (compact discs): 25 cents per CD
• Electronic files (flash drives): $4 per drive
• Emailed documents: Free

Note that if someone is serving time in state prison, their incarceration details will be in the custody of the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. People can contact the department or use its web search tool to review inmate locations, offense details, and other details like the committing county and offense degree.

Apart from local and state agencies, members of the public can approach federal law enforcement institutions for arrests connected to federal offenses. For example, the Bureau of Prisons' inmate locator can help the public find federal inmates, and the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement's Online Detainee Locator System can help people locate individuals arrested for immigration offenses. Interested parties can also use each agency's Freedom of Information Act request process to obtain arrest records.

Free Arrest Record Search in Warren County

Members of the public can access online inmate and detainee search resources provided by federal, state, and local agencies for free. Some third-party public record websites also provide free access to Warren County arrest records, but fees may apply to order or view records.

The Sheriff's Office also offers free background checks to members of the public looking to obtain Warren County arrest histories on any individual. Applicants can submit their request verbally by phone, in person, by mail, or via fax using the following details:

Office Manager/Records Custodian
822 Memorial Drive
Lebanon, Ohio 45036
Phone: (513) 695-1280
Fax: (513) 695-1286

Individuals can also submit their background check request using the office's online request form or by emailing the Records Custodian/Office Manager.

Additionally, people can view court records to find arrest information without cost in person or online. The following free methods are available, depending on the presiding court:

• Warren County Court of Common Pleas: This court handles felony offenses anywhere within the county. People can find arrest records using the court's online case inquiry system. The system allows members of the public to search by name or case number and disseminates details like the arresting agency, the defendant's personal information, charges (including level, description, and degree), and case status (whether open or ongoing).

Individuals can also visit the Warren County Clerk of Courts office at the following address to inspect the court records for free:

500 Justice Drive
P.O. Box 238
Lebanon, Ohio 45036
Phone: (513) 695-1120
Fax: (513) 695-2965

• Warren County Court: The county court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and felony preliminary hearings. It covers certain townships and villages listed on its website. The court also has a dedicated web search system, accessible from its home page, where individuals can find arrest information contained in court records at no cost. Further, individuals can visit the court clerk's office to review documents.
• Municipal Courts: Municipal courts have the same criminal jurisdiction as the Warren County Court but only serve specific municipalities. For example, the Lebanon Municipal Court covers Lebanon and Turtlecreek Townships, the Mason Municipal Court handles cases in Mason and Deerfield Townships, and the Franklin Municipal Court oversees Franklin and Carlisle townships. Individuals can visit these courts or use their online case search systems to find relevant arrest records.

Requesters should note that they will need to cover the costs required to reproduce records and will pay additional fees to certify copies.

Get Warren County Criminal Records

Criminal records are commonly known as RAP sheets or criminal record histories, and the process of obtaining them is called a background check or background investigation. Criminal histories (or records) are largely made up of court records. However, these records also include arrest and incarceration information and detail each person's interactions with criminal justice agencies.

Healthcare facilities, public and private employers, daycare centers, license regulators, and schools are permitted by Ohio law to run background checks. The process involves submitting electronic fingerprints to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Each applicant must visit an authorized WebCheck Location to run a fingerprint scan. Individuals can visit the Deerfield Township location of the Warren County Sheriff's Office to request the WebCheck fingerprinting service:

Warren County Sheriff's Office
(Deerfield Township Post)
4900 Parkway Drive
Mason, Ohio 45040
Phone: (513) 701-1800

It is important to note that the background check service offered by the BCI only covers criminal records generated within Ohio unless requesters specify they want an FBI check. People seeking national criminal background information can also approach the FBI for their Identity History Summary.

Those who are not qualified to check other people's criminal histories can search through court records, as explained previously. Interested parties can also contact or visit the clerk of the court where a case was heard to find out the court's record retrieval requirements.

Warren County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records explain why, where, and when a person was arrested and how they were processed into a holding facility. The documents do not reveal whether the person committed the crime for which they were arrested or how that interaction with the criminal justice system ended.

Meanwhile, criminal records provide more context and details that people cannot find in arrest records. This includes information on the court events, judgment, and sentencing. If the person was arrested and convicted multiple times, one can find those details in their criminal records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Perpetually. Arrest records are maintained by law enforcement, courts, and other criminal justice agencies until the subjects of those records submit petitions to seal or expunge them.

Expunge Warren County Arrest Records

Ohio law (Ohio Rev. Code § 2953.33) allows individuals to seal or expunge their arrest records when they meet specific requirements. These processes ensure innocent individuals and those convicted of minor crimes can regain their full civil liberties.

However, people who seal their records only restrict public access under Ohio Rev. Code § 2953.34. Law enforcement agencies can still retrieve and use their criminal histories as evidence during future prosecutions. Expunged records, on the other hand, are permanently destroyed.

Individuals who can seal or expunge their records include people who were never charged, had their cases dismissed, were convicted of crimes committed as human trafficking victims, or received pardons. People who successfully had their convictions overturned under Ohio Rev. Code § 2953.21, were convicted of less severe drug-related crimes, and found guilty of some firearms offenses can also apply to seal their records.

The process for expunging and sealing records can vary and depend on the individual's crime and situation. For example, Certain individuals named in Ohio Rev. Code § 2953.33 (C) will only be permitted to seal their records as mentioned. Also, people who received "no bill" grand jury documents must apply two years after the filing, and prosecutors must file certain drug-related expungement petitions.

Generally, individuals can follow these steps to expunge or seal their records, as outlined in Ohio Rev. Code § 2953.33:

• Download and fill out the motion to seal or expunge record form from the relevant court. Individuals can download this form from the Warren County Court, Court of Common Pleas, or a Municipal Court's website, depending on which court has jurisdiction over their offense.
• Attach arrest records and other relevant documents.
• Wait 45 to 90 days for the court to notify the prosecutor and set a hearing date.
• Allow the prosecutor to respond 30 days before the hearing date scheduled by the court.

After the hearing, the court will review the petition and arguments and either dismiss the petition or file an order to seal or expunge the applicant's arrest or criminal records.

Warren County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are written legal orders issued to guarantee the apprehension of people accused of breaking the law. Judges and magistrates create these documents upon receiving complaints about an individual's alleged criminal activities. Arrest warrants can also be issued after a prosecutor submits an indictment or traffic citation. Moreover, a judge can sign an order for a person's arrest (called a bench warrant) when the defendant fails to pay a fine, complete their parole or probation, appear in court, or obey court orders like paying child support.

Per Ohio Rev. Code § 2935.18 and Ohio Crim. R. 4, arrest warrants in Warren contain the name of the issuing county, the suspect's name or description, the defendant's alleged offense, and the judge's signature. The complaint used to request the warrant can also be attached to the document, where applicable.

Warren County Arrest Warrant Search

Arrest warrants are considered court records because clerks, judges, and magistrates issue them. As such, people can visit an issuing court or use other methods provided by a court clerk's office to find an arrest warrant in Warren County. Knowing where an alleged offense occurred can help determine the court to query. For example, people can view a list of active arrest warrants issued within the City of Lebanon on the Lebanon Municipal Court's website.

Individuals can also approach the Sheriff's Office or other local police departments to confirm whether they have active warrants issued for their arrest.

Do Warren County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants remain active indefinitely unless judges recall or squash them. Such orders are also considered resolved after law enforcement officers apprehend a subject or the wanted person turns themselves. People can also carry out court instructions, like paying outstanding fines, to make their warrants disappear.