Williams County Arrest Records

William County arrest records contain information about arrest incidents, with details such as arrestee personal data, alleged crime description, booking information, and arresting agency information. For arrests that proceed to arraignment or trial, there usually exist related Williams County court records and criminal records. The creation and maintenance of arrest records are the responsibilities of the county sheriff. Williams County inmates are held at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio (CCNO).

Are Arrest Records Public in Williams County?

Yes. Under the Ohio Sunshine Law, arrest records created in Williams County and other counties across Ohio are public. By the provisions of this law, these records and other records maintained by public offices across the state are subject to public inspection and copying by interested members of the public. However, this law exempts certain records from public disclosure, particularly if their disclosure could interfere with legal proceedings, obstruct ongoing investigations, pose a safety threat to the record’s subject, or constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy.

Certain arrest records may be sequestered if their disclosure is deemed against public interest. Individuals who require confidential arrest records for legitimate or official purposes should approach the court for a subpoena authorizing their access. Non-public arrest records/information include the following:

• Information about confidential informants
• Sensitive juvenile information
• Sensitive personal data, such as phone numbers, social security numbers, and banking information
• Records classified by Sections 2710.03, 4112.05, and 5120.21 (Division E) of the Ohio Revised Codes
• Non-pubic investigative records
• Sealed or expunged arrest records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following are obtainable during arrest record lookups:

• Arrestee’s photo/mugshots
• Arrestee’s full name
• Arrestee’s date of birth
• Physical descriptors like weight, race, and eye color
• Detention status
• Name of detention facility
• Alleged charges
• Bond/bail information
• Release date (for persons no longer in custody).

Williams County Arrest Statistics

Statewide arrest statistics are available on the FBI UCR website. According to this report, the following arrests were made in Ohio in 2019: 244 for murder and non-negligent manslaughter, 438 for rape, 1,830 for robbery, 6,240 for aggravated assault, 3,583 for burglary, 25,142 for larceny, 893 for motor vehicle theft, and 251 arson. Arrests made for violent crimes were 8,752 while those for property crimes were 29,869. The total arrests made were 205,987.

Find Williams County Arrest Records

Individuals arrested in Williams County are held at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio. This facility serves multiple counties, including Fulton, Defiance, Lucas, and Henry counties. Bookings at CCNO are published on the institution’s website and contain information about arrests made within the last week. For older arrests, visit the facility with a valid ID and identifying information about the arrestee.

03151 County Road 2425
Stryker, OH 43557-9418
Phone: (419) 428-3800
Fax: (419) 428-2119

For a statewide search, visit the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections’ (DRC) Offender Search tool. This database contains information about past and current offenders under DRC supervision. Searches on this website are name-based and return inmate data, such as full name, mugshot, sentencing information, and criminal history information.

For local background checks, interested parties may utilize the Webcheck platform maintained by the Williams County Sheriff’s Office. It covers data maintained by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal History Identification and Investigation (BCI&I) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This service is available Monday through Thursday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The fee for each database (FBI or CBI) searched is $30.

Free Arrest Record Search in Williams County

Many third-party websites exist for free public records searches, although some may charge minor subscription fees. Searches on these platforms are usually name-based and may furnish a researcher with data for multiple counties. It is best to conduct further verification and research on official databases, as these websites usually contain incomplete information.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Unless a person's arrest record is expunged, they stay on file indefinitely. Sealing an arrest record only makes it confidential, meaning that people can view them using subpoenas. People who wish to destroy their records for any reason must meet stipulated expungement requirements and proceed to file for an expungement.

Expunge Williams County Arrest Records

Per the Ohio Revised Code (Section 2953), expunging an arrest record means completely destroying them, after which it becomes as if such arrests were never made. In Williams County, sealed juvenile records become eligible for automatic expungement five years after the records were sealed. However, records pertaining to cases where a person was found guilty of murder, aggravated murder, and rape cannot be sealed or expunged under Ohio laws. Note that while expunged records are completely destroyed, sealed records are still maintained but are made non-public.

To be eligible for an expungement or sealing, the record subject must have fulfilled the following:

• All fine, sentence, and parole/probation obligations must have been fulfilled
• There must be no pending criminal proceedings against the petitioner
• The reason for the expungement must be consistent with public interest
• Rehabilitation requirements have been met
• The defendant is an eligible offender
• The crime was less than a first-degree misdemeanor.

Although there is a $50.00 filing fee for expungement applications, petitioners whose charges were dismissed or were not found guilty of the pressed charges are not required to pay this fee. The Williams County Court of Common Pleas handles record expungement petitions. The first step involved in an expungement is filing an application to expunge. This typically involves the submission of various documentation. Upon determining that the applicant is eligible for an expungement, the prosecutor's office (and any victims) will be notified of the expungement filing.

The prosecutor’s office is expected to file a response to the court, which may include an objection, within 30 days. If there are no objections, the court may issue an expungement order without a hearing. Otherwise, a hearing shall be conducted. Apart from the aforementioned criteria, a court's decision depends on other factors like the offender’s age, their behaviors after the offense, their employment history, and circumstances related to the person’s rehabilitation.

Williams County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants in Williams County are typically issued by a magistrate or judge. They are official documents commanding law enforcement to arrest individuals accused of committing offenses or disobeying judicial orders. Before an arrest warrant is issued, there must be a complaint or official statement stating that the individual to be named in the warrant committed a crime. More importantly, there must be sufficient evidence to establish probable cause linking the suspect to the crime, which shall form the basis upon which the warrant shall be issued (ORC 2935.08). By law, an arrest warrant must contain

• A description of the alleged crime
• A name, sex, age, and other information or description that can aid the identification of the suspect with reasonable certainty
• The arrest clause
• Bond conditions
• Name and seal of issuing authority
• Date and county of issuance.

To search for arrest warrants, contact the Williams County Clerk of Court.

Do Williams County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants issued in Williams County do not expire until the individual named on the warrant gets arrested or dies. The subject of an arrest warrant can avoid an arrest if they turn themselves in and fulfill bond requirements. Otherwise, a warrant can only be nullified if the issuing authority cancels it.