Ohio Arrest Records Search
How to Look Up Arrest Records in Ohio
Ohio arrest records and criminal records are kept in repository databases which are fed by various law enforcement agencies. The general public can find someone’s arrest and criminal records using a name search or through fingerprints. Most government entities suggest the fingerprint method as it is much more reliable. Plus, if someone was arrested in another part of the state using an alias, a name search may not adequately match them up with the person they are seeking.
Are Ohio Arrest Records Public?
Yes. This state does allow the general public to find and request copies of someone’s arrest records. People can use both name-based searches and fingerprints to perform an Ohio inmate search. Law enforcement agencies who create the reports must provide copies to the general public upon request.
Victims & Offenders by Gender and Race
Offenders by Race
| Black or African American | 59% | |
| White | 30% | |
| Unknown | 10% | |
| Native Hawaiian | 0% | |
| Offenders w/ reported race | 3,562 | |
Victims by Race
| Black or African American | 45% | |
| White | 51% | |
| Unknown | 3% | |
| Asian | 1% | |
| Native Hawaiian | 0% | |
| Victims w/ reported race | 3,765 | |
What Information You Can Find in a state Criminal Report?
Ohio arrest records usually contain general information like name, age, date of birth, address, phone, gender, race, height weight, fingerprints and sometimes a mugshot. They will also include arrests, the time and place of arrest, warrants, charges, convictions, and RAP sheets. Often reports will include driving records and accident history as well. If someone wanted to find out the name of the officer who arrested the person, the arresting agency, and the charges filed, that will be on there too. Often they also contain tattoos, scars and other physical descriptors.
Ohio State Police Reports and Mugshots
Are Police Reports Public Record in Ohio?
Yes, police reports in Ohio are considered public records. The Ohio State Highway Patrol has set up a specific website to provide vehicle crash reports and crime/incident reports to the public. These reports include photographs, and they have archives going back five years. Crash reports may be obtained within a few days or take weeks. They cost $4 each.
A typical police report will contain:
- The date and time of the event.
- Name and age of the person(s) involved.
- Details of the incident/crime.
- Outstanding warrants for the person’s arrest.
- The police officer involved.
- Court details of his or her arraignment.
- Charges brought against them.
- Bond/bail amount.
Regular incident/crime reports fall under the public records law Ohio Revised Code section 149.43. They can be obtained by emailing the Central Records Unit at ADCentralRecords@dps.ohio.gov. Or you can order them by mail using the following address:
Ohio State Highway Patrol
Central Records
P. O. Box 182074
Columbus, OH 43218–2074
(614) 466–3536 | Fax: (614) 644–9749
Ohio Mugshots
Police started using mugshots in the mid–1800s. The modern mugshot featuring two angles (full face and profile views) was invented by a French policeman named Alphonse Bertillon. He also standardized the lighting and the practice of having the suspect hold a placard with their name, date of birth, booking ID, weight, and other information on it while being photographed. Soon after, the practice of using mugshots spread across Europe, the United States, and even Russia.
Ohio mugshots are taken with the person in plain clothes against a dark gray background. Mugshots in Ohio can be found pretty easily. WDTN 2 News regularly posts mugshots of recently arrested people online on their website. You can also find Ohio mugshots on government websites, public records repositories, and other media outlets.
Ohio Arrest Booking Process
Ohio has strict rules about how, when, and the procedure for arresting a suspect. After reading you the Miranda rights and handcuffing you, the police will take you to the local police station/jail for booking.
They will take your mugshot, fingerprint you, and ask you some basic questions about your name, address, phone number, and date of birth. You may be asked for a DNA swab. You will be thoroughly searched, and any personal belongings you have on your person will be taken and held for you. A doctor or nurse may examine you, and police will run a background check to look for any outstanding warrants for your arrest. You may or may not be charged with a crime. Bail or bond may be set or not. You can make one or more phone calls.
You will be placed in a holding cell or detention center until you can make bail or see the judge for a bond hearing.
Violent Crime Rates for the last 10 years
The crime rate has decreased over the past decade in Ohio, going from 32,323 crimes in 2006 to 25,806 by 14% lower than it was back in 2006. The largest percentage of violent crimes falls into the Aggravated Assault category, with Revised Rape being the least popular crime in the state.
Arrest Laws
Any peace officer in this state can arrest someone with a valid warrant. A peace officer can also arrest someone without a valid warrant when they suspect someone of stalking, child abuse or domestic abuse. If the officer witnesses someone committing a crime or offense, they have the right to arrest them on the spot. If a peace officer has reasonable cause to believe someone committed a crime or know of a crime and thinks someone committed it, they can arrest them at that time also.
Who has a Power of Arrest?
According to OH law any “sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, municipal police officer, township constable, police officer of a township or joint police district, member of a police force employed by a metropolitan housing authority under division (D) of section 3735.31 of the Revised Code, member of a police force employed by a regional transit authority under division (Y) of section 306.35 of the Revised Code, state university law enforcement officer appointed under section 3345.04 of the Revised Code, veterans' home police officer appointed under section 5907.02 of the Revised Code, special police officer employed by a port authority under section 4582.04 or 4582.28 of the Revised Code, or a special police officer employed by a municipal corporation at a municipal airport, or other municipal air navigation facility, that has scheduled operations, as defined in section 119.3” has the legal right to arrest someone without a warrant.
How Long Will an Arrest Report Stay on Ohio Public Records?
An Ohio criminal record will follow someone for life if they do not apply to have their records sealed. Historically only first-time offenders could have their Ohio state records sealed, but new laws changed that, and now many types of crimes are eligible for expungement. Offenders may have to wait a specific period after completion of their sentence and then they can apply. There is also a list of eligibility requirements, and offenders can only ask to have certain crimes sealed.
Can you Expunge your Records?
Yes. This state uses a sealing process, and their laws have changed considerably to give convicted criminals a second chance. The sealing process usually takes a few weeks, and many people use a lawyer to help them navigate the process.
The Arrest Rate in Ohio
For 2017, OH made 45,740 arrests. Of that total, 8,054 were for violent crimes such as rape, assault, murder, and robbery. The other 37,686 were for property crimes like vehicle theft, burglary, and arson.
State Offender and Victim Age Group Statistics
Most of the violent crime offenders in Ohio were 20-29 and the largest percentage of violent crime victims were 20-29.
Offender Age
| Unknown | 18.1% | |
| 0-9 | 0.4% | |
| 10-19 | 18.0% | |
| 20-29 | 31.5% | |
| 30-39 | 16.3% | |
| 40-49 | 8.1% | |
| 50-59 | 5.5% | |
| 60-69 | 1.4% | |
| 70-79 | 0.3% | |
| 80-89 | 0.1% | |
| 90-99 | 0.4% | |
| Offenders w/ reported age | 33,460 | |
Victim Age
| 0-9 | 4.3% | |
| 10-19 | 18.0% | |
| 20-29 | 30.3% | |
| 30-39 | 20.1% | |
| 40-49 | 12.7% | |
| 50-59 | 9.2% | |
| 60-69 | 3.8% | |
| 70-79 | 1.1% | |
| 80-89 | 0.4% | |
| 90-99 | 0.1% | |
| Victims w/ reported age | 30,209 | |
Crime Victim Demographics
Residence Home is the place where the majority of crimes in Ohio were committed, in most of the crime cases the offender was a relationship unknown.
Location Type
| Residence Home | 12,938 | |
| Highway/Alley/Street/Sidewalk | 8,559 | |
| Unknown | 2,582 | |
| Parking Garage/Lot | 2,080 | |
| Gas Station | 972 | |
| Convenience Store | 741 | |
| Restaurant | 666 | |
| Bar/Nightclub | 510 | |
| Department/Discount Store | 507 | |
| Drug Store/Doctors Office/Hospital | 400 |
Victim’s Relationship to the Offender
| Relationship Unknown | 13,732 | |
| Stranger | 6,838 | |
| Acquaintance | 5,877 | |
| Otherwise Known | 3,630 | |
| Boyfriend/Girlfriend | 2,295 | |
| Other Family Member | 1,132 | |
| Friend | 949 | |
| Child | 625 | |
| Neighbor | 549 | |
| Offender | 542 |
Ohio Arrest Records by Type of Crime
The popular arrests for 2017 in Ohio was for All Other Offenses (except traffic) - 66,709, the same popularity of the arrest type was seen in Alabama, Alaska, and Arizona. The least popularity had Gambling arrests - with only 6 crimes a year.
| Arrest Type | Under 18 | All ages | Total arrests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 870 | 8,084 | 8,954 |
| Property Crime | 4,203 | 33,068 | 37,271 |
| Murder & Non-negligent Manslaughter | 16 | 224 | 240 |
| Rape | 78 | 406 | 484 |
| Robbery | 348 | 1,987 | 2,335 |