Ohio records over 161,000 arrests, of which law enforcement agencies in Cuyahoga County make about 72,192 annually. In Cuyahoga County, arrest records are open to the public following the state's Open Records Act. This statute allows individuals to view and obtain copies of arrest records. State law and court orders exempt some records from the public. These include juvenile records, medical records, information on ongoing investigations, and other records that may affect the safety of persons.
Confidential arrest records may be accessed by the police department, the Sheriff's Office, the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, the Cleveland Municipal Court, and the Cuyahoga County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. The Ohio Bureau of Identification and Investigation, other state licensing agencies, and parties involved in the case may also access the records.
Individuals may access arrest records in Cuyahoga County through various agencies, including the sheriff's office, local police departments, courts, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Individuals may obtain copies of arrest records by appointment only at the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office. To schedule an appointment, contact the Records/Warrant Division at (216) 443-6100 or visit in person at:
Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office
1215 West 3rd Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
To obtain arrest records in Cuyahoga County, visit the Police Department in the relevant city or town. You must provide the individual's name and date of arrest, and the PD may charge a fee for the copies of the data. Prominent Police Departments in the county include:
Under the Office of the Ohio Attorney General, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) offers Identification services that allow offenders or interested individuals to access arrest reports. A complete fingerprint or card scan must be submitted electronically to BCI at the appropriate WebCheck Location, and residents can access arrest reports directly at the WebCheck location. Alternatively, individuals may request arrest records by completing a Request for Copy of Ohio Background Check Form and submitting the form by mail or in person to the BCI at:
Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation
Attn: Identification Division
1560 State Route 56 Southwest
P.O. Box 365
London, OH 43140
The form must be accompanied by a $22 processing fee, payable by money order, personal checks, or certified checks to the Ohio Treasurer's Office. For more information, see the frequently asked questions or call the BCI at (877) 224-0043.
Members of the public may access arrest records in the courts located in Cuyahoga County. To obtain records from the courts, you need to visit the Office of the Clerk of Courts to make the request. The Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts has a Case Records Search Portal that users may use to find arrest records. Some Municipal Courts, such as Cleveland Municipal Court, have a public access portal where individuals may access arrest records.
Alternatively, users may use reputable third-party websites, such as InfoTracer, to obtain arrest records in Cuyahoga County.
Cuyahoga County has an arrest rate of 5,854 arrests per 100,000 residents. Here are some arrest figures (adult and juvenile) recorded in Cuyahoga County during this period:
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Murder | 178 |
| Robbery | 1,975 |
| Aggravated Assault | 5,305 |
| Total Property Crime | 28,010 |
| Total Violent Crime | 8,086 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 7,072 |
| Burglary | 4,227 |
| Larceny Theft | 16,711 |
| Rape | 628 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 72,192 |
Source: Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System