Franklin County reports an average of 18,401 arrests out of the 226,136 total arrests made in Ohio annually. According to Section 149.43 of the Ohio Public Records Act, Franklin County arrest records are publicly available for inspection and reproduction. Requests for copies of arrest records typically require a nominal fee. Depending on the document type and processing method, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office charges $3 to $5 per record request.
However, state and federal laws restrict public access to certain records including: juvenile arrest records, sealed and expunged records, information regarding victims, confidential informants, and crime witnesses. Restricted arrest records in Franklin County may only be obtained by authorized parties, such as law enforcement agencies and the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
Franklin County arrest records may be obtained through multiple agencies, including the county Sheriff's Department, local Police Departments, and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Arrest records may be viewed and obtained through the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. Request for copies may be made by phone at (614) 525-3365 or in person at:
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
373 South High Street
2nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
However, fees may apply for obtaining copies of arrest records. Additional information about arrest records may also be accessed through the online Inmate Search available on the Sheriff's portal.
Local Police Departments in Franklin County provide arrest records for individuals seeking information about arrests within their jurisdiction. Some Police Departments offer online services for public records requests, with applicable fees for copies. Below are some of the major Police Departments in Franklin County:
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) serves as the state's central repository for criminal history information. To obtain Franklin County criminal records at the state level, the BCI offers fingerprint-based background checks, which provide comprehensive criminal record searches for a fee. Interested individuals may contact the BCI's main office at:
Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation
1560 State RT. 56 SW
London, OH 43140
Phone: (740) 845-2000
Criminal history in the state is accessible to eligible entities including the individual named in the record, their legal representatives, law enforcement agencies, and government agencies. Additionally, certain employers (with consent), courts and judicial authorities, probation and parole officers, licensed private investigators, certain housing authorities, and academic institutions may also access these records.
In Franklin County, arrest records that lead to formal charges may be accessed at the local courthouse. The Franklin County Municipal Court handles misdemeanor cases, while the Court of Common Pleas in Franklin County oversees felony cases. Each court's Clerk of Courts maintains these records. Criminal records in Franklin County may be accessed online through the Franklin County Clerk of Courts portal. To search online, record seekers must provide an individual's name or case number. For more detailed searches, individuals may need to visit the Franklin County Courthouse in person. Fees for certified copies typically range from $2 to $5 per page, and processing time varies.
Additionally, third-party services like InfoTracer compile public records from multiple sources, providing an alternative method for accessing arrest records.
Franklin County has an arrest rate of 122.49 and a crime rate of 8,956 per 100,000 people. The following statistics pertain to arrest records in Franklin County.
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Murder | 4 |
| Rape | 40 |
| Aggravated Assault | 64 |
| Robbery | 46 |
| Larceny Theft | 547 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 166 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 867 |
Source: Ohio Department of Public Safety
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Groveport Police Department | 655 Blacklick St | 614-836-5301 |
| Hilliard Police Department | 5171 Northwest Pkwy | 614-876-7321 |
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County Corrections Center II | 2460 Jackson Pike | 614-525-7100 |
| Franklin Medical Center | 1990 Harmon Avenue | 614-445-5960 |