Ohio Criminal Records

This guide explains how to look up criminal records in Ohio, how the state's courts and agencies share that information, and what the law allows you to do with it. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official Ohio sources, but laws and online systems change, so confirm details with the agency before you rely on them.

How do I look up someone's criminal record in Ohio?

There are a few common ways to look up Ohio criminal history:

• Statewide background check (official): The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), part of the Ohio Attorney General's office, runs the WebCheck fingerprint background check. BCI compares submitted fingerprints against its criminal database. BCI's portion of the fee is generally about $22 for a state check, though the WebCheck location you visit may add its own service charge. You can find a provider through the WebCheck community listing or learn more on the Attorney General's background check page. BCI's Civilian Identification Department can be reached at 877-224-0043.
• Court records: Criminal cases are filed in county courts, so the clerk of courts for the county where a case was heard is the primary public source for charges, dockets, and dispositions (see the court-search section below). You can also review public records in person at a county sheriff's office or local court clerk.
• People-search tools: Commercial databases like the search box on this page pull from public records for a quick overview. They are convenient for personal curiosity, but they are not official and not FCRA-compliant, so they cannot be used for hiring, housing, or other regulated decisions.

How do I get my own Ohio criminal background check?

To see what is on your own BCI record, go through the same WebCheck process: visit a WebCheck provider on the Attorney General's community listing, get fingerprinted electronically, and request a copy of the results be sent to you. Bring a government-issued photo ID. If you live out of state, the Attorney General's office has used a pilot program to accept electronic out-of-state fingerprint submissions, so check current options or call BCI at 877-224-0043 first. You can request a state check, a federal (FBI) check, or both; the federal check costs more.

Are criminal records public in Ohio?

Yes. Ohio's Public Records Act (Ohio Revised Code 149.43) treats most records held by government offices, including criminal court records, as open to any member of the public. You do not have to be an Ohio resident or explain why you want them. Some categories are restricted, however, including sealed and expunged records, most juvenile records, and records that would identify certain victims. Employers, landlords, and licensing boards routinely review what is public, which is one reason record sealing and expungement (covered below) matter.

How do I search Ohio court records online?

Ohio does not have a single statewide trial-court database. Records are kept county by county, so the fastest route is usually the online docket of the clerk of courts in the county where the case was filed. Most of Ohio's 88 counties offer free public case-search portals to look up criminal, civil, and traffic cases by name or case number. Starting points:

• Supreme Court of Ohio: Search the high court's docket through the Clerk's electronic case management system, which covers Supreme Court cases back to 1989 with some documents from 2006 onward.
• County clerks of courts: Search "[county name] Ohio clerk of courts case search" to reach the local portal. Large counties such as Franklin (Columbus), Cuyahoga (Cleveland), and Hamilton (Cincinnati) provide robust online case lookups.
• Municipal and county courts: Lower-level misdemeanor and traffic cases are often handled by municipal or county courts, which keep their own separate online dockets.

If a case does not appear online, it may be older, sealed, in a court that has not digitized older filings, or filed under a different name spelling. Calling the clerk's office directly is the reliable fallback.

What is a misdemeanor in Ohio?

A misdemeanor is a less serious offense than a felony. Ohio sorts misdemeanors into four numbered degrees plus a fine-only "minor" category, with penalties set in general terms under Ohio Revised Code 2929.24 and 2929.28. The maximum penalties are roughly:

• First-degree misdemeanor: up to 180 days in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.
• Second-degree misdemeanor: up to 90 days in jail and up to a $750 fine.
• Third-degree misdemeanor: up to 60 days in jail and up to a $500 fine.
• Fourth-degree misdemeanor: up to 30 days in jail and up to a $250 fine.
• Minor misdemeanor: no jail time and up to a $150 fine.

Common examples include disorderly conduct, many first-offense OVI (operating a vehicle impaired) cases, petty theft, and simple assault. These are maximums; actual sentences vary by the facts and the defendant's history, so treat the numbers as ranges, not predictions.

What crimes are felonies in Ohio?

Felonies are the most serious offenses. Ohio uses five numbered degrees, plus a small set of "unclassified" felonies (such as aggravated murder and murder) that carry their own special penalties, including possible life sentences. General prison ranges and maximum fines under Ohio Revised Code 2929.14 and 2929.18 are approximately:

• Fifth-degree felony: 6 to 12 months in prison; fine up to $2,500.
• Fourth-degree felony: 6 to 18 months in prison; fine up to $5,000.
• Third-degree felony: 9 to 36 months (some third-degree offenses run up to 60 months); fine up to $10,000.
• Second-degree felony: 2 to 8 years in prison; fine up to $15,000.
• First-degree felony: 3 to 11 years in prison; fine up to $20,000.

For certain first- and second-degree felonies, Ohio's "Reagan Tokes Law" adds an indefinite sentencing structure, where the court sets a minimum term and the state can hold the person longer up to a maximum. Examples of felonies include burglary, drug trafficking, robbery, felonious assault, rape, and aggravated murder. Because the exact penalty depends on the specific statute and circumstances, the ranges above are general; an attorney or the Ohio Revised Code is the authority for any specific charge.

How do I seal or expunge a record in Ohio (and what changed under Senate Bill 288)?

Ohio law on clearing records changed significantly with Senate Bill 288, which took effect on April 4, 2023. Before SB 288, "sealing" and "expungement" were used interchangeably. Now they are legally distinct:

• Sealing hides a record from public view. The record still exists and can be seen by courts, law enforcement, and certain licensing and child- or elder-care employers, but it is removed from ordinary public access.
• Expungement goes further and destroys the record so it cannot be retrieved. This is a newer option that SB 288 created for many lower-level offenses.

SB 288 also expanded eligibility and removed older caps on the number of prior convictions, so courts now weigh each conviction individually. General waiting periods for sealing run from about six months for a minor misdemeanor, to one year for most fourth- and fifth-degree felonies and many misdemeanors, to three years for many third-degree felonies, measured from the end of the sentence. Expungement waiting periods are longer, often 10 to 13 years for eligible felonies. Serious offenses, including first- and second-degree felonies, most violent offenses, and many sex offenses, generally cannot be sealed or expunged. A filing fee (commonly around $50) is paid to the clerk of courts, though it can be waived in some cases.

Note on "automatic" sealing: Ohio has discussed legislation to seal eligible records automatically without an application, but as of this June 2026 review, sealing and expungement in Ohio still generally require filing an application with the court. Because eligibility rules are detailed and mistakes can cost you the chance to clear a record, this is an area where consulting an attorney or a legal-aid clinic is genuinely worthwhile.

How far back does an Ohio background check go?

It depends on who is checking and how. An official BCI/WebCheck check or a direct court-record search can show qualifying convictions for as long as they remain on file, unless a record has been sealed or expunged. Third-party consumer background-check companies are different: when a report is used for employment, housing, or credit under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the FCRA generally limits reporting of arrests that did not lead to conviction to seven years (convictions can often be reported longer). Sealing or expungement is the main way to remove a qualifying record from ordinary background checks.

How do I find an inmate in Ohio?

For people held in Ohio's state prison system, use the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) Offender Search. You can search by last name, by first and last name, or by offender number (which starts with a prefix such as A, R, or W). Results typically include status, institution, and offense information, though the tool shows the last recorded data and may lag behind a person's current location. For someone held locally rather than in state prison, check the relevant county sheriff's jail roster, since people awaiting trial or serving short sentences are usually in a county jail; many sheriff's offices post a current inmate list online.

How do I find Ohio arrest records and mugshots?

An arrest record reflects that someone was taken into custody; it is not the same as a conviction. Arrest information is created and held at the local level, so the arresting agency, the county sheriff, or the booking jail is the original source, and many county jails publish booking lists or mugshots online. Mugshots tied to recent bookings often appear on sheriff rosters, while older booking photos may not be readily available. An important caution: an arrest or a mugshot is not proof of guilt, charges are frequently reduced or dismissed, and you should not treat a booking photo as evidence that a person was convicted of anything. The people-search tool on this page can help you locate publicly available arrest and record information for personal knowledge only.

How does Ohio's sex offender registry work?

Ohio maintains a public sex offender registry through the Attorney General's office under the state's Adam Walsh Act tier system. You can search it at the Ohio eSORN public registry (the Attorney General's OffenderWatch system), which lets you look up registered offenders by name or location and sign up for email alerts. The three tiers set how long and how often a person must register:

• Tier I: registration for 15 years (10 for qualifying juveniles), with in-person verification once a year.
• Tier II: registration for 25 years, with in-person verification every 180 days.
• Tier III: lifetime registration, with in-person verification every 90 days.

A person's tier is set by the offense of conviction, not chosen. Registration duties generally end only when the required period expires (Tier I offenders may petition for early termination in limited circumstances), so anyone facing a registration question should consult an attorney.

Are juvenile records public in Ohio?

Juvenile court records in Ohio are treated more protectively than adult records and are generally not open to the public in the same way. Access is usually limited to the parties, their attorneys, and certain officials, and Ohio provides separate processes for sealing and expunging juvenile records, often with shorter waiting periods. To access or clear a juvenile record, contact the juvenile division of the county court that handled the case.

Official Ohio criminal record sources

• Ohio Attorney General / BCI background checks (WebCheck)
• WebCheck community listing (find a fingerprint location)
• Supreme Court of Ohio case docket search
• Ohio DRC inmate / offender search
• Ohio Attorney General (sex offender registry / eSORN access)
• Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2929 (penalties and sentencing)

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). A mugshot or arrest record is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Ohio public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.