Methods for Searching Ohio Arrest Records

Ohio arrest records, part of the official criminal records of the state, are accessible for public use. Anyone can view, download or print arrest record information from Ohio according to the requirements. However, for locating a particular arrest record you need to follow a certain procedure.

The different law enforcement agencies operating in Ohio are responsible for maintaining and updating all databases related to the criminal records of the state. The same applies for the Ohio arrest records as well. These records are kept in a single database and updated on a regular basis. If you wish to locate a particular individual’s arrest record all you need to do is know where to find it. The procedure for locating a particular arrest record is simple.

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation

It is the responsibility of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation of Ohio, operating under the supervision of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, to maintain all criminal records. These records include all arrest records.

The functions of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation can be divided into three categories: identification, investigations and crime labs. It is the responsibility of the staff of the bureau to identify criminals based on the information in their database, as well as fingerprints, DNA samples and so on. The field agents of the bureau also help the law enforcement agencies to investigate and perform subsequent arrests. The crime labs help in examining the evidence.

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation: Request for Background Check

If you want to conduct a background check and find an arrest record (if any) of an individual of Ohio, you need to conduct a search for the same from the database. This is no difficult task. All you need to do is download or print the Request for Copy of Background Check Procedures from http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/files/Publications/Publications-for-Business/Background-Check/Background-Check-Request-Procedures. For each request you need to fill out a particular form which is available at http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/files/Forms/Forms-for-Business/Fingerprints/Request-for-Copy-of-Ohio-Background-Check. Just download the form and take a print-out so that you can request a background check.

After you fill out the Ohio request form for a background check, you need to submit it along with a fee of $8.00. If the request form is accompanied by a fingerprint card, there is no processing fee. However, you need to submit the request form within 30 days from the day the fingerprint has been taken.

The mode of payment may be a money order, company check or certified check payable to the Treasurer, State of Ohio. No cash payments or personal checks are accepted. You can also call the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI) for background check information. Their toll-free number is (877) 224-0043. The working hours are from Mondays to Fridays, from 8.00 a.m. till 4.30 p.m.

Fingerprint Card Scan

A fingerprint card scan helps in background checks and searches for arrest records as well. If you need an FBI or BCI fingerprint card scan that can be submitted to the BCI database directly, you can opt for the help of the following agencies:

•    Fingerprint Express (330) 253-5188
•    1AAccurateFastFingerprints.com (877) 932-2435
•    Advanced Fingerprinting Services LLC (419) 806-4365
•    Corporate Screening Services, INC (800) 229-8606
•    Biometric Information Management, LLC (614) 791-3220
•    Ascertain Screening & Investigations (800) 858-2901
•    Confidential Solutions, INC (216) 228-3394
•    Background Screening Solutions, LLC (614) 885-0980

Ohio WebCheck Locations

There are a number of facilities that offer Ohio background checks at different locations. The complete list of WebCheck Locations can be found at http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Services/Business/WebCheck/Webcheck-Community-Listing. If you are a resident of the State of Ohio and want to know about the criminal history background of a certain individual, all you need to do is pay a visit to any of the WebCheck Locations and you can get all relevant information that you need. You would also know if the individual is incarcerated at the present moment or not from these locations. However, check for the operational hours and whether you need a previous appointment before going.

Some of the WebCheck Locations offer both BCI and FBI background checks. This means the information that you can find is a result from the databases of both BCI and FBI. The charge for the BCI background check is $32.00 and those of an FBI background check are $34.00. If you opt for both BCI and FBI background checks, the fee is $61.00.
The list of WebCheck Locations is quite a large one. However you need not go through the entire list to locate a WebCheck Location nearby. You can just type in the county name or your zip code and the search results show all WebCheck Locations in your vicinity. For example, if you live in Champaign County, the list of WebCheck Locations is available at http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Services/Business/WebCheck/Webcheck-Community-Listing.aspx.

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Offender Search

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction is responsible for the care and custody of the inmates of Ohio correctional facilities. Detailed Ohio arrest records can be accessed from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Offender Search. You can conduct an offender search at http://www.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSearch/Search.aspx. The search box gives you the option to search for an inmate based on varied criteria. However, there is a limitation to this database. You could find information about the present inmates of Ohio prisons and those under the supervision of the Department, but not the arrest records of individuals who have been released or acquitted.

You can conduct an Ohio arrest record search based on a number of criteria. The following can be used to search for a particular inmate:

•    Search by offender number: This is the easiest way to conduct a search for a particular individual’s arrest record in Ohio. Each offender is assigned a unique number consisting of 6 digits for males and 5 digits for women (a 0 is added in this case to make it 6 digits). A prefix is added to the offender number; ‘A’ or ‘R’ is used for male offenders and ‘W’ is used for female offenders.

•    Search by name: When you search an arrest record, the most common way to do so is to search using the name of the individual. It is a good idea to provide the full name as it narrows down the results. If you are searching using the last name, the individuals whose names start with the search term are also displayed. For example, if you type in ‘Williams’ in the last name box, the search result shows results including ‘Williams’, ‘Williams Sr.’, ‘Williams Jr.’, ‘Williamson’ and so on.

•    Search by county: If you search by the county of commitment, you get a list of offenders who have been arrested for criminal offenses from that particular county. For example, if you search for the number of Ohio arrests made in the county of Athens you would get a comprehensive list of the offenders.

•    Search by residential county or zip code: You can conduct this search if you know the residential county or the zip code of the individual whose arrest record you are looking for. However, this search can be conducted only about individuals who are under ‘APA Supervision’ or are ‘Violators at large’. The former category includes those individuals who are under parole or post-release control while the latter includes absconders.

•    Search by the next parole board hearing: The search is done on the basis of a particular month and year. When you enter this particular information, the results display a list of offenders whose parole hearings are scheduled for that particular month and year.

The more information you provide in the search box, the better and more accurate the results. The information revealed from the search includes the detailed profile, the charges against him or her, the case details, the sentence and the date of release (if any). You can also obtain this information by contacting the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Central Inmate Records at 614-752-1076.

If the Ohio arrest occurred before 1973, the arrest records won’t be available in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. In such cases you need to contact the Ohio Historical Society, Archives/Library Research Services Department. They can be contacted at 614-297-2510. They are responsible for maintaining the following Ohio arrest records:

- Ohio Penitentiary from 1829 to 1973
- Ohio Reformatory from 1896 to 1968
- Ohio Reformatory for Women, from 1913 to 1942
- London Prison Farm from 1908 to 1949

If you want to access the complete list of Ohio inmates on a death row, visit http://www.drc.ohio.gov/public/deathrow.htm.

Every inmate of Ohio correctional facilities has a particular level of security, ranging from 1 to 5. This level is based on a number of factors like present age; gravity of the crime; previous offenses; participation in violent activities (recent ones, excluding the current offense); participation in gang activity (if any) before going to prison; and escape attempts (with regard to past and present incarcerations).

Electronic Sex Offender Registration and Notification (eSORN)

In order to locate the arrest records of a registered sex offender in Ohio you need to visit the Electronic Sex Offender Registration and Notification (eSORN) application available from the Office of the Attorney General of Ohio. You can conduct a search at http://www.esorn.ag.state.oh.us/Secured/p21_2.aspx. You need to fill out any of the specified fields and a list of sex offenders matching your search will appear on your computer screen. The categories by which you can conduct a search include first and last name, county, school district or zip code. Filling out any field will give you results, but the more information you provide, the more accurate the results.

For example, if you are searching for individuals with the last name ‘Brown’ in Delaware County, the search results would be shown in a comprehensive list. You can view the details of the profile, including name, nicknames and/or aliases, date of birth, age, gender, race, height, weight, hair and eye color, identification marks, photographs (if available), fingerprints, DNA samples, status, offense details and classification, and address of registration, and know whether the individual is currently incarcerated or not. You can print a copy of this information as well.

Another form is also present on the same webpage: http://www.esorn.ag.state.oh.us/Secured/p21_2.aspx. If you wish to know all about the sex offenders located within a radius of 1 mile from a particular address, you need to fill out this form. When you fill out the fields in this search box and click on the ‘view map’ option, a map appears along with the details of all sex offenders located within a radius of a mile.