How to Conduct an Ohio Inmate Search

Conducting an Ohio inmate search is not difficult, especially if you know the details of the inmate's conviction and the location of his or her incarceration. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction is responsible for the updating and maintenance of all inmate records. The Department is also responsible for keeping the public as well as the media abreast of the various accomplishments and operations of the division. The Department makes special announcements when specific incidents warrant the notification of the public.

The Bureau of Communication in the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction works to actively promote a positive image of the Department. Officials of the Bureau are near to hand to answer any questions about the inmates of Ohio, and the Department makes every effort to maintain the accuracy of its inmate records. Documents related to any particular inmate can be retrieved by contacting the Bureau of Communications at 614-752-1150; the Bureau can also be contacted by e-mail at drc.publicinfo@odrc.state.oh.us, or via postal mail at 770 West Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43222.

The Bureau will provide as much assistance as possible to citizens without revealing information that is classified as confidential for security reasons. The Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections offers an online Ohio inmate search to the public.

Ohio Inmate Search Procedure

It is possible to conduct an online search for Ohio inmates at http://www.drc.state.oh.us/OffenderSearch/Search.aspx. However, a search through the entire data base will only reveal the details of inmates currently housed in the state-run correctional facilities of Ohio.

The best way to conduct a search is to enter a specific number pertaining to the inmate. However, you can also view a list of offenders by searching by county of commitment or residence as well as the next date for a parole board hearing. Conducting a name search is the simplest way of retrieving the details of an offender. Entering other identifiers will help you to limit your search results, especially when you do not know the inmate's entire name, or when his or her name is common.

A few counties in Ohio have web resources of their own and also provide online inmate search tools. The South East Ohio Regional Jail provides information on all the past and present inmates of Athens, Hocking, Fairfield, Morgan, Jackson, Perry and Vinton counties. Some county sheriff’s offices and local police departments also provide inmate information to the citizens of Ohio.

Types of Inmates held in Ohio

Statistics for 2008 show that the inmates housed in the correctional facilities of Ohio are predominantly male. The exact figures reveal that there are 23,488 male inmates and 3,505 female inmates. A majority of the individuals incarcerated in Ohio were convicted of drug-related offenses, including possession and use of drugs and illegal trafficking. While other common criminal activities are mostly comprised of property offenses like theft, arson, or illegal breaking in, crimes against individuals, such as robbery, domestic violence, assault, and murder are less frequent. While 7% of all inmates have been found to be guilty of sex offenses, only a very small fraction of the inmates have been convicted of traffic and ordinance violations, motor vehicle fraud, and other felonies of miscellaneous origin.

Ohio State Facilities

All inmates are initially sent to one of the three reception centers in Ohio. Female offenders are normally held at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. Information about the rules and regulations of the Reformatory for Women is located at http://www.drc.ohio.gov/Public/orw.htm; the facility can be contacted by telephone at 937-642-1065 and is located at 1479 Collins Avenue, Marysville, Ohio 43040.

Male inmates are normally incarcerated in one of two different correctional facilities, depending on the area where they were convicted: the Correctional Reception Center in Orient, or Loraine Correctional Institution in Grafton. Information about these centers can be accessed at http://www.drc.ohio.gov/Public/crc.htm. It is also possible to write in to the center for inmate information; the Correctional Reception Center is located at P. O. Box 300, 11271 State Route 762, Orient, Ohio 43146.

The official website of Loraine Correctional Institution is http://www.drc.ohio.gov/Public/lorci.htm. This website provides information on the rules and regulations of the facility; these details can also be obtained by calling the Institution at 440-748-1049. The address of the Institution is 2075 South Avon-Belden Road, Grafton, Ohio 44044.