Search Ohio Police Records
Ohio police records are public documents held by law enforcement agencies across the state. You can search for them online or request copies in person at any sheriff's office or police department. Ohio has 88 counties, and each one keeps its own set of police reports, incident files, crash records, and arrest data. The state also runs several online tools that let you look up case reports from home. Whether you need a copy of a crash report, an incident file, or details about a specific case, this page walks you through how to find and get Ohio police records through local and state resources.
Ohio Police Records Overview
How to Get Ohio Police Records
Police records in Ohio are kept at the local level. Each county sheriff's office and city police department maintains its own files. That means you go to the agency that handled the case. If a sheriff's deputy took the report, you contact the county sheriff. If a city officer responded, you call that police department. The records division at each office handles requests.
Ohio law makes most police records open to the public. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43, all public records must be made available for inspection at reasonable times during regular business hours. You do not need to give your name. You do not need to say why you want the record. The agency must provide copies within a reasonable time frame, and they can only charge the actual cost of making those copies. Most offices set that rate at $0.05 per page for standard black and white prints. Some counties provide free copies when you ask for records by email. Others charge a small fee per page for mailed or in-person copies.
You can submit a records request in person, by phone, by mail, by fax, or by email. A written request is not legally required in Ohio, but putting your request in writing helps the records clerk find what you need. Include the date of the incident, the location, and the names of people involved if you have them. A case or report number speeds things up.
Note: Ohio law does not require you to provide your name, show ID, or explain why you want police records. Any person can request them.
Search Police Records Online in Ohio
Ohio runs several online databases where you can look up police records without visiting an office. These tools cover crash reports, offender data, and court case files. They are free to use.
The Ohio Department of Public Safety runs the Crash Report Search system. It lets you find motor vehicle accident reports filed by law enforcement agencies statewide. You can search by date, county, or report number. The actual retrieval tool is at ohtrafficdata.dps.ohio.gov. Reports are usually available seven business days after the crash. Some agencies charge no fee for online crash reports, while others may charge up to $4.00 per report under Ohio Revised Code 5502.12. The Ohio State Highway Patrol also accepts public records requests for crash and incident reports from state routes and highways.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction keeps an Offender Search tool. It shows who is currently in state prison, on parole, or under supervision. You can search by name, county, or offender number. This database does not cover county jail inmates. For local jail records, contact the county sheriff's office directly.
The Supreme Court of Ohio maintains an online case management system with records from 1985 to the present. You can search by party name or case number. The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services publishes crime statistics, Uniform Crime Reports, and criminal justice data by jurisdiction and offense type.
Ohio Police Records Under State Law
The Ohio Public Records Act is the main law that controls access to police records. It sits in ORC 149.43 and applies to every public office in the state. Sheriff offices, city police departments, township police, and state agencies all fall under it. The law says records must be "promptly prepared and made available" to anyone who asks.
There are some limits. Confidential law enforcement investigatory records can be held back if releasing them would hurt an active case. Records tied to ongoing investigations stay closed until the case wraps up. Juvenile records are protected under ORC 2151.358. The law also shields personal data like Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and certain victim and witness details. Peace officer home addresses and family information have their own protections.
The Ohio Attorney General publishes the Sunshine Laws Manual each year. This guide explains what is public and what is exempt. The 2024 edition added a new chapter just for law enforcement records. It covers the line between discretionary exemptions and mandatory ones. The AG's office also runs free training sessions across Ohio for public employees and officials on how to handle records requests properly.
Fees for Police Records in Ohio
Copy fees vary by agency. Most charge $0.05 to $0.10 per page. Some offices give you the first few pages free. A few counties like Richland County provide up to 10 copies at no charge. Medina County waives fees for three pages or less. Emailed copies often cost nothing at all. Lucas County gives the first 10 pages free and charges $0.10 per page after that.
Crash reports have their own pricing. Many agencies provide them free through the state's online crash retrieval system. Others charge $4.00 to $5.00 per report. The BuyCrash portal is a third-party site that some Ohio agencies use to distribute accident reports. Prices there typically run $4 to $10 per report. Not every agency uses BuyCrash. Check the state portal first.
Video records cost more. Ohio House Bill 315, which took effect in 2025, sets the rules for body camera and dash camera footage. Agencies can charge up to $75 per hour for the time it takes to review, redact, and produce video files. The maximum charge per request is $750. The agency must give you a written cost estimate before they start work. You pay up front, and the final charge gets adjusted if it comes in lower. Crime victims can often get footage from their own cases at no cost.
Types of Police Records in Ohio
Police departments and sheriff offices in Ohio keep several types of records. Each one serves a different purpose and comes from a different part of the law enforcement process.
Incident reports are the most common type. An officer writes one every time they respond to a call. The report covers what happened, who was involved, and what the officer did. These reports are public once the case is closed. Crash reports document traffic accidents. They include driver details, vehicle info, crash diagrams, and contributing factors. Ohio uses the standard OH-1 form for crash reports. Arrest records show when someone was taken into custody, what the charges were, and where they were booked. These records are held by the arresting agency and also show up in court files.
Other types of Ohio police records include:
- Offense reports for crimes like theft, assault, or burglary
- Dispatch logs showing 911 calls and officer assignments
- Jail booking records with charges and bond info
- Body camera and dash camera video footage
- Use of force reports filed by officers
- Background check results through the BCI WebCheck system
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation maintains the state's central criminal history database. BCI operates under the Ohio Attorney General's Office and processes fingerprint-based background checks. The BCI check costs $22. An FBI check runs $35. A combined check is $60. Results come back in three to five business days when you use the electronic WebCheck system.
Ohio Crash Report Access
Crash reports are one of the most requested types of police records in Ohio. The state makes it easy to get them online through the Ohio Crash Retrieval System. This database holds reports from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, county sheriff offices, and many city police departments.
Wait at least seven business days after the crash before trying to find the report online. Some reports take up to six weeks to appear in the system. You need a web browser with JavaScript and a PDF viewer to download the file. Many reports are free. Agencies that charge a fee set it under ORC 5502.12.
If you cannot find a report in the state system, check BuyCrash.com. This site works with some Ohio agencies to provide crash reports. Reports usually show up three to five business days after the investigation closes. You can also call the police department or sheriff's office that handled the crash and ask for a copy directly.
Ohio Police Records and Public Safety Data
Ohio keeps several public safety databases tied to police records. The Electronic Sex Offender Registration and Notification system, known as eSORN, lets you search for registered offenders by name, address, or zip code. The registry shows photos, home and work addresses, vehicle details, and offense information. You can sign up for email alerts when an offender moves near your area. Tier 2 and Tier 3 offenders appear in the public database. Tier 1 offenders only show up if their offense involved a minor.
County jail rosters are another common police record resource. Many sheriff offices post current inmate lists on their websites. These rosters show who is in custody, what the charges are, bond amounts, and booking dates. Not every county puts this information online. Some require you to call or visit the jail for current booking data.
Browse Ohio Police Records by County
Each of Ohio's 88 counties has a sheriff's office that keeps police records for the area. Pick a county below to find local contact info, fees, and resources for getting police records in that area.
Police Records in Major Ohio Cities
City police departments keep their own records for incidents within city limits. Pick a city below to find out how to get police records from that department.