Montgomery County Police Records Lookup

Montgomery County police records are available through the Sheriff's Office in Dayton, Ohio. The county uses a NextRequest portal for online records requests, making it one of the easier places in Ohio to search for police records. You can find accident reports, dispatch logs, incident reports, background checks, criminal offense reports, traffic crash reports, and even video footage through this system. Montgomery County is the most populated county in the Dayton metro area, so the volume of police records here is high. The Sheriff's Office handles requests for unincorporated areas while cities like Dayton, Kettering, and Huber Heights keep their own files.

Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Records

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is at 345 West Second Street, Dayton, OH 45422. The main phone number is (937) 225-4357. The records division has its own line at (937) 224-8418. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. That closing time is earlier than most counties in Ohio, so plan your visits accordingly.

The Sheriff's Office keeps a wide range of police records. Accident reports, dispatch logs, incident reports, background checks, criminal offense reports, traffic crash reports, and video footage are all on file. Video includes body camera, cruiser camera, and surveillance footage. Montgomery County is one of the larger agencies in Ohio, so the records division handles a high volume of requests every week. Using the online portal is the fastest way to get what you need.

Montgomery County has a detailed fee schedule for police records. Fax copies cost $0.10 per page. Mailed copies are $0.50 per #10 envelope. Certified copies cost $0.25 per page. Background checks are $3.00. Accident reports are $4.00. A CD costs $1.00. Video footage can run up to $75 per hour for review and redaction, with a $750 maximum per request under Ohio House Bill 315.

How to Get Montgomery County Police Records

The Montgomery County Sheriff records portal is the best place to start. You can submit your request online, track its status, and download records when they are ready. The system is built on NextRequest, which is the same platform used by several other Ohio counties. It works well for simple requests like accident reports and incident files.

Under ORC 149.43, anyone can request public records. You do not need to give your name or state why you want them. Montgomery County must respond within a reasonable time. They can only charge the actual cost of making copies. If you think a fee is not right, the Ohio Sunshine Laws Manual explains how to challenge it.

You can also call the records division at (937) 224-8418, visit in person at 345 West Second Street, or send a letter. For crash reports, the Ohio Crash Retrieval System is a free state tool. Wait seven business days after the crash. BuyCrash.com is another option. Or pay the $4.00 fee directly to the Sheriff's Office for a copy.

Montgomery County Records Portal

The screenshot below shows the Montgomery County Sheriff records request portal. This NextRequest system lets you submit, track, and receive police records online. You can browse past fulfilled requests too, which may save you time if someone already asked for the same record.

The portal is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can submit a request at any time, even when the office is closed. The records staff will process it during business hours. Anonymous requests are accepted, but you will not get status updates if you do not create an account.

Montgomery County Video Footage Requests

Montgomery County keeps body camera, cruiser camera, and surveillance video. These are all public records under Ohio law, with some exceptions. Video from ongoing investigations can be held back. Footage that shows minors, victims, or undercover officers may be redacted.

The cost for video footage follows Ohio House Bill 315. The agency can charge up to $75 per hour for reviewing and redacting. The cap is $750 per request. They must give you a written cost estimate before starting the work. Crime victims can often get footage from their own cases at no cost. This is a big part of Montgomery County police records requests because of the number of agencies and incidents in the Dayton metro area. The records division at (937) 224-8418 handles all video requests for the Sheriff's Office.

Montgomery County Jail Records

The Montgomery County Jail is one of the bigger facilities in Ohio. It holds people arrested by the Sheriff's Office and multiple local police departments across the county. Jail records are public. They include names, charges, bond amounts, booking dates, and court dates.

For state prison inmates, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction offender search tool shows current status. The Ohio eSORN registry tracks registered sex offenders in Montgomery County and across Ohio.

Montgomery County Court Records

The Montgomery County Clerk of Courts keeps records for the Court of Common Pleas. This is where felony cases end up after arrest. Court files include indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and trial transcripts. You can inspect records at the Clerk's Office for free.

The Ohio Supreme Court case management system has searchable records going back to 1985. Look up by name or case number. Some records may be sealed under ORC 2953.32. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation runs state-level background checks. BCI costs $22 for state, $35 for FBI, and $60 for both. The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services publishes crime data for Montgomery County.

Cities in Montgomery County

These cities in Montgomery County have their own police departments and records. Each city handles its own police records separately from the Sheriff's Office.

Nearby Counties

Need police records from near Montgomery County? Check these neighbors.