Ohio Criminal Records
Ohio criminal records refer to documents that detail a person’s criminal history, including warrants to their name and any convictions, if applicable. Under the Ohio Sunshine Laws, criminal records in the state are public records, and anyone can request them by submitting a request form in-person or online through government channels or third-party sites like InfoPay.
A criminal record may contain any or all of the following information of an individual:
- Full name
- Any known alias
- Date of birth
- Ethnicity
- Physical descriptors
- Fingerprints
- Mugshots
- Arrest records
- Outstanding warrant
- Indictments
- Conviction information
- Sex offender status
What Are the Types of Crimes in Ohio?
Ohio has three major types of crimes:
- Infractions
- Misdemeanors
- Felonies
Infractions
The least serious crimes in Ohio criminal records are infractions. This type of crime does not carry any jail time and can be settled by paying a fine.
The best examples of infractions are traffic violations like speeding, running a red light or a stop sign, not wearing a seatbelt, failure to stop for a school bus, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to name a few.
Misdemeanors
Next to infractions are misdemeanors. This type of crime is more serious than an infraction but is less severe than a felony. There are cases when a particular infraction charge can be considered a misdemeanor, like multiple DUI offenses. In Ohio, misdemeanors are classified into five categories.
First-degree misdemeanor - crimes under this category include property theft under $500, assault, domestic violence, and driving under a suspended license or under the influence. Misdemeanors under this category are punishable by a maximum jail time of six months plus a fine of $1000 maximum.
Second-degree misdemeanor - crimes under this category include vandalism, shoplifting, theft, manufacturing, and/or selling drug paraphernalia. Misdemeanor crimes under this category are punishable by a maximum jail time of three months plus a fine of $750 maximum.
Third-degree misdemeanor - crimes under this category include negligent assault, where an offender hurts others unintentionally through their actions, loitering for prostitution, abuse of a corpse, and criminal mischief. Misdemeanor crimes under this category are punishable by a maximum jail time of two months plus a fine of $500 maximum.
Fourth-degree misdemeanor - crimes under this category include consumption of alcohol while in a motor vehicle, having a second traffic infraction within one year, failure to disperse, and public indecency. Misdemeanor crimes under this category are punishable by a maximum jail time of 30 days plus a fine of $250 maximum.
Fifth-degree misdemeanors - crimes under this category are the least serious type of misdemeanor crimes and involve disorderly conduct and reckless driving, which only requires a fine of $150 and no jail sentence.
Felonies
Felonies are the most serious type of crimes. The state also categorizes felonies into first, second, third, fourth, and fifth degrees.
First-degree felony - crimes under this category are the most serious, including kidnapping, voluntary manslaughter, aggravated robbery, and rape. A person charged with a first-degree felony faces jail time from 3-11 years, plus a fine of $20,000 maximum.
Second-degree felony - crimes under this category involve creating explosives illegally, participating in a gang, kidnapping with the returned victim unharmed, aggravated arson, and assault using a deadly weapon. A person charged with a second-degree felony faces jail time from 2-8 years, plus a fine of $10,000 maximum.
Third-degree felony - crimes under this category involve robbery, grand theft, and reckless or involuntary manslaughter. A person charged with a third-degree felony faces jail time from nine months to five years, plus a fine of $10,000 maximum.
Fourth-degree felony - crimes under this category involve felony DUI, aggravated assault by provocation, or abusing or neglecting hospital patients or residents of a retirement or medical facility. A person charged with a fourth-degree felony faces jail time from six to 18 months plus a fine of $5,000 maximum.
Fifth-degree felony - crimes under this category involve breaking and entering, credit card theft, stealing vehicle titles or license plates, and possession of marijuana. A person charged with a fifth-degree felony faces jail time from six to 12 months plus a fine of $2,500 maximum.
Note that murder and aggregated murder are unclassified felonies in Ohio and are the most serious type of criminal offense, with jail time ranging from 15 years to life imprisonment without parole.
How Does Probation Work in Ohio?
Under Chapter 1 of the Ohio Revised Code Section 2951, probation in Ohio is also referred to as “community control sanction” where a judge allows someone with a criminal offense to live in a community provided that the offender will follow certain restrictions. Depending on the criminal offense and the sentence, a judge determines the length of probation which may last up to five years.
With probation, an offender can be free as long as they follow the probation rules set by the judge, like the following:
- Offenders must not violate any local, state, or federal law
- Offenders must report or check in with their probation officer
- Offenders must have a lawful occupation and support their legal dependents
- Offenders cannot move out of their permanent residence unless with permission
- Offenders must pay all fines and other court costs within the time specified
- Offenders must abstain from the use of drugs and alcohol
How Does Parole Work in Ohio?
Parole is a conditional release in Ohio where the Ohio Parole Board analyzes inmates according to the following information:
- Criminal history
- Statistical estimate of risk to re-offend
- Substance abuse history
- Offender’s ability to control behavior
- Program performance
Inmates are only eligible for parole once they serve a minimum time in jail and if they can maintain good program performance.
Once on parole, inmates must abide by all local, state, and federal laws. Otherwise, they would be violating parole laws.
How Does Expungement Work in Ohio?
Expungement of Ohio criminal records is not available unless the waiting period for a conviction is due. Wait times are longer for more severe convictions like felonies. For a misdemeanor, a waiting period of one year applies, while felonies have a minimum waiting period of three and up to five years before a criminal record can be sealed through an expungement request.
Expungement of Ohio criminal records also comes with a fee ranging from $50 to $250, depending on the county. Note that severe offenses such as rape, sexual crimes involving a minor, first-degree misdemeanor, and felony charges cannot be expunged.
How To Obtain a Criminal Record in Ohio?
The public can obtain a copy of their criminal record in Ohio for $27, which will be processed in one business day as long as they provide a complete set of fingerprints through a Webcheck. Another option is to visit the sheriff's office and file a record request or use third-party sites to obtain a copy of their Ohio criminal records.
Counties in Ohio
- Adams
- Allen
- Ashland
- Ashtabula
- Athens
- Auglaize
- Belmont
- Brown
- Butler
- Carroll
- Champaign
- Clark
- Clermont
- Clinton
- Columbiana
- Coshocton
- Crawford
- Cuyahoga
- Darke
- Defiance
- Delaware
- Erie
- Fairfield
- Fayette
- Franklin
- Fulton
- Gallia
- Geauga
- Greene
- Guernsey
- Hamilton
- Hancock
- Hardin
- Harrison
- Henry
- Highland
- Hocking
- Holmes
- Huron
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Knox
- Lake
- Lawrence
- Licking
- Logan
- Lorain
- Lucas
- Madison
- Mahoning
- Marion
- Medina
- Meigs
- Mercer
- Miami
- Monroe
- Montgomery
- Morgan
- Morrow
- Muskingum
- Noble
- Ottawa
- Paulding
- Perry
- Pickaway
- Pike
- Portage
- Preble
- Putnam
- Richland
- Ross
- Sandusky
- Scioto
- Seneca
- Shelby
- Stark
- Summit
- Trumbull
- Tuscarawas
- Union
- Van Wert
- Vinton
- Warren
- Washington
- Wayne
- Williams
- Wood
- Wyandot