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Ohio Warrant Search

An Ohio warrant search is a quick search that the public can do to check if a warrant is under their names. A warrant search may contain information regarding an investigation, a seizure, an arrest or detain order, or any other legal activity required by the law. Under the Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43 of Freedom of Information Act laws, anyone can perform a warrant search even without a statement of purpose. 

There are also different types of warrants issued in Ohio, including the following:

  • Search warrants
  • Bench warrants
  • Arrest warrants
  • Peace warrants
  • Tax warrants
  • Surveillance warrants
  • Alias capias warrants
  • Financial transaction warrants

Warrants in Ohio should contain the defendant's name, their offense, the date when the warrant was issued, any scheduled hearing, the applicable state statute, and, if applicable, the bail amount. 

 

How Long Does a Warrant Stay Active in Ohio?

Warrants issued in Ohio do not usually have an expiry date. Even if the statute of limitations has already passed, warrants remain active in Ohio. The same law applies even if the person named in the warrant moves to another town or another state. While warrants in Ohio do not generally expire, there are still some cases where the court may renew a warrant in case of expiration to ensure its validity.

 

What Are the Most Common Warrants in Ohio?

While Ohio has several types of warrants, the most common are the following:

Arrest warrants

These types of warrants are issued when the police or any other law enforcement agency needs to make an arrest. With a warrant of arrest, an officer of the law can stop the public during a traffic stop, run an Ohio warrant search, and make an arrest when necessary. 

 

Peace warrants

A peace warrant is issued in Ohio when there is a written complaint and oath of fear against possible harm to an individual or destruction to someone’s property as defined in Section 2935.01 of the Ohio Revised Code. This type of warrant can be issued by the county court judge or the mayor to arrest the individual so they can appear in court and properly answer the complaint. 

 

Bench warrants

Another common type of warrant to find when performing an Ohio warrant search is a bench warrant. Bench warrants apply to both non-criminal and criminal offenses and may require a fine or jail term, or both, or sometimes expensive bail. Some of the most common reasons for a bench warrant include failure to appear and failure to pay. 

 

Alias capias warrants

This is the type of warrant issued when someone guilty fails to complete a specific condition or fails to pay a fine during their court appearance. A capias warrant for failure to appear in court with a misdemeanor offense will be considered another misdemeanor. A capias warrant for a felony is considered another felony. 

 

Just like with failure to appear, another warrant for failure to pay a fine and other court-ordered dues may result to additional penalties that may include suspension, probation, additional fines, and imprisonment. 


 

How To Perform Warrant Search in Ohio?

People who want to find out if they have an outstanding warrant through an Ohio warrant search can do so through the following:

Bureau of Criminal Identification 

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI) is the main repository of criminal history records in the state. The public may request their criminal records to check for warrants by submitting their prints through accredited BCI locations and personal information like their name and age. A search fee of $22 will also apply and should be paid via money order, electronic payment, or a business check. 

County offices

Another alternative to performing an Ohio warrant search is through the county or sheriff offices. Some counties have online platforms that allow the public to search for active warrants in the state. 

Court of clerks

Since warrants are considered public records, requesters may also go to the court clerk's office and request warrant information.

Third-party websites

Third-party websites like InfoPay allow warrant searches in Ohio. The public must have at least the following information when requesting warrant information:

  • Full name of the alleged suspect
  • Date and location of the warrant

Counties in Ohio

List of Content

  1. How Long Does a Warrant Stay Active in Ohio?
    1. What Are the Most Common Warrants in Ohio?
      1. Arrest warrants
      2. Peace warrants
      3. Bench warrants
      4. Alias capias warrants
    2. How To Perform Warrant Search in Ohio?
      1. Bureau of Criminal Identification 
      2. County offices
      3. Court of clerks
      4. Third-party websites