Criminal records in Franklin County, Ohio, can be accessed through several channels, including online tools, official court systems, law enforcement agencies, and the clerk's office. FranklinCourt.us can help find publicly available criminal case information. The Franklin County Clerk of Courts, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, and state-level repositories also provide access to criminal case data, booking records, and background check resources.
How to Search Criminal Records in Franklin County
There are multiple ways to look up criminal records in Franklin County, depending on what you need and how quickly you need it.
Online Search Options
- FranklinCourt.us — Search for publicly available court record information by name or case number.
- Case Information Online (CIO) — The Franklin County Clerk of Courts maintains this portal for public record information on criminal and civil cases filed in the Court of Common Pleas. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney.
- Sheriff's Office Booking Search — Look up current and recent bookings at the Franklin County Corrections Center. Search by name, booking number, or filter by charge type.
- Wanted Persons Search — The Franklin County Sheriff's Office publishes active warrants online.
- Ohio DRC Offender Search — The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction provides a statewide search for individuals currently or formerly incarcerated in state prison.
In Person
Visit the Franklin County Clerk of Courts office to use public access terminals or request assistance from staff. The courthouse is located at:
By Mail or Written Request
- Submit a written public records request to the Franklin County Clerk of Courts for copies of criminal case documents.
- For law enforcement records, use the Sheriff's Office public records request form.
- For a formal Ohio criminal background check, submit a BCI (Bureau of Criminal Investigation) request through the Ohio Attorney General's office. This typically requires fingerprinting and a processing fee.
What You Need to Begin a Search
- Full legal name of the individual (first and last name at minimum)
- Date of birth (helpful for narrowing results)
- Case number (if known)
- Booking number (for jail/booking searches)
Search Franklin County Criminal Cases by Case Number
If you already have a case number, searching by it is the fastest way to pull up a specific record. In Franklin County Common Pleas Court, case numbers follow a standard Ohio format:
- Year prefix — The two-digit year the case was filed (e.g., "24" for 2024)
- Case type code — A two- or three-letter abbreviation indicating the type of case. For criminal cases, common codes include "CR" for criminal felony matters.
- Sequential number — A numeric sequence assigned in the order cases are filed within that year
A typical Franklin County criminal case number might look like 24 CR 001234. Enter this number into the Clerk of Courts' Case Information Online system to retrieve filings, hearing dates, charges, and disposition details. Municipal court cases handled by the Franklin County Municipal Court use a similar structure but with different type codes (e.g., "CRB" for misdemeanor criminal cases).
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Franklin County
Charges
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | Ohio Revised Code section cited (e.g., ORC 2913.02 for theft) |
| Severity | Felony (F1–F5), Misdemeanor (M1–M4), Minor Misdemeanor, or unclassified |
| Original Charges | Charges as initially filed by the prosecutor |
| Amended Charges | Charges modified through plea negotiation or court order — may reflect a lesser offense |
Case Status
- Pending — Case is open; proceedings are ongoing
- Active — Case has scheduled future events or outstanding obligations
- Disposed — All charges have been resolved (by verdict, plea, or dismissal)
- Closed — Case is fully concluded with no remaining action
Hearing Types
- Arraignment — Defendant is formally advised of charges and enters an initial plea
- Preliminary Hearing — Court determines whether probable cause exists (felony cases)
- Pre-Trial — Conference to address motions, discovery, and potential resolution
- Trial — Bench or jury trial on the merits
- Sentencing — Court imposes penalties after a guilty verdict or plea
- Review — Follow-up hearing to monitor compliance with probation or court orders
Court Results (Dispositions)
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guilty | Defendant convicted by plea or verdict |
| Not Guilty | Defendant acquitted at trial |
| Dismissed | Charges dropped by the court or prosecution |
| No Contest (Nolo Contendere) | Defendant does not contest the charges; treated as guilty for sentencing but not an admission of guilt |
| Acquitted | Found not guilty after trial |
| Diverted | Case resolved through an intervention or diversion program |
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Franklin County
Certified copies carry an official court seal and are accepted for legal, employment, and licensing purposes. Uncertified copies are also available at a lower cost for general informational use.
Where to Request
- Franklin County Clerk of Courts — Handles certified copies of criminal case filings, journal entries, and docket records from the Court of Common Pleas.
- Franklin County Sheriff's Office — Provides incident reports, arrest records, and booking information. Use the online public records request form or submit a written request.
- Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) — For a comprehensive Ohio criminal history report (WebCheck), requests are processed through approved fingerprint locations. Contact the Ohio Attorney General's office for details.
How to Submit a Request
- Online — The Clerk of Courts accepts public records requests through its website. The Sheriff's Office also provides an online request form.
- In Person — Visit the Clerk of Courts Records Division at the courthouse.
- By Mail — Send a written request specifying the case number, party name, and documents needed.
What You Need
- Full case number or defendant name
- Government-issued photo ID (for in-person requests)
- Completed request form (if applicable)
- Payment for applicable fees
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Franklin County
Under Ohio's Public Records Act (ORC 149.43), public offices may charge only the actual cost of copies. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee. The following are standard fees based on the Clerk of Courts and Sheriff's Office fee schedules:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard copy (per page) | $0.05 |
| Certified copy (per document) | $1.00 certification fee plus per-page copy costs |
| BCI background check (WebCheck — electronic) | $22.00 (Ohio only) / $44.00 (Ohio + FBI) |
| Sheriff's Office records copies | Actual cost of duplication per ORC 149.43 |
Processing Times
- Online searches — Results are typically immediate through CIO and the booking search portal.
- In-person requests — Usually processed the same day, depending on volume and complexity.
- Mail requests — Allow 5–10 business days for processing and return mailing.
- BCI background checks — Electronic (WebCheck) results are generally returned within 2–5 business days. Paper submissions may take several weeks.
Ohio law requires public offices to respond to records requests within a reasonable period. If a request involves a large volume of records, the office will provide an estimated timeline. Fees must generally be paid before copies are released.