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Monroe Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Monroe, Ohio?

Yes, arrest records are public in Monroe, Ohio. This accessibility is governed by the Ohio Public Records Act (Ohio Revised Code § 149.43), which mandates that all government records, unless explicitly exempt, be made available to the public. The Act supports transparency and accountability within public offices, allowing citizens to access various governmental documents, including arrest records maintained by the Monroe Police Department. Pursuant to Ohio law, these records must be promptly prepared and made available for inspection to any person during regular business hours.

The Ohio Public Records Act defines public records as any records kept by a public office that document the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities of the office. Arrest records fall within this definition as they document law enforcement activities conducted by public agencies. Members of the public may request these records without providing identification or stating the purpose of their request.

How to Look Up Monroe Arrest Records in 2025

To obtain arrest records in Monroe in 2025, individuals have multiple methods at their disposal. The City of Monroe provides several options for accessing these public documents:

Online Search Portals: The Monroe Mayor's Court online docketing system allows citizens to search for court records related to arrests. This digital resource is available 24 hours a day and provides convenient access to public records.
Local Police Department: Requesting records directly from the Monroe Police Department can be done in person at their headquarters. The records division maintains files of all arrests within the jurisdiction.

Monroe Police Department
601 S Main Street
Monroe, OH 45050
Phone: 513-539-8700
Official Website
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Butler County Clerk of Courts: For more comprehensive criminal history information, the county clerk maintains records of all criminal proceedings within the county, including those from Monroe.

Butler County Clerk of Courts
315 High Street
Hamilton, OH 45011
Phone: 513-887-3000
Official Website
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Communications Center Records: The Monroe Police Communications Center maintains dispatch records that may contain information about arrests and can provide these upon proper request.

Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(B)(1), public offices must promptly prepare records and make them available for inspection at all reasonable times during regular business hours. Copies of public records must be made available within a reasonable period of time.

Contents of a Monroe Arrest Record

A Monroe arrest record typically contains comprehensive information about the arrest incident and the individual involved. Standard components include:

Personal identification information of the arrested individual:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Address of residence
- Identifying marks such as tattoos or scars
Details of the arrest:
- Date and time of arrest
- Location where the arrest occurred
- Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s)
- Agency responsible for the arrest
Criminal charges:
- Specific charges filed against the individual
- Ohio Revised Code sections allegedly violated
- Classification of charges (felony, misdemeanor, etc.)
- Incident report number
Booking information:
- Booking photographs (mugshots)
- Fingerprint records
- Property inventory taken at booking
- Medical screening information
Case disposition information:
- Bail or bond amount set
- Court appearance dates
- Preliminary hearing outcomes
- Case status (pending, dismissed, convicted)

The Media Bulletin published by the Monroe Police Department provides a brief description of calls received and may include information about recent arrests within the jurisdiction.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Monroe

In Monroe, individuals may have the opportunity to expunge or seal their arrest records under certain conditions as provided by Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2953. Expungement eligibility generally depends on several factors:

Nature of the offense: Certain serious offenses, including most violent crimes and sex offenses, are ineligible for expungement.
Case outcome: Cases resulting in dismissal, not guilty verdicts, or no bills from grand juries may be eligible for immediate expungement.
Waiting period: For convictions, first-degree misdemeanors require a one-year waiting period after final discharge, while felonies typically require a three-year waiting period.
Criminal history: Applicants must not have pending criminal charges and must demonstrate rehabilitation.

The expungement process involves:

Filing an application with the court that handled the original case
Payment of filing fees (approximately $50 for misdemeanors and $100 for felonies)
Background check conducted by the court
Hearing before a judge (may be waived in some circumstances)
Judicial determination on whether the record should be sealed

If granted, expungement effectively removes the record from public access. Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 2953.32, when records are sealed, the proceedings are considered not to have occurred, and the individual may respond to inquiries as though the arrest never happened, with certain exceptions for law enforcement and specific employment sectors.

The Butler County Area Courts handle most misdemeanor expungement cases, while the Butler County Court of Common Pleas processes felony expungement applications.

Legal Restrictions on Arrest Record Access

While arrest records are generally public in Monroe, Ohio law establishes certain restrictions on their accessibility. These limitations serve to protect privacy rights in specific circumstances:

Juvenile records: Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 2151.358, records pertaining to juvenile arrests are generally not public and are subject to stricter confidentiality requirements.
Sealed or expunged records: As authorized by Ohio Revised Code § 2953.32 and § 2953.52, records that have been officially sealed or expunged by court order are removed from public access.
Ongoing investigations: Information related to active law enforcement investigations may be temporarily withheld under exemptions in the Public Records Act.
Personal identifiers: Certain sensitive personal information contained within arrest records, such as Social Security numbers, may be redacted before public disclosure.
Victim information: Details that could identify victims of certain crimes, particularly sex offenses, may be withheld to protect victim privacy.

The Monroe Police Department and other custodians of arrest records must carefully balance public access rights with these statutory protections. Requestors seeking arrest records may be required to submit specific information to identify the records sought, though they cannot be required to disclose their identity or the purpose of their request except in limited circumstances outlined in Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(B)(8).