> >Fairview Park Arrest Records

Fairview Park Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Fairview Park, Ohio?

Arrest records are public documents in Fairview Park, Ohio, pursuant to the Ohio Public Records Act (Ohio Revised Code § 149.43). This legislation establishes that government records, including those pertaining to arrests, are accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by state or federal law. The City of Fairview Park adheres to this transparency requirement by maintaining arrest records as public information available for citizen inspection.

Under Ohio law, these records must be promptly prepared and made available for inspection to any person during regular business hours. The Fairview Park Police Department maintains these records as part of their official documentation of law enforcement activities within the jurisdiction. Members of the public seeking arrest information may obtain copies at cost, as stipulated in the city's public records policy.

Certain exceptions to public disclosure may apply in cases involving ongoing investigations, juvenile records, or where release would compromise public safety. The determination regarding exemptions is made in accordance with Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(A)(1) and relevant case law.

How to Look Up Fairview Park Arrest Records in 2025

Multiple methods exist for accessing arrest records in Fairview Park, Ohio. Individuals seeking such information may utilize the following official channels:

Submit a formal public records request to the Fairview Park Police Department, either in person, by mail, or through electronic submission via the department's official website.
Visit the Records Division at the Fairview Park Police Department during standard business hours to request and review arrest documentation.
Contact the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts for arrest records that have resulted in formal charges filed with the court system.
Access the online records portal maintained by the Fairview Park Police Department, which provides limited public information on recent arrests and incidents.
Submit a written request to the Fairview Park Law Department for assistance with complex record searches or clarification on record availability.

Fairview Park Police Department
20777 Lorain Road
Fairview Park, OH 44126
(440) 333-1234
Official Website

Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 443-7950
Official Website

When requesting arrest records, requestors must provide sufficient information to identify the specific record sought, including the name of the arrested individual, approximate date of arrest, and case number if available. Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(B)(1), public offices are not required to create new records to satisfy a request.

Contents of a Fairview Park Arrest Record

Standard arrest records maintained by the Fairview Park Police Department contain comprehensive documentation of the arrest event and the individual taken into custody. These records typically include the following elements as required by Ohio law and departmental policy:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any documented aliases or known pseudonyms
Demographic information including date of birth, gender, race, and physical descriptors
Residential address at time of arrest (may be redacted in public copies)
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest incident
Statutory violations and specific charges filed against the individual
Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s)
Narrative description of the circumstances leading to the arrest
Booking photographs (mugshots) and fingerprint identification data
Property inventory of items in possession at time of arrest
Initial appearance information and bail determination if applicable
Case disposition information if available in the same record

The comprehensiveness of arrest records may vary based on the nature of the offense, departmental procedures, and case status. Records pertaining to ongoing investigations may contain redactions as permitted under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(A)(2).

Legal Framework for Arrest Records in Ohio

The maintenance and accessibility of arrest records in Fairview Park operate within a structured legal framework established by state statute and local ordinance. The Fairview Park Law Department provides oversight regarding compliance with these regulations.

Ohio Revised Code § 149.43 constitutes the primary statutory authority governing public records, including arrest documentation. This statute establishes:

The presumption that government records are public unless specifically exempted
Procedures for requesting and obtaining copies of public records
Reasonable fees that may be charged for reproduction of records
Time frames within which public agencies must respond to requests
Legal remedies available when access to records is improperly denied

Additionally, the Ohio Criminal Records Act (Ohio Revised Code § 109.57) governs the reporting of arrest information to the state's central repository maintained by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. This ensures standardization of criminal history information throughout the state.

Local ordinances in Fairview Park may supplement these state requirements with specific procedures for records management and retention schedules. The Fairview Park Police Department maintains compliance with both state law and local regulations in its administration of arrest records.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Fairview Park

Under Ohio law, individuals may petition for the sealing or expungement of arrest records under specific circumstances. The expungement process in Fairview Park follows procedures established in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2953, which provides for the removal of arrest records from public access when statutorily permitted.

Eligibility criteria for expungement in Fairview Park include:

Cases resulting in dismissal or acquittal may qualify for immediate expungement
First-time, non-violent offenders may petition after statutorily defined waiting periods
Certain convictions are ineligible for expungement, including most violent felonies, sex offenses, and offenses against minors
Individuals with multiple convictions face additional restrictions on eligibility

The expungement process requires filing a formal application with the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court or Fairview Park Municipal Court, depending on the jurisdiction of the original case. Upon receipt of a properly filed petition, the court will:

Schedule a hearing date
Notify the prosecutor's office, which may file objections
Consider the petitioner's eligibility under statutory requirements
Evaluate whether the applicant has been rehabilitated
Determine if the public interest in maintaining the record outweighs the individual's interest in expungement

If granted, an expungement order requires all public agencies, including the Fairview Park Police Department, to seal the relevant records from public view. However, these records remain accessible to law enforcement agencies for official purposes.