>Fairfield County Arrest Records Online

Fairfield County, Ohio Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Fairfield County, Ohio?

Arrest records are public documents in Fairfield County, Ohio, pursuant to the Ohio Public Records Act (Ohio Revised Code § 149.43). This legislation classifies most government records, including those pertaining to arrests, as public records accessible to any person upon request. The Ohio Public Records Act serves to promote governmental transparency and accountability by ensuring citizens have access to information regarding the activities of public officials and agencies.

The Fairfield County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records as part of its statutory duties under Ohio law. These records document law enforcement activities and are considered public records unless specifically exempted by statute. Exemptions may apply to certain juvenile records, ongoing investigation materials, or records sealed by court order.

Members of the public seeking arrest records may obtain them through various county agencies, including:

Fairfield County Sheriff's Office
345 Lincoln Avenue
Lancaster, OH 43130
Phone: (740) 652-7900
Fairfield County Sheriff's Office

Fairfield County Clerk of Courts
224 E. Main Street
Lancaster, OH 43130
Phone: (740) 652-7360
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Fairfield County?

Fairfield County provides digital access to certain arrest records through several online platforms maintained by county agencies. The Fairfield County Common Pleas Court offers a case information database where members of the public may search for records related to felony cases. Additionally, the Fairfield County Municipal Court maintains an online portal for accessing misdemeanor and traffic cases.

The availability of these records online is governed by Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(B)(6), which permits public offices to adopt policies governing the transmission of public records. While basic arrest information is typically available online, certain documents may require in-person requests due to practical limitations or privacy considerations.

Online access to arrest records may be limited in the following ways:

Records may not be immediately updated in real-time
Certain sensitive information may be redacted
Complete case files may not be available digitally
Older records may not be digitized

Pursuant to Ohio Administrative Code 4501:1-12-02, certain identifying information such as Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers are redacted from publicly accessible online records to protect individual privacy while maintaining the public's right to information.

How to Look Up Fairfield County Arrest Records in 2025

Individuals seeking Fairfield County arrest records in 2025 have multiple methods available, as prescribed by Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(B)(1), which requires public offices to promptly prepare records for inspection upon request. The following options are available to members of the public:

In-Person Requests:

Visit the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office Records Division at 345 Lincoln Avenue, Lancaster, OH 43130. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
Request records at the Fairfield County Municipal Court located at 136 W. Main Street, Lancaster, OH 43130. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
Access records at the Fairfield County Clerk of Courts Office at 224 E. Main Street, Lancaster, OH 43130.

Online Access:

Utilize the Fairfield County Common Pleas Court case information database for felony cases.
Search the Fairfield County Jail Bureau inmate lookup system for current detention information.
Access the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction offender search for individuals sentenced to state custody.

Written Requests:

Submit a public records request by mail to the appropriate agency, clearly specifying the records sought.
Include sufficient identifying information such as full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest.

Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(B)(7), requesters are not required to identify themselves or the purpose of their request, except as specifically required by law. Agencies may charge reasonable fees for copies of records as permitted by § 149.43(B)(1), but must allow inspection of records at no cost during regular business hours.

Contents of a Fairfield County Arrest Record

Fairfield County arrest records contain standardized information as required by Ohio Administrative Code 5120:1-1-21 and local record-keeping protocols. These records typically include the following components:

Subject identification information:
- Full legal name and any known aliases
- Date of birth and age at time of arrest
- Physical description (height, weight, identifying marks)
- Address of residence
- Photograph (booking photo/mugshot)
- Fingerprint classification
Arrest details:
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer identification
- Statutory charges filed (Ohio Revised Code citations)
- Incident report number
- Booking number and facility
Case processing information:
- Court case number
- Bond amount and type
- Court appearance dates
- Disposition of charges
- Sentence information (if applicable)

The Fairfield County Sheriff's Office maintains these records in accordance with Ohio's records retention schedules as established under Ohio Revised Code § 149.39. Arrest records are permanent records that must be maintained indefinitely, though the format may change from paper to digital over time.

It should be noted that pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 2953.32, certain information may be redacted from publicly available arrest records if the subject has received an expungement or sealing order from a court of competent jurisdiction.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Fairfield County

The expungement process in Fairfield County follows procedures established under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2953, which provides for the sealing of criminal records under specific circumstances. Individuals seeking expungement must file a petition with the court that handled their case, either the Fairfield County Common Pleas Court for felonies or the Fairfield County Municipal Court for misdemeanors.

Eligibility requirements for expungement in Fairfield County include:

For misdemeanor convictions: Applicants must wait one year after final discharge (Ohio Revised Code § 2953.32(A)(1)(a))
For felony convictions: Applicants must wait three years after final discharge (Ohio Revised Code § 2953.32(A)(1)(b))
For cases resulting in dismissal or acquittal: Applications may be filed immediately (Ohio Revised Code § 2953.52)

Certain offenses are ineligible for expungement under Ohio law, including:

Offenses of violence as defined in Ohio Revised Code § 2901.01
Sexual offenses under Chapter 2907
Offenses where the victim was under 18 years of age
Felonies of the first or second degree

The expungement process requires:

Filing a petition with the appropriate court
Payment of filing fees (approximately $50 for misdemeanors, $100 for felonies)
Background check conducted by the court
Prosecutor notification and opportunity to object
Judicial hearing (may be waived in certain circumstances)
Court order directing relevant agencies to seal records

When an expungement is granted, the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office and other agencies must comply with the court order by removing the records from public access. However, sealed records remain available to law enforcement agencies and may be considered in future criminal proceedings.

Search Arrest Records in Fairfield County

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