Obtain Free Erie County Arrest Records (Ohio Resource)

Access free Erie County arrest records in no time using this step-by-step resource.

The Ohio Sunshine Law guarantees that arrest information is always readily available to anyone interested in it.

For concerned individuals searching for relevant information on local arrests, this article will help immensely. Its content will introduce the resources and tools available and walk them through the process of using each one to promptly and conveniently acquire Erie County, Ohio, arrest records and details of charges.

How To Search Recent Erie County Arrest Records & Find Mugshots for Free

People searching for offenders recently or currently incarcerated in Erie County can rely on the resources that the Sheriff’s Office makes available to them.

The Ohio Sunshine Law determines that information about inmates and their charges should be readily available to all for a variety of reasons: so that people can feel safer, the individuals close to the inmates can find them and take steps to support them, etc.¹

The Erie County Sheriff’s Office regularly updates its Jail Roster online to keep the people aware of who’s been kept at their facility.² This is not a search engine but a list that users can look up in order to find the individual they’re interested in.

Because the information about those who’ve been arrested is public, the jail roster includes a mugshot, the charges filed against that person, the booking date, when is their next court date, and how much is their bond amount (if available).

The Erie County Jail Roster is printable and updated frequently. However, if more information is needed or the concerned searcher requires more support, it’s always advisable to contact the Sheriff’s Office. Their headquarters is located at the same address as the county jail, and this is their contact information:

Erie County Sheriff’s Office
2800 Columbus Ave
Sandusky, OH 44870

Main line: 419.625.7951
Fax: 419.657.7547
Jail Division: 419.627.7569

The cities in Erie County don’t provide information about recent arrests or the current inmates being held at the county jail. However, interested citizens can contact municipal law enforcement to request records if they know where the incident occurred.

For example, concerned citizens can work online with the Sandusky Police Department’s Glyph Reports and request records. It can be done by filling out an online form with information about the occurrence and following the steps presented on the website.

They can also contact the police department in person using the following information:

Sandusky Police Department
222 Meigs St
Sand OH 44870

Phone: 419.627.5863
Fax: 419.627.5862

One important factor to consider is that victims don’t need to make much effort in order to obtain information about their cases. Those who have been victimized by offenders can have access to more services and resources than a regular citizen would, and they should take advantage of those options.

The Victims Assistance Program in Erie County operates from the Municipal Court and offers assistance in an array of issues, such as providing information, appointing an advocate, supporting victims in getting restitution (when applicable), etc.³ This is their address:

Erie County Municipal Court
Victim Assistance Program
150 W Mason Road
Milan, OH 44846

Phone: 419.627.7699

Also, victims can register with VineLink and access valuable resources that will make the process of keeping themselves informed and finding the support they need much more convenient. Nobody should hesitate to take advantage of every resource available to them as they recover from a bad situation.

In some instances, the search that needs to be performed may be broader than just looking for individuals recently incarcerated and entail the need to search for past charges and convictions. When checking out someone’s background is the next step, there are more tools people can utilize. Let’s go over them now.

How To Retrieve Information on Prior Criminal Activity & Arrests Made Within Erie County Ohio

In Ohio, and consequently, in Erie County, there are different ways to obtain a full report about someone’s past criminal history.

One way to accomplish and take a look into everything filed under an individual’s name is to use the Erie County Sheriff’s Department search tool.⁴ This search engine allows citizens to run three different types of searches: by report number, by party name, or by date range plus record type (which yields a more generic list of results).

The results appear as a list, and each entry includes details such as the names of the parties involved in the incident, the type of report that was filed, where the incident happened, and more details. Searchers are able to go over the results and download PDF copies of the report (which they can then print out or save on their devices).

Another way to run free searches about an individual’s past criminal activity is to look up court records using the CourtView system. Provided by the Erie County Municipal Court, this tool allows citizens to run searches for free.

To start their search, users are required to input at least the offender’s last name and their first initial. However, as it’s known, the more complete the criteria, the better the results will be, so users are encouraged to add as much information as possible and to choose options from the bars – such as case type, party type, and case status.

The CourtView will show information about felonies and misdemeanors committed by any offender but will also include civil cases related to those individuals. This is only more reason to run a search as detailed as possible and take advantage of all the available criteria to reach the most accurate results.

When the information available online seems insufficient or interested individuals need more support, they can contact the Erie County Clerk of Courts Records Department using the following information:⁶

Erie County Clerk of Courts
Records Department
323 Columbus Avenue – 1st Floor
Sandusky, OH 44870

Phone: 419.627.7686

If the offender being searched has committed crimes outside of Erie County, it may be advisable to search for incidents that happened throughout the state.

The Ohio Offender Search, provided by the Department of Rehabilitation & Correction, allows concerned citizens to run searches by name.⁷ Although it’s helpful to have a full name, using only the inmate’s last name will work and yield results.

The Offender Search also allows searchers to limit their inquiry to a certain county – which could be their place of residence or the location where the crime was committed – or to uncover the status of the offender (for example, if they’re currently in jail or are supervised individuals, on probation or parole). The results will appear in the form of a list and include a mugshot.

When the offender of interest is found, it’s possible to click on the inmate number to look up details about their case. The detail page includes their sentence and expected release date, among other things.

If the users have questions or need more support, they can contact the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction by completing an online form or by reaching out directly using the following information:

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction
4545 Fisher Rd – Suite D
Columbus, OH 43228

Phone: 614.387.0588

According to the Ohio Attorney General, concerned individuals can request a copy of their own criminal records and dispute it if any information contained in it is incorrect.⁸ This is helpful because it allows people to make corrections when something appears to be inaccurate about their past. Interested people can place a request by working with one of the BCI locations in the state.

To order a copy of their records, individuals have to provide their full information, do their fingerprinting, and send in a $22 payment. Those are the addresses that people can go to:

BCI London
1560 SR-56 SW
London, Ohio 43140

BCI Bowling Green
750 N College Dr
Bowling Green, Ohio 43403

BCI Richfield
4055 Highlander Pkwy
Richfield, Ohio 44286

BCI Youngstown
20 West Federal St
Youngstown, OH 44503

Alternatively, those individuals can work with some third-party locations that are approved by the Attorney General to be used for that purpose.

If the individual being searched is currently incarcerated and it’s necessary to post bail on their behalf, some tools can be used. This article will go over those options below.

How To Contact a Bail Bondsman or Post Bail for Someone Arrested in Erie County

In Erie County, concerned individuals can post bail in two different ways.⁹ They can work with a bondsman agency or self-bail, but those processes have some differences.

Those who choose to self-bail have to pay the full amount determined by the judge using cash or some sort of certified form of payment (such as a money order, for example). The amount paid may eventually be returned to the offender, depending on how the court proceedings unfold – but it’s advisable to discuss this option with an experienced lawyer who can provide sound counsel about how to proceed.

Those who prefer to work with a bondsman usually make a payment directly to them, equivalent to 10 to 15% of the total amount of the bail established by the judge.

That amount won’t ever be returned to the offender, regardless of how their trial goes. However, the bondsman agency works with the jail and the courts, assisting in the process of getting the offender released as quickly as possible.

When self-bailing is the chosen path, payments can be made in person at the Erie County Municipal Court.¹⁰ The person making the payment must know the offender’s information and follow the instructions they receive until the inmate is released from jail.

This is the Municipal Court’s address:

Erie County Municipal Court
150 W Mason Road
Milan, OH 44846

Offenders who are released on bail should always keep in mind that they must abide by all rules and restrictions set by the judge. Failing to comply may lead to them being sent back to jail and losing the bail (or bail bond) that has been posted on their behalf. They should be smart about it and behave accordingly.

For anyone, anywhere, it’s very important to be able to readily and conveniently uncover facts and information about individuals who have been arrested. Having access to that information brings transparency (which makes people feel safer) but also allows for family members and friends to take action to assist and support their loved one who has been arrested.

It is extremely valuable to have access to Erie County arrest records and details surrounding incidents that happened in the area; citizens should always feel comfortable and empowered to run those searches and use the information they’re able to find to their benefit.