Franklin County criminal records are split between several official systems. Felony cases are handled by the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, misdemeanors and most local criminal/traffic cases are handled by Franklin County Municipal Court, current jail information is maintained by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and fingerprint-based Ohio criminal-history records are maintained by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. This guide shows where to search each record and what to do when the online result is incomplete.
Which Franklin County Criminal Record System Should You Use?
The right database depends on the record you actually need. Franklin County does not place every arrest, complaint, felony, jail booking and statewide criminal-history record into one public search.
Felony criminal case
Use the Franklin County Clerk of Courts Case Information Online system for felony cases filed in the Common Pleas General Division.
Misdemeanor / traffic case
Use the Franklin County Municipal Court Clerk’s separate case search for misdemeanor, criminal-traffic and qualifying felony filings.
Current jail custody
Use the Franklin County Sheriff’s inmate information system for current inmates, current charges, case numbers, jail location and court dates.
Arrest or investigative report
Request reports from the law-enforcement agency that created them rather than assuming they are part of the court docket.
Fingerprint-based criminal history
Ohio BCI maintains computerized criminal-history records and allows individuals to request their own records for review.
Federal criminal case
Federal prosecutions arising around Columbus use the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and PACER.
Search Franklin County Common Pleas Felony Criminal Cases
The Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division handles felony criminal cases. The Clerk of Courts’ General Division maintains those records.
Franklin County states that felony criminal cases are electronically filed in the county, and only the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney or Ohio Attorney General brings felony cases into Common Pleas Court.
Start with the Clerk’s Case Information Online service.
Open Case Information Online
Use the official Franklin County Clerk of Courts search rather than a commercial people-search site.
Search by the strongest identifier
Use the case number when known. If you only know the person’s name, use a full legal name and narrow by available date or case information.
Review the felony docket
Check filings, indictment information, court events, disposition and sentencing entries.
Request the actual document when needed
A docket summary is not always enough. Use the Clerk’s public-record process when you need a public filed document or certified copy.
Search Franklin County Municipal Court Criminal Records
The Franklin County Municipal Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic matters and qualifying lower-level offenses.
Its Clerk’s Criminal/Traffic Department processes and maintains:
- misdemeanor criminal cases
- felony filings before bind-over
- traffic cases requiring a court appearance
- many payable traffic offenses
Use the official Franklin County Municipal Court Clerk Search Records page.
How to Search Franklin County Criminal Cases by Name or Case Number
Case number
The Municipal Clerk specifically identifies case number or ticket number as the most efficient way to find a case.
First + last name
If you do not have a case or ticket number, search the defendant’s first and last name.
Add DOB / case year
Date of birth, case year, case type and status can help separate people with similar names.
How to Read a Franklin County Criminal Court Docket
| Entry | What it generally means | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint | The initial allegation filed in court. | A complaint itself is not a conviction. |
| Indictment | A grand jury formally charged one or more felony offenses. | Check whether every indicted count resulted in conviction. |
| Arraignment | A stage where the defendant appears and plea procedures occur. | Arraignment does not establish guilt. |
| Plea | The defendant’s formal response or negotiated plea. | Review the final plea and which counts remain. |
| Dismissed | The charge did not result in an ordinary conviction on that count. | Review other counts separately. |
| Conviction | The court entered a qualifying finding or accepted a guilty plea. | Check the exact statute and offense level. |
| Sentence | The court imposed penalties or conditions. | Check incarceration, community control, fines and restitution separately. |
Why the Same Felony May Appear in Municipal Court and Common Pleas Court
This is one of the most useful Franklin County-specific details to understand.
A felony allegation can first appear in Franklin County Municipal Court. After the preliminary stage, the matter may be bound over to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas for prosecution as a felony.
Franklin County Criminal Court Record Copy Fees
The Franklin County Clerk’s current General Division fee schedule lists inexpensive copy and certification fees.
| Service | Current fee | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Regular copy | $0.10 per page | Ordinary paper copy of a public court record. |
| Certified copy | $1 per document | Use when an institution specifically requires certification. |
| Exemplified copy | $4 per document | Higher form of authentication for qualifying purposes. |
The Clerk’s public-record policy also says documents furnished by email or fax are not charged a copy fee, while mailed copies can include postage and mailing-supply costs.
How to Request Franklin County Common Pleas Criminal Court Records
If Case Information Online does not provide the document you need, the Franklin County Clerk of Courts accepts public-record requests.
The Clerk’s policy says requests should identify the record with enough clarity for staff to locate, retrieve and review it.
Find the case number first
A case number is much more useful than requesting every criminal record connected to a common name.
Identify the specific document
For example: indictment, sentencing entry, dismissal entry, judgment or another filed public record.
Submit the Clerk’s public-record request
Use the Clerk’s official online request form or contact the General Division.
Allow time for legal review when necessary
The Clerk explains that “prompt” and “reasonable” response time depends on record volume, storage location and the need for legal review.
Franklin County Warrant Information
Do not treat the public court sites as a guaranteed real-time countywide warrant database.
Franklin County Municipal Court’s Criminal/Traffic Department notes that current warrant information is handled differently from ordinary public record searches, and the Clerk does not conduct broad defendant record checks by telephone.
Franklin County Sheriff’s Inmate Information Search
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office provides an official online Inmate Information service.
The Sheriff’s current search can show:
- current inmates
- current charges
- current case numbers
- current location for visitation
- court dates
Request Franklin County Sheriff Arrest and Investigation Records
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Public Records Office handles video footage, investigation reports, criminal records and other publicly available Sheriff’s Office records not assigned to another records unit.
Sheriff records
Paper copies are currently $0.05 per page. Accident reports are $4, and downloaded files placed on a compact disc are $1 per disc. Mailing costs are extra.
The Sheriff’s policy states that public records should be available for inspection during regular business hours and copies should be provided within a reasonable period of time.
Why a Franklin County Arrest Record and Court Case May Not Match
An arrest record documents a law-enforcement event. A court record documents what was filed and what happened after the criminal case entered court.
Law enforcement
Shows that a person was taken into custody or cited based on an allegation.
Prosecution / court
Shows what offense was formally filed or pursued in court.
Final result
Shows whether a charge was convicted, dismissed, acquitted or resolved another way.
Ohio BCI Criminal-History Records
Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation maintains computerized criminal-history records. These records are different from simply searching Franklin County court websites.
Ohio BCI computerized criminal-history records are not unrestricted public records. However, an individual can request a copy of their own BCI criminal-history record to review it for accuracy and completeness.
How to Request Your Own Ohio BCI Criminal Record
The Ohio Attorney General currently requires the following for a personal criminal-history request:
- complete name and current address
- identifying information
- complete set of fingerprints
- signed consent
- required payment
The Ohio Attorney General’s Civilian Identification Unit lists 877-224-0043 for questions about civilian background checks.
Request Your Own Ohio Criminal RecordSealing and Expunging Franklin County Criminal Records
Ohio now distinguishes between sealing and expungement. Eligibility depends on the conviction, offense degree, number of convictions, waiting period, victim circumstances and statutory exclusions.
Current Ohio Revised Code § 2953.32 contains the principal conviction-record sealing and expungement rules.
| General category | Current sealing waiting period | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| One or more F4/F5 felonies or misdemeanors | Generally 1 year after final discharge | Specific excluded offenses and special statutes still apply. |
| One or two F3 felonies | Generally 3 years after final discharge | Eligibility limits apply based on other convictions. |
| Certain special offenses | Longer periods | Ohio law includes special waiting rules for specified offenses. |
Franklin County filing fee
The Franklin County Common Pleas General Division currently lists $50 for an expungement/sealing of criminal conviction filing.
Franklin County Municipal Court also currently lists a $50 filing fee for sealing or expunging qualifying convictions, while its guidance lists $0 for qualifying dismissal sealing applications.
Franklin County Municipal Court Record SealingDismissed, Not-Guilty and No-Bill Franklin County Cases
Ohio Revised Code § 2953.33 allows qualifying people to apply to seal or, when permitted by law, expunge official records after:
- a not-guilty finding
- dismissal of a complaint, indictment or information
- a grand-jury no bill
- certain pardon situations
For a dismissal or not-guilty result, Ohio law generally allows the application to be filed after the qualifying court entry, subject to other statutory rules.
Franklin County Juvenile Criminal Records
Juvenile records use different access and sealing rules from adult criminal cases.
The Franklin County Clerk specifically states that juvenile public-record requests cannot be submitted through its general online public-record request form.
Juvenile record requests should be handled through the Juvenile Division:
Franklin County Juvenile Division
373 South High Street4th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-525-4411
The Clerk instructs requesters to visit with valid picture identification for juvenile-record requests.
Franklin County Criminal Appeals: Tenth District Court of Appeals
Criminal appeals from Franklin County Common Pleas and Municipal Court can proceed to the Tenth District Court of Appeals.
Tenth District Court of Appeals
373 South High Street24th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-525-3580
The Franklin County Clerk’s Appeals Division maintains the documents for Tenth District cases. The Appeals Division currently charges:
- $0.10 per page for copies
- $1 per certified document
- $4 per exemplified document
Federal Criminal Cases in Columbus and Franklin County
Federal criminal prosecutions are separate from Franklin County Common Pleas and Municipal Court cases.
Columbus is part of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division at Columbus.
Joseph P. Kinneary U.S. Courthouse
85 Marconi BoulevardColumbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-719-3000
Most federal civil and criminal case documents filed since September 1, 2003 are available electronically through CM/ECF and PACER, subject to federal access restrictions.
Search Federal Cases in PACERFranklin County Criminal Court Locations
Franklin County Common Pleas General Division
345 South High Street1st Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone:
614-525-3621
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
The General Division handles felony criminal cases.
Franklin County Municipal Court Clerk
375 South High StreetColumbus, OH 43215
Criminal Call Center: 614-645-8186
The Criminal/Traffic Department is located on the second floor.
Franklin County Common Pleas Courthouse Map
Franklin County Common Pleas General Division: 345 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215. The Municipal Court building is immediately nearby at 375 South High Street. Confirm the correct division before traveling.
Franklin County Criminal Record Search Tips That Save Time
Know felony vs misdemeanor
Felonies belong in Common Pleas; misdemeanors usually belong in Municipal Court.
Check both courts for felony history
A felony can start in Municipal Court and later be bound over to Common Pleas.
Use the case number
It is more precise than searching a common first and last name.
Use DOB to separate names
Municipal Court search allows date of birth as a useful narrowing field.
Recent arrest? Start with Sheriff
Current jail information can appear before you have fully traced the court case.
Bond? Use the Clerk
The Sheriff specifically directs users to the Clerk for bond information.
Police report is separate
Request the investigative or arrest report from the agency that created it.
Check every count
One case can contain convictions and dismissed charges at the same time.
Federal means PACER
Do not keep searching Franklin County systems for a federal prosecution.
Using Franklin County Criminal Records for Employment or Other Screening
A public court search is not automatically the same thing as a legally compliant employment, housing, licensing, credit or insurance background report.
Ohio BCI background checks use fingerprints and specific authorization procedures. Consumer-reporting companies can also be subject to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Franklin County, Ohio Criminal Records: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where can I search Franklin County felony criminal cases?
Use Franklin County Clerk of Courts Case Information Online for felony cases handled by the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division.
2. Where can I search Franklin County misdemeanor cases?
Use the Franklin County Municipal Court Clerk’s Search Records system for misdemeanor, criminal-traffic and other qualifying Municipal Court cases.
3. Why might the same felony appear in Municipal Court and Common Pleas?
A felony complaint can begin in Municipal Court and later be bound over to the Court of Common Pleas. The Municipal Court record reflects the early stage while the Common Pleas case contains the later felony proceedings.
4. Where can I search current Franklin County inmates?
Use the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Information search. It can show current inmates, charges, case numbers, visitation location and court dates.
5. Does the Sheriff’s inmate search show official bond information?
The Sheriff’s Office specifically instructs users to obtain bond information from the Clerk of Courts.
6. How much does a Franklin County Common Pleas criminal record copy cost?
The Clerk currently lists ordinary copies at 10 cents per page, certified copies at one dollar per document and exemplified copies at four dollars per document.
7. How do I request my own Ohio criminal-history record?
Use the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation personal criminal-history request process. It requires identifying information, fingerprints, signed consent and the current fee.
8. How much is an Ohio BCI criminal-history check?
The Ohio Attorney General currently lists a $22 fee for a state BCI criminal-history check.
9. Can I seal a dismissed Franklin County criminal case?
Ohio law permits qualifying dismissed, not-guilty and no-bill records to be sealed or, when authorized, expunged under Ohio Revised Code § 2953.33. The application is filed with the court that handled the case.
10. Are federal criminal cases included in Franklin County court searches?
No. Federal criminal prosecutions are separate. Use PACER and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio for federal criminal case records.
Official Sources for Franklin County Criminal Record Research
- Franklin County Clerk of Courts — Case Information Online
- Franklin County Clerk — General Civil / Criminal Division
- Franklin County Clerk — General Division Fee Schedule
- Franklin County Clerk — Public Records Request
- Franklin County Municipal Court Clerk — Search Records
- Franklin County Municipal Court Clerk — Criminal/Traffic Department
- Franklin County Sheriff’s Office — Inmate Information
- Franklin County Sheriff’s Office — Public Records
- Ohio Attorney General — Requesting Your Own Criminal Records
- Ohio Revised Code § 2953.32 — Sealing / Expungement of Convictions
- Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2953 — Criminal Record Relief
- Franklin County Municipal Court — Record Sealing
- Supreme Court of Ohio — Tenth District Court of Appeals
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
- PACER — Federal Court Records