Cuyahoga County Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find criminal and court records in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the home of Cleveland and the state's second-most populous county with about 1.2 million residents. It covers the county courts, the jail roster, official record sources, and what Ohio law lets you do with the records. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official Cuyahoga County and State of Ohio sources, but offices and online systems change, so confirm details with the agency before you rely on them.

How do I look up criminal court records in Cuyahoga County?

Where you look depends on how serious the case is:

• Felonies and major cases: These are heard in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. The Clerk of Courts keeps the official case files and runs a free public docket you can search by name or case number (see the next question). The court is at the Justice Center, 1200 Ontario Street, Cleveland; the Clerk's docket line is 216-443-7974.
• Misdemeanors and traffic: These are handled by the municipal court for the city where the offense happened (for Cleveland, that is the Cleveland Municipal Court). The county's suburbs have their own municipal courts, each with a separate docket.
• People-search tools: The search box on this page pulls from public records for a quick name-based overview across county and statewide sources. It is convenient for personal curiosity, but it is not official and not FCRA-compliant, so it cannot be used for hiring, housing, or other regulated decisions.

How do I search the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas docket online?

Use the Clerk of Courts online docket search. You can look up criminal and civil cases by party name or case number and view the case history, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. The records are free to view; certified or printed copies carry a fee. If a case does not appear, it may be older than the digitized records, sealed, filed in a municipal court rather than Common Pleas, or entered under a different spelling of the name. When in doubt, call the Clerk of Courts at 216-443-7974 or visit the office at the Justice Center, 1200 Ontario Street, Cleveland. You can also reach the Clerk through the county's Clerk of Courts page.

Where are misdemeanor and traffic cases handled in Cuyahoga County?

Lower-level cases are not in Common Pleas. Misdemeanors, traffic citations, and many local ordinance cases are heard in municipal courts, and the right court depends on the city where the offense occurred. For offenses in the city of Cleveland, that is the Cleveland Municipal Court, located at the Justice Center, 1200 Ontario Street, Cleveland, which offers its own online case docket. Cuyahoga County's suburbs are served by several separate municipal courts (for example Parma, Lakewood, Shaker Heights, Bedford, Euclid, Garfield Heights, Rocky River, and South Euclid), each keeping its own records. If you are not sure which court heard a case, search "[city] Ohio municipal court records" or call the Common Pleas Clerk for a pointer.

How do I find someone in the Cuyahoga County jail or an Ohio prison?

People held locally, such as those awaiting trial or serving short sentences, are usually in the Cuyahoga County Corrections Center (the county jail) at 1215 West Third Street, Cleveland, run by the Sheriff's Department. You can look up current detainees through the Sheriff's inmate information page. For someone serving a sentence in a state prison rather than the county jail, use the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) Offender Search, which covers the statewide prison system. Rosters show the last recorded status and can lag behind a person's current location, so call the facility to confirm.

Are Cuyahoga County court records public, and how do I get a copy?

Yes. Ohio's Public Records Act (Ohio Revised Code 149.43) and the Ohio Rules of Superintendence treat most court records as open to the public, so you do not have to be a county resident or explain why you want them. The fastest way to view a case is the Clerk of Courts online docket. For an official paper copy or a certified copy, request it from the Clerk of Courts in person at the Justice Center, 1200 Ontario Street, Cleveland, or by following the instructions on the Clerk of Courts page; certified copies carry a per-page fee. Sealed, expunged, and most juvenile records are not part of the public file.

How do I seal or expunge a record in Cuyahoga County?

Sealing or expungement is handled by the court that convicted you, so for a felony you file an application with the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, and for a misdemeanor you file with the municipal court that heard the case. Ohio's rules changed under Senate Bill 288 (effective April 4, 2023), which made "sealing" (hiding a record from public view) and "expungement" (destroying it) legally distinct and expanded who qualifies. Waiting periods and eligibility depend on the offense and are detailed; see the full explanation on our Ohio criminal records page. A filing fee (commonly around $50) is paid to the clerk and can sometimes be waived. Because a mistake can cost you the chance to clear a record, many people use an attorney or a local legal-aid clinic for this step.

How do I find arrest records and mugshots in Cuyahoga County?

An arrest record shows that someone was taken into custody; it is not the same as a conviction. Arrest and booking information is created at the local level, so the arresting police department, the Sheriff's Department, or the booking jail is the original source. Recent county-jail bookings may appear through the Sheriff's inmate information page. Please use this information carefully: an arrest or a booking photo is not proof of guilt, charges are often reduced or dismissed, and a mugshot should never be treated as evidence that a person was convicted of anything. The search tool on this page can help you locate publicly available arrest and record information for personal knowledge only.

Official Cuyahoga County and Ohio record sources

• Cuyahoga County Common Pleas online docket (case search)
• Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts
• Cleveland Municipal Court (misdemeanor and traffic cases)
• Cuyahoga County Sheriff inmate information (county jail)
• Ohio DRC inmate / offender search (state prisons)
• Ohio Attorney General / BCI statewide background check (WebCheck)

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). A mugshot or arrest record is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Cuyahoga County public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws and county systems may change.