Franklin County Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find criminal and court records in Franklin County, Ohio, the home of Columbus and the most populous county in the state, with about 1.3 million residents. Columbus is also the state capital. The guide 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 Franklin 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 Franklin County?

Where you look depends on how serious the case is:

• Felonies and major cases: These are heard in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. The Clerk of Courts keeps the official case files and runs a free public docket called Case Information Online that you can search by name or case number (see the next question). The Clerk's office is at 375 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215; the docket line is 614-645-8214.
• Misdemeanors and traffic: These are handled by the Franklin County Municipal Court, a countywide court that covers Columbus and most of the county, with its own online case search. A few smaller communities also run local mayor's courts.
• 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 Franklin County Common Pleas docket online?

Use the Clerk of Courts Case Information Online portal. You can look up criminal and civil cases in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas (and Tenth District Court of Appeals 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. The Clerk notes that the online docket is a copy, not the official record. If a case does not appear, it may be older than the digitized records, sealed, filed in the Municipal Court rather than Common Pleas, or entered under a different spelling of the name. When in doubt, call the Clerk of Courts at 614-645-8214. You can also reach the court through the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas website.

Where are misdemeanor and traffic cases handled in Franklin County?

Lower-level cases are not in Common Pleas. Misdemeanors, traffic citations, and many local ordinance cases are heard in the Franklin County Municipal Court, which serves Columbus and most of the county from the Municipal Court building at 375 South High Street, Columbus. You can look up criminal, traffic, and civil cases on the Clerk's case search by name, case number, or ticket number; the criminal and traffic call center is 614-645-8186. A handful of small Franklin County communities run their own mayor's courts for minor local offenses, so if a case is not in the Municipal Court system, check whether a village mayor's court handled it.

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

People held locally, such as those awaiting trial or serving short sentences, are usually in one of the two county jail facilities (Franklin County Correction Center I and II) run by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, located at 373 South High Street, Columbus (614-525-3333). A single online inmate search covers both jails 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 Franklin 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 Case Information Online docket. For an official paper copy or a certified copy, request it from the Clerk of Courts in person at 375 South High Street, Columbus, or by following the office's instructions; 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 Franklin County?

Sealing or expungement is handled by the court that convicted you, so for a felony you file an application with the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, and for a misdemeanor you file with the Franklin County 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 Franklin 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 Office, 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 Franklin County and Ohio record sources

• Franklin County Clerk of Courts Case Information Online (Common Pleas case search)
• Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
• Franklin County Municipal Court case search (misdemeanor and traffic)
• Franklin 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 Franklin 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.