Montgomery County Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find criminal and court records in Montgomery County, Ohio, the home of Dayton and one of the most populous counties in the state, with about 535,000 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery County?

Montgomery County makes this easier than most counties: the Clerk of Courts runs one public search portal, called PRO (Public Records Online), that covers several courts at once.

• Felonies and major cases: heard in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas (General Division). The Clerk of Courts keeps the official case files.
• Misdemeanors and traffic: heard in the Dayton Municipal Court and the county's other area courts. Many of these records are searchable through the same PRO portal (see the next question).
• 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.

The Clerk of Courts Record Section is at the Montgomery County Courts Building, 41 North Perry Street, Room 104, Dayton, OH 45422.

How do I search Montgomery County court records online?

Use the Clerk of Courts PRO (Public Records Online) case search. You can look up cases by name or case number, and it covers criminal, traffic, and civil cases in the Montgomery County Municipal Court, criminal and civil cases in the General Division of the Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations cases, and Second District Court of Appeals cases. You can view the case history, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. Under the Ohio Rules of Superintendence, not every document is posted online; if a case or filing exists but is not visible, you can request it from the Clerk. You can also reach the trial courts through the Montgomery County courts site.

Where are misdemeanor and traffic cases handled in Montgomery County?

Misdemeanors, traffic citations, and many local cases are heard in municipal and area courts rather than Common Pleas. For the city of Dayton, that is the Dayton Municipal Court (criminal division 937-333-4315, traffic division 937-333-4310); other parts of the county are served by their own municipal and area courts. Many of these cases can be looked up through the same PRO case search by name. If you are not sure which court heard a case, the Clerk of Courts can point you to the right one.

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

People held locally, such as those awaiting trial or serving short sentences, are usually in the Montgomery County Jail at 345 West Second Street, Dayton (937-225-4357), run by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. 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 Montgomery 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 PRO case search. For an official paper copy or a certified copy, request it from the Clerk of Courts Record Section in person at 41 North Perry Street, Room 104, Dayton, 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 Montgomery County?

Sealing or expungement is handled by the court that convicted you, so for a felony you file an application with the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, and for a misdemeanor you file with the municipal or area court that heard the case (such as the Dayton Municipal Court). 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery County and Ohio record sources

• Montgomery County Clerk of Courts PRO case search (Common Pleas and Municipal)
• Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas
• Dayton Municipal Court (misdemeanor and traffic)
• Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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.