Search Cleveland Criminal Records
Cleveland criminal records are maintained by the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts and the Cleveland Division of Police. The city sits at the center of a large metro area, and its courts process thousands of criminal cases each year. You can search records online through the Cuyahoga County public access portal, the Cleveland Municipal Court, or by contacting the police records division directly. Whether you need court case details or arrest reports, Cleveland offers multiple channels for accessing criminal records.
Cleveland Overview
Cuyahoga County Criminal Records
Cleveland is in Cuyahoga County. All felony criminal cases from the city go through the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas at the Justice Center. The Clerk of Courts maintains records for the General Division, Domestic Relations, Juvenile, Probate, and the 8th District Court of Appeals. You can search case records online by case number, party name, or date range.
The Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts office is at the Justice Center, Courts Tower, 1200 Ontario Street, Cleveland, OH 44113. Call 216-443-7148 for the Legal Division. Standard copies cost $0.10 per page. Certified copies are $1.00 per page plus a certification fee. After 33 pages, the rate drops to $0.03 per page. Credit and debit card payments have a processing fee attached.
Cleveland Police Criminal Records
The Cleveland Division of Police handles arrest records, incident reports, and other police files. The Records File Section is at 1300 Ontario Street, Cleveland, OH 44113. Walk-in hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM at the Justice Center. You can also reach them by phone at 216-623-5352 (weekdays 8 AM to 4 PM), fax at 216-623-5334, or email at policerecords@city.cleveland.oh.us.
Cleveland police records include arrest affidavits, incident summaries, CAD logs, accident reports, crime reports, and body camera footage. You can request records online through the police public records portal, by mail, by email, by fax, or in person. The Accident Records Unit has a separate line at 216-623-5269. The Report Review Unit is at 216-623-5278. There may be charges for copies. Payment methods include cash, check, money order, and credit cards.
The department follows ORC 149.43 for records access. Simple requests typically take 3 to 10 business days. Denials come with a written explanation and can be appealed. Active investigation records are exempt from release. Body camera footage from Cleveland Hopkins Airport needs TSA and DHS approval before it can go out.
Cleveland Municipal Court Records
The Cleveland Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and parking tickets within city limits. The court is at 1200 Ontario Street in the Justice Center. You can search cases online by name, case number, citation number, or ticket number.
The screenshot below shows the Cleveland Municipal Court website where you can look up criminal case records and pay fines online.
Records include charges, hearing dates, dispositions, and fines for each case. Municipal court records are public under ORC 149.43 with exceptions for sealed cases. Juvenile matters go through a separate court. Retention follows ORC 1901.41 and the Rules of Superintendence.
Cleveland Police Body Camera Records
Body camera footage is an official record of the Cleveland Division of Police. The Mobile Support Unit reviews and redacts recordings before release. All requests go through the public records process. Officers cannot let anyone outside law enforcement view footage without the Chief's authorization.
Retention periods depend on the type of incident. Homicide and sex crime recordings are kept forever. Critical incident footage stays on file for 5 years. Traffic stop recordings last 1 year. Test and unclassified recordings are held for 90 days. Requesting body camera video may take longer than standard records due to the review and redaction steps involved.
Note: Cleveland body camera footage from airport incidents requires federal agency approval before release, which adds extra processing time to those requests.
Sealing Criminal Records in Cleveland
Under ORC 2953.32, eligible defendants can ask the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas to seal their criminal records. The application fee is $50 plus local court costs. A hearing is set and the prosecutor can object. If granted, sealed records won't appear in most public searches.
Not all crimes qualify. First and second-degree felonies, violent offenses, and sex crimes cannot be sealed in Ohio. There are waiting periods that depend on the offense type and sentence. The Cuyahoga County Archives at 3951 Perkins Avenue maintains historical records and can help with genealogy research if you need older case files. Documents filed at the Recorder's office from 1810 to 2023 are accessible through the archives.
Statewide Criminal Records Search
Several state tools cover Cleveland. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation runs background checks through the WebCheck system. Under ORC 109.572, specific jobs need a BCI check. The ODRC Offender Search covers state prison inmates. The Ohio Clerk of Courts Association has a full directory of all 88 county clerks.
For state inmates from Cleveland who are in an Ohio prison, use the ODRC search tool. It shows current location, sentence length, and release dates. The Ohio State Highway Patrol also has records that may relate to Cleveland-area incidents on state routes and highways.
How to Look Up Cleveland Criminal Records
Start with the Cuyahoga County Clerk's online case search. You can pull up criminal cases by name, case number, or date. The system covers the General Division, Domestic Relations, Juvenile, and Probate courts. It is available around the clock.
For misdemeanor cases, use the Cleveland Municipal Court's online search. It covers traffic tickets, parking violations, and code enforcement cases within city limits. Search by name, case number, citation number, or ticket number. The information gets updated regularly but may lag behind actual court filings by a day or so. For verified information, contact the court directly.
In-person searches are another option. Visit the Justice Center at 1200 Ontario Street during business hours. The Clerk's office provides same-day access to new filings. Bring a valid ID if you plan to request copies. Written requests can be mailed to the same address. Standard copy fees are $0.10 per page for regular copies.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Cleveland. Select one below to search criminal records in that area.