Adams County Criminal Records
Adams County criminal records are on file at the Court of Common Pleas and the Sheriff's Office in West Union. You can search court case records online through the county's public access portal or visit the Clerk of Courts in person during business hours. The county handles all felony criminal cases, misdemeanors, and traffic offenses through its court system. The Sheriff's Office keeps arrest records, jail booking data, and warrant lists. Whether you need to look up a specific case or check on someone held at the county jail, Adams County offers both online and in-person options to search criminal records.
Adams County Overview
Adams County Clerk of Courts Criminal Records
The Adams County Clerk of Courts handles all criminal case files for the Court of Common Pleas. Larry Heller serves as the Clerk. The office is at 110 West Main Street in West Union. You can reach them at (937) 544-2344 or by email at lheller@adamscountycourts.com. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
The Common Pleas Court in Adams County covers all divisions. The General Division handles felony criminal offenses, civil cases, foreclosures, and administrative appeals. Criminal records include traffic infractions, misdemeanor charges, and felony cases. Each case file shows the defendant's name, the charges filed, a timeline of hearings, arrest dates, and a physical description of the offender. The file may also list the offender's attorney and the judge who heard the case. You can look up Adams County criminal records through the Clerk of Courts website, which provides an online record search portal.
The Clerk of Courts at the Adams County Courts website maintains an online search portal for all court records, including criminal cases filed in the county.
The online search system lets you look up cases by name, case number, hearing date, or file date. There is a delay between court filings and when they show up online. The county notes this can be at least 24 hours and sometimes longer. For the most current information, visit the office in person. Records can be requested in person, by mail, or through the online portal.
| Office | Adams County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 110 West Main Street West Union, OH 45693 |
| Phone | (937) 544-2344 |
| lheller@adamscountycourts.com | |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
Search Adams County Arrest Records
The Adams County Sheriff's Office keeps arrest records, jail rosters, and warrant info. The office is at 110 West Main Street in West Union. Call (937) 544-2314 for general inquiries. The Sheriff's Office has an online inmate search through its JailTracker portal.
The jail roster shows current inmates with their full name, arrest date, arresting agency, bond type and amount, race, eye and hair color, detention status, court date, and case code. The list gets updated on a regular basis, usually every hour. You can also search for active warrants by last name on the sheriff's site. Warrant results show the charges and bond amounts for each outstanding case in Adams County.
Below is a screenshot of the Adams County Sheriff's jail and inmate lookup tool for searching criminal records and current bookings.
Public records requests can be made in person at the Sheriff's Office Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You must bring exact change for cash payments. Video records from body-worn cameras or cruiser cameras have special fees. The county can charge up to $75 per hour for processing video, with a cap of $750. A 30-minute body camera video takes about 2 to 2.75 hours to process because of the review and redaction steps required under ORC 149.43.
Note: The Adams County Sheriff's inmate search only shows people currently held at the county jail, not state prison inmates. For state inmates, use the ODRC Offender Search at appgateway.drc.ohio.gov.
Adams County Criminal Records Fees
Getting copies of criminal records in Adams County comes with a few fees. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are $20 per document. If you need someone to research a case for you, the court charges $30 per hour for that work.
These fees apply at the Clerk of Courts office. The Sheriff's Office has its own fee schedule for arrest reports and incident records. Report copy fees vary based on the type of document. Video records cost more because of the time needed to prepare and redact them. Most offices in Adams County accept cash, checks, and money orders. Some do not accept personal checks, so call ahead if you are not sure.
Public Access to Criminal Records in Adams County
Adams County follows Ohio's Public Records Act under ORC 149.43. Criminal court records kept by the Clerk of Courts are public and can be viewed by anyone during business hours. You do not need to explain why you want the records.
Some records are off limits. Juvenile case files are closed to the public under Ohio Revised Code 2151.358. Sealed or expunged records are not available. Law enforcement investigation files that are still active may also be restricted. Records involving personal identifiers like Social Security numbers are redacted before release. Attorney-client privileged documents and medical or psychiatric records are also exempt.
Under ORC 2953.32, certain criminal records in Adams County can be sealed or expunged after waiting periods are met. The application fee is $50 plus up to $50 in local court costs. Not every case qualifies. First and second-degree felonies, violent felonies, and sex offenses cannot be sealed in Ohio.
The Adams County Recorder's Office also maintains property records, liens, and other documents that may relate to criminal cases involving property fraud or judgment liens.
The Adams County Recorder is at 110 West Main Street, Room 133 in West Union. Chris Moore is the County Recorder. The office can be reached at (937) 544-5051. Property searches are available online through their land records portal.
How to Look Up Criminal Records in Adams County
There are a few ways to search for criminal records in Adams County. The easiest is the online case search at adamscountycourts.com. You can search by name, case number, or filing date. Results show the charges, hearing dates, and current case status.
For in-person searches, visit the Clerk of Courts at 110 West Main Street in West Union during regular hours. Bring a valid ID. Staff can pull up cases by name or case number and make copies on the spot. Written requests can also be sent by mail to the same address. Include the specific case details you are looking for and a check or money order for the copy fees.
The state also has tools that cover Adams County criminal records. The BCI runs statewide criminal records checks through the WebCheck system. The ODRC Offender Search covers state prison inmates from Adams County. The Ohio Clerk of Courts Association has a directory of all 88 county clerks if you need to search records in other Ohio counties.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Adams County. If you need criminal records from a neighboring area, select a county below.