Allen County Criminal Records
Allen County criminal records are kept by the Clerk of Courts and the Sheriff's Office in Lima. The county court system handles felony and misdemeanor cases through its Common Pleas Court and Lima Municipal Court. You can search Allen County criminal records online using the CourtView portal, which lets you look up cases by name, case number, or date of birth. The Sheriff's Office keeps arrest records, jail data, and active warrant lists. If you need to check on a case or find out about a past arrest, Allen County has both online tools and in-person options for searching criminal records.
Allen County Overview
Allen County Clerk of Courts Criminal Records
The Allen County Clerk of Courts serves the Common Pleas Court and the Third District Court of Appeals. Jennifer McBride is the Clerk. The main office is at 301 North Main Street, Suite 209, in Lima. You can call (419) 223-8513 or send an email to recordsrequest@allencountyohio.com. The office is open Monday through Friday, and staff can help with record requests in person or by mail. The Clerk handles all filing, storage, and public release of court documents, which includes criminal case files from the General Division and Domestic Relations Division.
You can search Allen County criminal records through the Clerk of Courts website, which runs a CourtView portal. The system lets you look up cases by name, case number, case type, action code, or attorney. For criminal and traffic cases, you can also search by ticket number, date of birth, license plate, or incident number. Civil case searches work by plaintiff or defendant name and case number. The portal covers both the Common Pleas Court and the Court of Appeals.
The Clerk of Courts website at clerkofcourts.allencountyohio.com provides direct access to Allen County criminal records and court filings.
Results from the online portal show the defendant's name, charges filed, hearing dates, and case status. There is a delay of at least 24 hours between a court filing and when it shows up online. For the most current case data, visit the office in person. The Clerk also offers e-Filing for attorneys and pro se parties, with 24/7 access through the portal.
| Office | Allen County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 301 North Main Street, Suite 209 Lima, OH 45801 |
| P.O. Box 1243, Lima, OH 45802-1243 | |
| Phone | (419) 223-8513 |
| recordsrequest@allencountyohio.com |
Search Allen County Arrest Records
The Allen County Sheriff's Office is at 333 North Main Street in Lima. Call (419) 227-3535 for the main line. The Records Division handles public records requests for arrest reports, incident files, and background checks. You can email the records team at records@acso-oh.us. Victoria Gonzalez serves as the Public Information Officer and can be reached at (419) 221-5391.
The Allen County Sheriff's Office provides access to arrest records and criminal case information through its records division.
Reports can be picked up in person Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Advance payment is needed. The office accepts money orders and cashier's checks in person, and certified checks by mail. Complaint reports and crash reports cost $0.04 per page. Photos are free by email or $10 on CD. Video footage from body cameras or cruiser cameras runs up to $75 per hour to process, with a cap of $750 under ORC 149.43. Processing a 30-minute video takes around two to three hours due to review and redaction steps.
The Warrants Division keeps 1,000 to 1,300 active warrants at any given time. You can contact the office to check for outstanding warrants. The jail booking desk is at (419) 993-1407. Inmate services can be reached at (419) 223-8573.
Note: Allen County Sheriff records requests need advance payment before processing begins, so call ahead to confirm fees and report availability.
Lima Municipal Court Criminal Cases
The Lima Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic violations for Allen County. The court is at 109 North Union Street in Lima. Call (419) 221-5275 for questions. The court uses the eFile Ohio system and has an online case lookup portal.
The Lima Municipal Court website offers search tools for Allen County criminal records at the misdemeanor level.
You can search criminal and traffic cases by ticket number, party name, case number, date of birth, license plate, or incident number. Certified documents cost $2 per copy. Standard page copies are $0.25 each. Send a written request with your name, contact info, and the specific record you need. Include payment and a self-addressed envelope with postage for mail requests.
Allen County Criminal Records Fees
Fees for Allen County criminal records vary by office and document type. At the Clerk of Courts, standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are $1 per page. If you want records sent by email, there is a $2 transmission fee plus the $1 per page copy cost.
The Sheriff's Office charges $0.04 per page for complaint and crash reports. Photos are free by email. Video records cost more due to the time needed for redaction under Ohio law. The Lima Municipal Court charges $2 per certified copy and $0.25 per page for standard copies. Most offices accept money orders and checks. Call ahead to confirm which payment types are accepted at each location.
Public Access to Criminal Records in Allen County
Allen County follows Ohio's Public Records Act under ORC 149.43. Criminal court records are public. Anyone can view them during business hours. You do not need to give a reason for your request.
Some records are restricted. Sealed or expunged records are not available to the public. Under ORC 2953.32, certain criminal records can be sealed after waiting periods are met. The application fee is $50 plus local court costs. Not all cases qualify. First-degree felonies, violent felonies, and sex offenses cannot be sealed. Juvenile case files are closed under Ohio Revised Code 2151.358. Active investigation files may also be withheld. Records with personal identifiers like Social Security numbers get redacted before release.
BCI background checks are available at the Allen County Sheriff's Office. A BCI check costs $37 and an FBI check costs $30. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Justice Center. There are also WebCheck locations across Allen County with fees that range from $34 to $80 depending on the provider and type of check.
How to Look Up Criminal Records in Allen County
The fastest way to search Allen County criminal records is through the online CourtView portal at clerkofcourts.allencountyohio.com. Search by name, case number, or date of birth. Results show charges, hearing dates, and current case status.
For in-person requests, visit the Clerk of Courts at 301 North Main Street, Suite 209, in Lima. Bring a valid ID. Staff can pull cases and make copies on the spot. You can also mail a request with a check or money order for copy fees to P.O. Box 1243, Lima, OH 45802-1243. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
State tools also cover Allen County criminal records. The BCI runs statewide checks through WebCheck. The ODRC Offender Search covers state prison inmates. The Ohio Clerk of Courts Association has a directory of all 88 county clerks if you need records from other counties.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Allen County. If you need criminal records from a neighboring area, select a county below.