Access Butler County Criminal Records
Butler County criminal records are on file at the Clerk of Courts and the Sheriff's Office in Hamilton. The county has one of the most detailed online search systems in Ohio, with options to search all courts at once or filter by criminal and traffic, civil, or liens. Electronic case files go back to 1988. The Sheriff's Office handles arrest records, warrants, and incident reports through its Central Records Unit. Whether you need to look up a felony case, check for active warrants, or get copies of arrest reports, Butler County provides extensive online and in-person options for searching criminal records.
Butler County Overview
Butler County Clerk of Courts Criminal Records
Mary L. Swain serves as the Butler County Clerk of Courts. The office is at 315 High Street in Hamilton. Call 513-887-3282 or email clerkmail@butlercountyclerk.org. The Clerk maintains records for the Common Pleas Court General Division, Domestic Relations Division, and the 12th District Court of Appeals. Electronic case files are available from 1988 to the present. Older records are stored at the Butler County Records Center.
The Butler County Clerk of Courts website offers one of the most complete record search systems in Ohio.
The records search portal gives you several search options. You can search all courts at once or narrow it down to Criminal and Traffic, Common Pleas Civil, Municipal Civil, or Common Pleas Liens. Additional searches include certified mail, notary name search, judgment interest rates, criminal case listings by section number, traffic case listings, municipal civil garnishments, and parcel ID or address lookup. You can even search Grand Jury Reports.
Butler County also has three Area Courts that handle cases across different parts of the county. Area I Court is at 118 High Street in Hamilton. Area II Court is at 101 High Street, also in Hamilton. Area III Court is at 9577 Beckett Road, Suite 300, in West Chester. Each has its own phone line and handles misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic violations.
Note: Butler County has experienced data mining issues that have affected their redaction process, so some document requests may require a second submission.
| Office | Butler County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 315 High Street Hamilton, OH 45011 |
| Phone | 513-887-3282 |
| clerkmail@butlercountyclerk.org |
Butler County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Butler County Sheriff's Office is at 705 Hanover Street in Hamilton. The main number is (513) 785-1000. The Central Records Unit handles public records requests at (513) 785-1030 or by email at recordsrequest@butlersheriff.org.
The Butler County Sheriff website provides information about records requests, warrants, and law enforcement services.
The Central Records Unit provides accident reports, incident and offense reports, fingerprinting for BCI and FBI checks, local background checks, public records requests, tow releases, inmate property releases, and traffic citation copies. Incident and offense reports are free. Traffic crash reports cost $4.00 and must be paid in cash only. Reports can be picked up Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Call ahead to make sure the report is ready.
For mail requests, send a stamped self-addressed envelope to Butler County Sheriff's Office, Central Records, 705 Hanover Street, Hamilton, OH 45011. Accident reports are also available online at no cost through ohtrafficdata.dps.ohio.gov/CrashRetrieval. Allow up to 5 days for report completion. If a city or township police agency took the report, contact that agency directly.
The Warrant/CSEA Service unit has 5 Deputies and 1 Clerical Specialist. Their primary job is to locate and apprehend people with active warrants in Butler County. The Civil Unit serves court documents for Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Juvenile, Probate, and all three Area Courts.
Butler County Criminal Warrant Search
Active arrest warrants in Butler County are generally public records. Executed search warrants become public after they are served. Sealed warrants are not accessible. Juvenile warrants are confidential under ORC 2151.14.
You can check for warrants several ways in Butler County. Call the Sheriff's Office at (513) 785-1000. Search the online warrant database. Visit the Clerk of Courts at (513) 887-3278. Or contact the Court of Common Pleas at (513) 887-3000. Free warrant search options include the Sheriff's online warrant search, public access terminals at the Clerk's Office, written public records requests, and the Municipal Court at (513) 785-5822.
A Butler County warrant contains the name of the person to be arrested, the specific offense charged, the date it was issued, the signature of the issuing judge, the court where it was issued, the case number, instructions for law enforcement, and bail information if applicable.
Butler County Probate Court Records
The Butler County Probate Court is at 101 High Street in Hamilton. Call 513-887-3294 for the clerk's office.
The Probate Court has an online case search. Records include estate files, guardianships, marriage licenses, and name changes. While probate records are not criminal records, they can be relevant in cases involving fraud, contested estates, or guardianship disputes that cross into criminal territory. The court's delay disclaimer applies to all online data.
Public Access to Butler County Criminal Records
Butler County criminal records are public under ORC 149.43. Anyone can request records during business hours. No reason is needed.
Under ORC 2953.32, certain criminal records can be sealed after waiting periods. The fee is $50 plus local court costs. First-degree felonies, violent felonies, and sex offenses cannot be sealed. Juvenile records are closed under Ohio Revised Code 2151.358. The Clerk's office notes that per Rule 45(C) of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio, a clerk is not required to offer remote access to every case file. If a record exists but is not available online, visit the office or submit an online request.
The Butler County Records Center at 123 North 3rd Street in Hamilton has historical court records and genealogical research materials. Call 513-887-3437. The center opened in March 1995. Older criminal case files that predate 1988 electronic records may be stored there.
How to Search Criminal Records in Butler County
The best starting point is the records search at courtclerk.org/records-search. Use "Search Criminal & Traffic" for criminal cases. You can also search by case number, party name, or parcel ID. Electronic records go back to 1988.
For in-person access, visit the Clerk of Courts at 315 High Street in Hamilton. Bring a valid ID. The Sheriff's Central Records Unit at 705 Hanover Street handles arrest reports and incident records. State tools like the BCI and the ODRC Offender Search cover Butler County criminal records at the state level. The Ohio Clerk of Courts Association directory can help if you need to search records in other Ohio counties.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Butler County. If you need criminal records from a neighboring area, select a county below.